Johan Franzen

[Guest LivingtheDream]

Not to spoil the party because Franzen is playing great, but without Dats and Hank what might have he accomplished? Meanwhile a player like Homer has proven himself year after year for his toughness, heart, hustle and peerless in front of the net play. Homer can be on any line and with Dats and Hank was the best line in hockey. Has the Mule shown he can play on any line and score half this much? Not so sure. Again, I love that he is showing up after all season long, but a little reality is needed here. Suddenly seeing Homer as replaceable or nothing less than the master of in front of the net play and a critical piece of the Wing's chances in the playoffs is foolish.

[Guest crazy8legs]

As much as i would like to see the homer/z/datsyuk line. I think babcock should keep franzen with zetterberg and put holmstrom back with datsyuk.

ill take it

[Guest crazy8legs]

Not to spoil the party because Franzen is playing great, but without Dats and Hank what might have he accomplished? Meanwhile a player like Homer has proven himself year after year for his toughness, heart, hustle and peerless in front of the net play. Homer can be on any line and with Dats and Hank was the best line in hockey. Has the Mule shown he can play on any line and score half this much? Not so sure. Again, I love that he is showing up after all season long, but a little reality is needed here. Suddenly seeing Homer as replaceable or nothing less than the master of in front of the net play and a critical piece of the Wing's chances in the playoffs is foolish.

oh god, you again

[norrisnick 1]

Not to spoil the party because Franzen is playing great, but without Dats and Hank what might have he accomplished? Meanwhile a player like Homer has proven himself year after year for his toughness, heart, hustle and peerless in front of the net play. Homer can be on any line and with Dats and Hank was the best line in hockey. Has the Mule shown he can play on any line and score half this much? Not so sure. Again, I love that he is showing up after all season long, but a little reality is needed here. Suddenly seeing Homer as replaceable or nothing less than the master of in front of the net play and a critical piece of the Wing's chances in the playoffs is foolish.

Away from Z and Pavel, Franzen is a much better player than Holmstrom. Homer does his one thing better than anyone, but the rest of his game is somewhat lacking. Franzen can do a bit of everything and recently has shown that when given a top line opportunity he can run with it with the best of them.

[hillbillywingsfan 794]

Away from Z and Pavel, Franzen is a much better player than Holmstrom. Homer does his one thing better than anyone, but the rest of his game is somewhat lacking. Franzen can do a bit of everything and recently has shown that when given a top line opportunity he can run with it with the best of them.

thank you for this post nick...i was going to try and say something like this but you did it so much better. i agree 100%

[wingslogo19 281]

Im really impressed on how the Mule has been playing. Did I think he was going to score this many goals at the start of the season, I would of said maybe he as a chance but 20 goals forsure he could hit... I can't wait for the playoffs to start, with Homer coming back we will have 4 good lines

[Echolalia 2,961]

Not to spoil the party because Franzen is playing great, but without Dats and Hank what might have he accomplished? Meanwhile a player like Homer has proven himself year after year for his toughness, heart, hustle and peerless in front of the net play. Homer can be on any line and with Dats and Hank was the best line in hockey. Has the Mule shown he can play on any line and score half this much? Not so sure. Again, I love that he is showing up after all season long, but a little reality is needed here. Suddenly seeing Homer as replaceable or nothing less than the master of in front of the net play and a critical piece of the Wing's chances in the playoffs is foolish.

I think Franzen has been hotter this past month than Holmstrom ever has, regardless of what lines either of them are on.

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

Not to spoil the party because Franzen is playing great, but without Dats and Hank what might have he accomplished? Meanwhile a player like Homer has proven himself year after year for his toughness, heart, hustle and peerless in front of the net play. Homer can be on any line and with Dats and Hank was the best line in hockey. Has the Mule shown he can play on any line and score half this much? Not so sure. Again, I love that he is showing up after all season long, but a little reality is needed here. Suddenly seeing Homer as replaceable or nothing less than the master of in front of the net play and a critical piece of the Wing's chances in the playoffs is foolish.

I couldn't agree more!!!!!

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

I think Franzen has been hotter this past month than Holmstrom ever has, regardless of what lines either of them are on.

I don't believe so. Franzen only got hot when he was put on a line with Dats and Z. Before that he was marginal if you go back.

[Superman54 91]

Franzen is just unstoppable!

I understand he owes much of his success to Z-Dawg and Dats but this guy has soo much more confidence now

I don't love the idea of having Dats and Z-Dawg split, but with players like Holms and Franz, it would be the smarter way to go

[CrossoverThrash 0]

6 GWGs in one month? Homer never did that but thats no knock on homer, Admit it Franzen is on fire no matter what

[norrisnick 1]

I don't believe so. Franzen only got hot when he was put on a line with Dats and Z. Before that he was marginal if you go back.

If Homer isn't playing next to Z and/or Pavel he's a 4th liner/PP specialist. That was his role for his entire Red Wing career until the Red Wings' payroll was cut in half and he got put on a scoring line for ES with Zetterberg and Samuelsson. He's always been good on the PP so that's not really much of a change.

When Franzen wasn't on a scoring line he was a very effective checking line player and penalty killer. He had some of the best scoring differential numbers for his time on the ice on the team.

Homer might be better than Franzen when he's on a line with Z and/or Pavel (Franzen's recent streak is showing what he's capable of), but when he isn't out there with either or both of them Franzen is clearly the better player.

[eva unit zero 271]

Keep the Franz with Dats and Z...put Homer with Flip and Hudler. Same dynamic, though not as much talent overall. Samuelsson, Kopecky, and Cleary would make a fine multipurpose third line capable of two-way play, and Maltby/Draper/Drake would be as strong a fourth line as you'll find in the NHL.

You could even swap Dats and Hudler to balance out the scoring across the top two lines a little bit.

[miller76 463]

I think the job that Homer does for the team is very admirable. I think that anyone who can stand in front of a goalie screen him, get chopped at all game in the back of the legs, take a constant beating from all the D-men in the league, not get hit by the pick, and try and tip that thing in is admirable. I think he is having a very frustrating year, health wise and production on his part. Franzen is exactly what this team needed. They needed someone else to take the pressure off of Z and Dats. Cleary does the same. Franzen and Cleary always seem to be forgotten and they slip away from being covered. I think Franzen should stay on the first line once Homer gets back. But I am not Babcock, and wouldn't want the decisions. But whats great about once Homer returns, it just adds that much more confusion for the opposition. I think Babs will drive the opposition nuts with all line switches.

[Majsheppard 203]

I still haven't recieved my dap....

Oh well, glory for him and much of it.

[eva unit zero 271]

Coming into March..Franzen looked to be a lock for about 15 goals total at the end of the season.

Now...he's pushing 30. Sick month for the Franz.

[IceMunkee 15]

If Homer isn't playing next to Z and/or Pavel he's a 4th liner/PP specialist. That was his role for his entire Red Wing career until the Red Wings' payroll was cut in half and he got put on a scoring line for ES with Zetterberg and Samuelsson. He's always been good on the PP so that's not really much of a change.

When Franzen wasn't on a scoring line he was a very effective checking line player and penalty killer. He had some of the best scoring differential numbers for his time on the ice on the team.

Homer might be better than Franzen when he's on a line with Z and/or Pavel (Franzen's recent streak is showing what he's capable of), but when he isn't out there with either or both of them Franzen is clearly the better player.

I think the recent play of Johan is deluding your opinion of Homer. Man this happens so much on here. Homer is known and feared by every goalie in the league. He has his own knickname from the NHL as a whole not just the team. The refs look for the "Demolition Man" because he does his job so good he has to be specially looked at. He is as tough as nails and an enormous asset to this team. I am not down grading Johan his achievments are great, but I am not sure he can replace Homer. Just my opinion. This team without Homer in the playoff's is weakened.

Before his injuries he was on a very similar streak as Johan... VERY!!!!

Edited March 31, 2008 by IceMunkee

[awingsincebirth 0]

I hate all this comparison of who's better than who. We've got Hank or Dats, Dom or Ozzy, and now Mule or Homer. I try to avoid participation in these types of threats, because I tend to be of the mindset of, we've got ALL of these guys, we're blessed, we've got a great team, who cares who is better than who, as long as everyone has their role, I'm happy.

Although, now that I've written this I can see how it might be construed as condescending, which it is certainly not intended to be. That's just the way that I personally feel.

[IceMunkee 15]

I hate all this comparison of who's better than who. We've got Hank or Dats, Dom or Ozzy, and now Mule or Homer. I try to avoid participation in these types of threats, because I tend to be of the mindset of, we've got ALL of these guys, we're blessed, we've got a great team, who cares who is better than who, as long as everyone has their role, I'm happy.

Although, now that I've written this I can see how it might be construed as condescending, which it is certainly not intended to be. That's just the way that I personally feel.

Sometimes it bothers me too. I espiecally do not like howw fast people flip flop. Look at it this way though, they are being discussed. I am sure noone wants to rid of either at hand just discuss the differances, without that Mat may be unemployed.

[norrisnick 1]

I think the recent play of Johan is deluding your opinion of Homer. Man this happens so much on here. Homer is known and feared by every goalie in the league. He has his own knickname from the NHL as a whole not just the team. The refs look for the "Demolition Man" because he does his job so good he has to be specially looked at. He is as tough as nails and an enormous asset to this team. I am not down grading Johan his achievments are great, but I am not sure he can replace Homer. Just my opinion. This team without Homer in the playoff's is weakened.

Before his injuries he was on a very similar streak as Johan... VERY!!!!

If by similar you mean the exact opposite I agree. Prior to getting hurt he hadn't scored a goal in 16 games. 16 games. With 99.9% of his shifts alongside Datsyuk and/or Zetterberg.

Homer is a tremendously streaky player, but he is great at what he does (ie net-front presence). But that is the only thing he does well. Turns out that Franzen is tremendously good in Homer's office as well, but when he isn't doing that he is better than Homer at every other aspect of hockey.

When Homer gets healthy he should take the crease role for the PP unit, but ES it should be Franzen up on the top line. Best way to utilize their respective strengths and minimize weaknesses.

[MannyK 16]

looks like we didn't need Lazy-and-Sucks afterall to take of all our last season GWGs.....

GO FRANZENSTEIN!

[eva unit zero 271]

Personally I'd much rather see Cleary on the 2nd line instead of the 3rd.

I'd rather Cleary on the third because Filppula/Hudler provides the same kind of dynamic as Zetterberg/Datsyuk...which is a dynamic we know works well with Homer.

Cleary with Kopecky and Samuelsson provides more of a defensive third line that can still score, which balances out the offense a bit.

[IceMunkee 15]

If by similar you mean the exact opposite I agree. Prior to getting hurt he hadn't scored a goal in 16 games. 16 games. With 99.9% of his shifts alongside Datsyuk and/or Zetterberg.

Homer is a tremendously streaky player, but he is great at what he does (ie net-front presence). But that is the only thing he does well. Turns out that Franzen is tremendously good in Homer's office as well, but when he isn't doing that he is better than Homer at every other aspect of hockey.

When Homer gets healthy he should take the crease role for the PP unit, but ES it should be Franzen up on the top line. Best way to utilize their respective strengths and minimize weaknesses.

Before the month of March, Johan had 15 goals in 66 games. That is a goal every 4.4 games. The injury previous to this one was the one I was thinking about. I think it was the month of December but Homer went on a huge point streak. I am not taking anything from Johan, he is a great player. I just don't think Homer is mediocre as you make him to be.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

I'd rather Cleary on the third because Filppula/Hudler provides the same kind of dynamic as Zetterberg/Datsyuk...which is a dynamic we know works well with Homer.

Cleary with Kopecky and Samuelsson provides more of a defensive third line that can still score, which balances out the offense a bit.

That's fine in principle but last year we all saw that Cleary should get top six minutes out there... He's easily our third best forward in the post-season.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

If confidence and/or playing time was the issue with Franzen, and he can maintain this level of play, then I think we have a top 6 that is capable of winning a cup. He gives Detroit something we havent had in a long time. A big man scoring threat. When you take guys like Sammy and Hudler out of the top 6, and put Cleary and Franzen up there, you suddenly go from having a very unbalanced top 6 to a dynamic one. Each line will have 2 great defensive forwards, a goal scorer, an elite set up man, a net-front presence, a hardhat player, a guy wholl use the body, and all of them have a great work ethic.

If Flip and Homer are truly healthy for the playoffs, Id have to think we have one of the best top sixes going into the playoffs.