Franzen - can we afford to keep him?

[Nev 1,085]

I know he's on fire right now, but this is going on too long for it to be just a hot streak IMO. Seems like he's really putting it all together - going to the net, playing with confidence, using his size, using his great hands. I don't want to descend into hyperbole, but a full season at this level would make him one of the best power forwards in the game.

Its not inconceivable that next year he will score 30-40 goals, and if he does he's going to want a lot more than the $2-2.5M that LGWers assign him when we do our fantasy salary cap charts.

Don't forget those 2 magic words for Franzen next season - "Contract year"!

EDIT: can someone correct the thread title please?

Edited April 25, 2008 by Nev

[gcom007 1,465]

Tis a bit scary to consider but I think we'll be ok...

[ilmickeyli 40]

i think its safe to say franzen isnt going anywhere.

there's a reason he's always smiling out there

i mean, sure, one could consider it a long ass streak.. (nothing against him, i think he has the hands and is very overrated)

bottom line:

he'll get what he wants.. and it will be reasonable.

[norrisnick 1]

Easy. Offer him a deal like Cleary/Kronwall THIS summer and don't worry about the contract year. If he's offered 5 years near $3M/yr he bites. He'd be stupid not too.

[Opie 308]

I think the team will be ok, as long as the do it before an offer sheet is thrown at him

[toby91_ca 620]

Easy. Offer him a deal like Cleary/Kronwall THIS summer and don't worry about the contract year. If he's offered 5 years near $3M/yr he bites. He'd be stupid not too.

I think it is risky to offer him that much money, but that doesn't mean it isn't the right thing to do. It would be risky not to as well.

I think it is warranted to take notice that he is currently the team leader in goals, pts and +/-, but you do have to take that cautiously as we are only talking about 7 games.

[norrisnick 1]

I think it is risky to offer him that much money, but that doesn't mean it isn't the right thing to do. It would be risky not to as well.

I think it is warranted to take notice that he is currently the team leader in goals, pts and +/-, but you do have to take that cautiously as we are only talking about 7 games.

There is no risk with offering Franzen $2.5-ish-3M/yr for 5 years. He's completely solid all-around and with the rising cap, that's a more than manageable salary for a scoring/checking line utility forward that can spearhead a checking/PK unit or complement skill guys and chip in 20-ish goals. The only concern is injury, but that's a risk with signing any player.

I guarantee that he, along with Filppula, are exceedingly high priorities along with Zetterberg come July 1st. Sign those three and our core is intact for at least two more solid cup run attempts (Nick's contract length).

[betterREDthandead 58]

Zetterberg makes almost $3 million next year without an extension. If the Wings sign him to an extension that gives him, say, $7.5 million, that can almost be fit into the cap space we currently have of about $4.3 million. And don't forget, the cap is likely to rise by $6 million next year, and higher in following years. That's way more than enough money to pay Franzen and Flip their fair share. Cap space is not an issue.

[WhiteLightning91 105]

I think the team will be ok, as long as the do it before an offer sheet is thrown at him

Franzen will be a UFA. Offer sheets will not be an issue -- he can sign wherever he wants without us being able to match.