Johan Franzen and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

[eva unit zero 271]

I hope you are right, I think that if Z were willing to sign for 7.45 the deal would already be done. Holland said he felt they were close at training camp. The fact that he still isn't signed must mean either Z wants more than the Wings expected or the Wings are possibly waiting to keep their options open.

Or perhaps Holland can't officially sign him to an extension until Jan 1st?

[Mikhailov 0]

Here's another question regarding Franzen's paycheck. Say he carries on for the rest of the season at an average or slightly above average pace. Average scoring from him, nothing like he pulled off at the end of last season but a legitimate second line scorer. At the same time, Valtteri Filppula carries on with his current pace, doesn't pot too many goals or a load of points, but is good on the defensive side of the puck, does things right. I believe Filppula is locked up for 5 years at $15 million? Does Filppula's low point totals make Franzen's worth go up? Should it have an effect? Can Franzen use Valtteri as leverage in negotiations, in that he can say "well I got this many goals over Flip, more assits, I backcheck hard, I feel I should make more than him." Can Flip's salary be a point of reference or can Holland cite this as a case of under acheiving?

Even though this sort of strays off topic I've always wondered why a team like Detroit, who we all know is an attractive team to play for for players, doesn't introduce a set salary into positions. Where as you could say, "well for a first line center we'll pay you $xxx.xxxx amount of money". Whether that's Pavel Datsyuk or Nate Thompson(NYI), if that's who you're top line center is that's what he makes. I know there would have to be some sort of standard and team accepted rule towards all this, with some flexibilty(I'm not even sure the CBA would allow something like that), as lines are shuffled all the time but I think you see what I mean. If Detroit had implemented this then Franzen would already know what he's going to make, so to speak. Hossa would've known the deal and what to expect numbers-wise this coming off season and everyone would have a better idea come contract time. There's obviously a lot of reasons that couldn't work but I haven't sat around and thought about intangibles seeing as I don't get paid to do that and am not a GM. Just a little brainstorm.

[eva unit zero 271]

Here's another question regarding Franzen's paycheck. Say he carries on for the rest of the season at an average or slightly above average pace. Average scoring from him, nothing like he pulled off at the end of last season but a legitimate second line scorer. At the same time, Valtteri Filppula carries on with his current pace, doesn't pot too many goals or a load of points, but is good on the defensive side of the puck, does things right. I believe Filppula is locked up for 5 years at $15 million? Does Filppula's low point totals make Franzen's worth go up? Should it have an effect? Can Franzen use Valtteri as leverage in negotiations, in that he can say "well I got this many goals over Flip, more assits, I backcheck hard, I feel I should make more than him." Can Flip's salary be a point of reference or can Holland cite this as a case of under acheiving?

Franzen is not comparable to Filppula because Flip's contract was signed largely with potential in mind; he will be overpaid for the first couple seasons if you go by cap hit and underpaid towards the end is the idea. Franzen is much older, so he should be signing a deal based on what his output is NOW, now what it will be in three years, because he is at the age when most players will have a few years of consistent play and then start to tail off. Flip can't really be used as an example for Franzen's contract.

[Guest MrSandMan]

Franzen is not comparable to Filppula because Flip's contract was signed largely with potential in mind; he will be overpaid for the first couple seasons if you go by cap hit and underpaid towards the end is the idea. Franzen is much older, so he should be signing a deal based on what his output is NOW, now what it will be in three years, because he is at the age when most players will have a few years of consistent play and then start to tail off. Flip can't really be used as an example for Franzen's contract.

I would more compare Franzen's worth slightly more than of Holmstrom and Holmer only earns 2.5 per year?

Im my perfect little world, I'd like it like this with home team discount and the fact that Detroit is a desirable place to play...and our management is loyal.

Zetter: $6.75

Franzen: $3.25

Hudler: $2.5

[Doc Holiday 0]

If we have to lose Franzen, put him on Pittsburgh.

He'd score 50 goals with Crosby feeding him.

[AtomicPunk 296]

The thing I take out of this is....

They have Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Fleury, Whitney, all these great young players...

BUT THEY WANT OURS!! HAHAHAHHAHAHA!

Jealous Much, Pens Fans?

[Frozen-Man 144]

You're a lame fan. Sure glad Holland has more sense, gratitude and loyalty than you.

Run along....

ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

[ComradeWasabi 109]

I think Franzen's upside is greater in that 1) he can skate and 2) he can shoot, whereas Homer is better at screening and deflections. Given how effectively Franzen transitioned into Homer's spot last march, I think he's worth more than $750K more than Homer. The $3.25mil number for Franzen would be nice, but I think it's probably a little bit low. $4 seems to be the spot for him, any more than that is overpaid.

Keep in mind that all 3 are going to have unspoken peer pressure to follow the Wings standard and take less. Homer could certainly make more than $2.5 mil elsewhere, Cleary could have made upwards of $3 mil last year when he was resigned, Pav is a bargain at $6.7 mil, never mind Lidstrom who is dirt cheap at $7.45 million for what he brings to the table. Ultimately I think it's highly unlikely that Zetterberg will want any more than Lidstrom, and if he does, I think he's on his way out.

[Frozen-Man 144]

See, I disagree. I am not saying nor will I ever say that Z is not important to the team. The heart though, not so sure. Maybe a valve of the heart but the whole heart? It is not a loyalty thing or maybe it is, as soon as Hossa became a Wings I was loyal to him as any other wing. I like to think my loyalty is more towards the winged wheel then any individual player. I just think Hossa is slightly better then Z and if I had to chose Z/Mule or Hossa/Mule I would choose the ladder. Idealy I would keep Hank and Hossa, or all three. I am just putting a bit of logic in my thoughts. The only way I will be totally disappointed is if we only retain one of the Big Three.

I see what you are saying but I don't think that you can separate the two. The Winged Wheel is made up of individual players and we like them to be loyal to the team. Z has been a loyal little soldier for the team since he was drafted. He has worked hard year in and year out for the team and has led them to a Cup. He has given this team a lot and one of the reasons (in my opinion) that guys like Stevie, Dats, Homer, and Lids take discounts is because they know that the team will not just kick them to the curb when they are no longer the prettiest girl in the class or a better one comes along (sorry really bad analogy for hockey players but I couldn't think of anything else). I mean how long are players going to be loyal to the Wings if the Wings aren't loyal to players that have been such a part of the team. I would love to keep Hossa, Z, and Mule but unless they want to take HUGE discounts (which they might do because the Wings always take care of their players in the long run) we probably can't and I don't see how we keep getting guys to consider what is best for the Wings organization if the organization doesn't do a quid pro quo for the players.

[Frozen-Man 144]

Or perhaps Holland can't officially sign him to an extension until Jan 1st?

HaHaHaHaHa

That's what I was just about to post. Right on top of the rules as always Eva

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

If Hank signs right after Jan 1, LGW very well may explode due to the number of posts