Franzen is now the Leader in Playoff Goals

[06TJSport 0]

Cleary was great all season until his jaw got busted. It seems like he hasnt done much since. He's not as aggressive on the boards, he doesnt get his nose into palys like before, its like he's backed off a step.

well he did lose like 15 lbs before he came back, i'm sure he didnt get all that back and its not as easy to play the style he did 15 lbs lighter. I assume by the beginning of next season he'll be back to his old style of play and racking up the points like he did pre-injury. Untimely injury for him, but I'm not gonna rag on the guy until he is back 100%

[Third Man In 2,091]

On NBC's website, they've got a pretty cool selection from the isocam on Franzen from game 2. I really like the view it shows of his second goal. He shakes off 3 Avs like it's nothing, walks out in front of the net, and beats Theo with an absolutely brilliant backhand to the top corner.

Check it out, because it quite possibly will be the only cool thing ever on the NBC website.

[Yzerfan1999 81]

I bet they give him something similar to the Cleary deal at some point next year. Something averaging around 2.8-3?

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I bet they give him something similar to the Cleary deal at some point next year. Something averaging around 2.8-3?

That may be what they throw at him, but thats not what hes gonna take. Its a good thing we have some cap space, because hes definitely gonna be looking at Patrick Sharp money now. 27 goals in the regular season. 7 in the playoffs already. 22 goals in his last 24 games. Hes big, fast, gritty, smart, skilled. Hes a new NHL gem. Hes Todd Bertuzzi Lite with a better work ethic.

I expect he lands 3.5 at least. Every team in the NHL would throw 4M at him on the open market.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Power forward's absolutely the right description for Franzen. Ridiculous hands, ugh. More people need to refer to him as a PF.

No they dont. At least not if they want to use the term correctly. Franzen is not a power forward. There are a handful of those in the NHL, and Dustin Brown is probably the only one who truly fits the mold.

Franzen isnt nearly nasty or physical enough to be a power forward.

[Yzerfan1999 81]

That may be what they throw at him, but thats not what hes gonna take. Its a good thing we have some cap space, because hes definitely gonna be looking at Patrick Sharp money now. 27 goals in the regular season. 7 in the playoffs already. 22 goals in his last 24 games. Hes big, fast, gritty, smart, skilled. Hes a new NHL gem. Hes Todd Bertuzzi Lite with a better work ethic.

I expect he lands 3.5 at least. Every team in the NHL would throw 4M at him on the open market.

Right now yes - but the contract offer from Holland will also have to do with his performance during the season next year. If he gets around 20 goals and 40 pts, then I think we can expect a Cleary-like contract. If he continues to put the puck in the net like he has for the last month, you are right - it will be upwards of 3.5.

Not that I am hoping the guy does poorly or anything, and I am ecstatic about his recent play - but he will have to prove consistency next year to want that kinda cash. I sure hope he stays hot!

[Majsheppard 203]

DAP

I bet his contract will be one that gets bigger and ends somewhere around 4.5 and starts somewhere around 3.

DAP

DAP

DAP

[fixxxer 11]

No they dont. At least not if they want to use the term correctly. Franzen is not a power forward. There are a handful of those in the NHL, and Dustin Brown is probably the only one who truly fits the mold.

Franzen isnt nearly nasty or physical enough to be a power forward.

I agree though he has the potential to be a power forward. A friend and I where just talking about this. If he gets that hard nose and drives to the net (which the wings are missing that type of player) more often then I think he can get that power forward lable. He's lately been doing that more often goin to the net and hopefully he realizes with the size he has he can score more goals that way.

In any event keep up the good work Franzen!

[Guest LivingtheDream]

Chalk up another steal for the Wings through great drafting.

Right on! We don't need to buy a top six power forward, we grew our own. He has really come of age! Hang on fans, it may get even better with him!

[Guest LivingtheDream]

well he did lose like 15 lbs before he came back, i'm sure he didnt get all that back and its not as easy to play the style he did 15 lbs lighter. I assume by the beginning of next season he'll be back to his old style of play and racking up the points like he did pre-injury. Untimely injury for him, but I'm not gonna rag on the guy until he is back 100%

Cleary is doing fine by me given he has to wear that Hannibal thing. I think he has been very aggressive and in it. The guy plays with heart and a few others could do the same. Meanwhile the Mule is kicking!!!

Hey, I like the sound of that. Kinda clever I think - Mule/kicking!

[gsusluvshockey 0]

you can really see that he is hungry for the Cup. That is something we've lacked the past couple of years.

Its strange. Back in 02, it just felt like we were going to take it all.

After beating nashville, that feeling came back. This is the first time I've felt that way since 02. We look and play like a team that is hungry for the Cup.

Edited April 28, 2008 by gsusluvshockey

[Opie 308]

The parallels with the 2002 Cup run just keep growing....

I, too, am afraid of Frazen's future. This kid is coming out this year, and could command a relatively big contract and role. Will he be willing to continue being a second liner (or first liner, I guess) with Detroit, behind Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and Holmstrom? I'd hate to see him leave now that he's good.

Something about the way he said "Steve Yzerman gave it to me" when he was talking about his nickname gave me a sense of relief with the issue of him leaving.

When he finished that statement his face, and his pause before explaining it sort of said, nuff said! But I think he realized that his adoring fans needed more, or the ignorant guy interviewing him need more of an explanation.

He seems to understand the history that goes along with being a Red Wing.

I am not saying he should stay or will stay if offered more money or a 1st line gig, I am just saying when a guy answers a question, and his face is kind of like, DUH! Stevie gave it to me, that is all it takes!!!

How funny is it by the way to hear all of the young guys call him Steve Yzerman, just a couple of years ago the whole team was calling him Stevie or Yzerman or some other form of his name, now all of the guys (I should say youngsters) refer to him as Steve Yzerman, it seems so much more formal!

[Opie 308]

Right on! We don't need to buy a top six power forward, we grew our own. He has really come of age! Hang on fans, it may get even better with him!

Part of me wonders if this is why Babs played Sammy so much and praised him so much. Remember I am a guy that has defended Sammy all year, and now I think next year he is extra weight. I think Sammy's play has come around these last two games, but that doesn't change a thing in my mind. Sammy was a role player who filled out the top 6 in a time when Det, was short at least one top 6 forward. Now when healthy this team has a legit 7 guys (excluding Sammy) that have proven they can play top 6, Cleary though has shown he and Draper are a damn good pairing together. Mule has taken over the top 6 forward spot from Sammy.

I wonder if all along Babs has been waiting patiently for Mule to take over like this, was that his master plan all along or did it fall into his lap??

[Opie 308]

Cleary is doing fine by me given he has to wear that Hannibal thing. I think he has been very aggressive and in it. The guy plays with heart and a few others could do the same. Meanwhile the Mule is kicking!!!

Hey, I like the sound of that. Kinda clever I think - Mule/kicking!

Not to hijack/derail/ steamroll the thread but do you guys think that minus the chin guard Cleary gets that High sticking call?

Which btw would have been 4 minute variety in the middle of the parade to the box COL was already having.

[RedWingAbner 13]

Hey guys,

Regardless of how he plays in the next few seasons, I think this is truly a post-season that turns an ordinary player into a playoff legend. This year, it's Franzen.

I'm not saying he's an all-time great or anything, but what he is doing (if he keeps it up) could go down as one of the greatest post-season performances of all-time. But he's been pretty clutch in the playoffs for several seasons. Consider:

Goal that (should have) won Game 6, vs. Edmonton, in 2006 (Thanks Manny)

Series winning OT goal vs. Flames, 2007

Crucial Game 5 goal vs. Nashville

Carrying the Wings vs. Colorado in Games 1 & 2

What does everyone think? Could Johan's playoffs go down as one of the all-time greatest?

(You don't mess with Johan)

[Jedi 1,865]

It's way too early to make that prediction.

Stein is having a fantastic postseason, and I want it to continue as much as anyone else. But we're only 8 games into the playoffs...

[wingslogo19 281]

Mule is kicking ass

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Hey guys,

Regardless of how he plays in the next few seasons, I think this is truly a post-season that turns an ordinary player into a playoff legend. This year, it's Franzen.

I'm not saying he's an all-time great or anything, but what he is doing (if he keeps it up) could go down as one of the greatest post-season performances of all-time. But he's been pretty clutch in the playoffs for several seasons. Consider:

Goal that (should have) won Game 6, vs. Edmonton, in 2006 (Thanks Manny)

Series winning OT goal vs. Flames, 2007

Crucial Game 5 goal vs. Nashville

Carrying the Wings vs. Colorado in Games 1 & 2

What does everyone think? Could Johan's playoffs go down as one of the all-time greatest?

(You don't mess with Johan)

People forget too easily what kind of numbers Gretzky and Lemieux used to put up in the playoffs when their teams won Cups. They'd make Franzen's current stats look insignificant and laughable.

Also, even though I hate their stupid ass team, Sakic's performance in 1996 was incredible. I think he scored something like 18 goals that year in the playoffs. I don't know if we'll ever see that again.

[miller76 463]

thank you for merging these threads. lol. My wife looked at the GD page and was like "whats all the stuff about a Mule? I thought you were talking hockey!" lmao!

Edited April 28, 2008 by miller76

[Icer 0]

People forget too easily what kind of numbers Gretzky and Lemieux used to put up in the playoffs when their teams won Cups. They'd make Franzen's current stats look insignificant and laughable.

Also, even though I hate their stupid ass team, Sakic's performance in 1996 was incredible. I think he scored something like 18 goals that year in the playoffs. I don't know if we'll ever see that again.

Gretzky's best playoffs was 17 goals. Lemieux had 16 twice. But Jari Kurri and Reggie Leach hold the record with 19.

[Third Man In 2,091]

Part of me wonders if this is why Babs played Sammy so much and praised him so much. Remember I am a guy that has defended Sammy all year, and now I think next year he is extra weight. I think Sammy's play has come around these last two games, but that doesn't change a thing in my mind. Sammy was a role player who filled out the top 6 in a time when Det, was short at least one top 6 forward. Now when healthy this team has a legit 7 guys (excluding Sammy) that have proven they can play top 6, Cleary though has shown he and Draper are a damn good pairing together. Mule has taken over the top 6 forward spot from Sammy.

I wonder if all along Babs has been waiting patiently for Mule to take over like this, was that his master plan all along or did it fall into his lap??

Opie, I think you are right about the Franzen-Sammy thing: considering that Mule is exactly 3 years younger than Sammy (just looked that up--how weird is it that they share a birthday, Dec 23?), his potential upside has been higher for some time, even before he went on his tear. And I agree that Cleary when he is on his game (and likely not wearing the jaw guard) is a top 6 forward for this team.

But Sammy's not been a place holder, as he's been playing on the second line with Mule and Flip. As much crap as he takes here (admittedly, some from me for his PP "prowess"), he's the type of player that allows players like Cleary and Huddles to play on the third line and, considering how well Helm-Mac-Drake have played, really gives this team the ability to roll four solid lines.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Gretzky's best playoffs was 17 goals. Lemieux had 16 twice. But Jari Kurri and Reggie Leach hold the record with 19.

But you're forgetting that the amount of assists Gretkzy put up catapulted him ahead of anyone else as far as all time playoff scoring goes. No one is in his league in that department, except for Lemieux.