Franzen?!?!?!?!?!?

[Elshupacabra 0]

This probably guarantees that Franzen will go to July 1st unsigned.

Edited February 7, 2009 by Elshupacabra

[ShanahanMan 473]

God, I hate this guy. He believes he has "special" access to the offices of hockey clubs yet his rumor rate of being correct is about 20% and the ones that ARE correct are reported other sites first. THEN he has the audacity to CHARGE people to get full access of the site. Man, this dude really needs to get over himself.

If this DOES happen to be true, we can kiss Hossa goodbye.

Edited February 7, 2009 by ShanahanMan

[xBrave_Heartx 0]

What skacore said

[titanium2 867]

http://www.windsorstar.com/Sports/Wings+no...2321/story.html

"Sources with knowledge of the talks said the Wings are entertaining thoughts of a five-to-eight year deal for Franzen.

If the deal is of the longer variety, then the last couple years will likely be similar to Zetterberg's contract. Zetterberg sees his salary drop to $1-million per season in the final two years to reduce the cap hit."

In regards to Hossa, nothing much new, but a little bit I suppose:

"I know what kind of deal I want. I just want to stay for a long time.

"Obviously, this is great to be part of. We'll see how negotiating will go.

"It could be a few days, a few months or after the end of the year."

Hossa left the distinct impression it wasn't matter of if, but when something might be worked out.

[seeinred 1,488]

This is why Eklund sucks:

After reporting that the Isles were for sale for less than 100 million, here's what Chris Botta, Isles former communication director said:

How do you respond to a fraud?

Do you even try?

Do you theorize about how wild Islanders rumors are gold - they’re gold, Jerry! - on the information superhighway?

Do you point out how the fraud has been 99% wrong and 99.9% hallucinatory (the latter could be from his alleged days in rock and roll).

Do you link to all the stories written by pros questioning his integrity and even his life story?

Do I re-live the tale of how he was once purposefully mis-directed on a bogus Islanders free agent rumor and completely took the bait?

Do I openly speculate about the fraudulent site having knowledge that I’m out of the country right now and thinking this might be a good time to blind-side the fans with a rumor destined to provoke a lot of Visits?

I’ve spoken to the Fraudmeister a few times. One thing he always tells me is how his site is supposed to be “fun,” how he’d never report anything that would hurt anyone. Really?

Do I discuss how the Islanders once caught the fraud back-timing his reports to make it look like he had a trade scoop before anyone else?

Do I even go there - do I even think about…uh, aw, I can’t. I’ll keep that one in my hip pocket.

How do you respond to a fraud?

Do you even try?

Yes, in the case of life-altering fraudulence like this, you do. The people of Islanders Country deserve an answer. There’s nothing here, folks. Could he have at least done a better job making up a pricetag?

Then Douchey McDoucherson responds:

Hey all,

I have a few responses to the article written about my reporting on the RUMOUR that the NY Islanders are for sale. As is my deal in these situations I don’t battle nor belittle other writers for their opinions, sources, or perspectives.

There is NO ONE more connected to the Isles than Botta. He is the best at what he does and what he has done is what I wish more people would do…give us all a better peak inside.

What I wrote was a response to a rumor that the NY Islanders were for sale for under 100 million. This was told to me by a very good source. I run a positive site, as many of you know, and I thought long and hard before reporting this. When I did report it, I clearly did so with the NY Islanders fans in the front and center of my mind. In my story I praised the fanbase. I know your passion all too well. I even published the Lighthouse petition address.

I only reported this rumor because I felt that IF it were true and went unreported the fans would never have gotten a last chance to make their stand. If it isn’t TRUE, then great. All is well on the Island.

In recent years we have seen stories that reporting on stories involving team potential sales has focused a fanbase. In Pittsburgh, it was the trip to Kansas City. In Nashville, it was many things done by Balsillie.

It was these incidences that gave the politicians the juice needed to take the important last steps. In some cases, when you cover a team really closely, you are put into a difficult spot. It has happened to me in Philly and elsewhere. I get it. I have nothing but respect for Chris and his connections and opinions on the NY Islanders.

I ask you all to remember last year when I broke that Doug MacLean and others were in talks to buy the Lightning. The reaction was overwhelmingly denial from Tampa. A few days later they held a presser. A few weeks later it fell apart.

I am not saying it is a given and the Isles will be moved.. I am simply saying that I feel a responsibility to Islanders fans too strongly to ignore something like this.

As for cheapshots and pissing matches. I know the story behind the stories and so does Chris Botta. We are friends and have worked side by side in press boxes. I have had great long conversations with Botta. I was unaware that he was out of the country and can only assume that he didnt even read what I wrote (since I didn’t even have the 75Million Number) and instead was basing his reaction from reading comments.

Let me be wrong here. but seriously, better safe than sorry.

if any of you don’t think I get the Islanders, may I suggest this…

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=6973

I will also promise you this, FWIW. I have contacted the Isles from the beginning of the season and told them that I would do whatever I could do to help them. I dont want to see them move. I will attend rallies, write letters, and continue to write stories in support of your team.

thanks for listening and best of luck to Chris and the Isles

And let's not forget about this awesome info from Eklund: http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=18420

I was told it is done by three sources. Mats to the Rangers. Stay tuned much more to come including how the Rangers will make it work.

Update: I am told that one of the teams involved in these sweeps has been informed of Mats decision..

So, in summation, Eklund is a ****** and why anyone believes anything he says is beyond me.

[IceMunkee 15]

Looks like Franzen is not resigning in Detroit.

Eklund said last year that Hossa was an E5 to resign in Pittsburg...

[MacK_Attack 108]

e5 is "supposed" to be a done deal. He claims there has never been an e5 report that didn't come to fruition.

Also, Eklund is a ****** bag.

Ryan Smyth re-signing with Edmonton was an e5. He even declared it on TV.

Has this guy ever legitimately reported a signing or trade? If I realized I could make cash blatantly lying to people and offering no substance, I'd have done this a long time ago.

Malkin to Kings!

He got the Hossa-for-Heatley about 2 days before it happened.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Ryan Smyth re-signing with Edmonton was an e5. He even declared it on TV.

He got the Hossa-for-Heatley about 2 days before it happened.

Hence my quotation marks.

[LIDDYGIBBY5 1]

Ryan Smyth re-signing with Edmonton was an e5. He even declared it on TV.

He got the Hossa-for-Heatley about 2 days before it happened.

I know a guy that get herpes from a stripper. You never know what will fall into your lap when you get up in the morning.

[Wingaling 0]

I pick Hossa over Franzen any day of the week, and Im sure Holland would too. Hossa is the guy that generates when no one else can seem to. He completes the "Triple threat", if we were to lock him up for a years to come we guarante a great team instead of a good one. There is a shift coming in the league with Boston and San Jose and we gotta stay Stacked, as well as add a couple "Power" forwards to our roster. But we gotta sign Hossa!

[elriqo28 2]

first off EK is a moron. No one should ever listen to him about anything. Now, I wanted to state that after a lot of consideration I think that wings should go with Hossa, and if Franzen is going to cost too much (which he will) we should let him go and sign Hudler instead. We will get him for cheaper and he is becoming more and more of a scoring threat everyday.

The other option that I think we SHOULD, but WONT do is to trade or dump Filppula. He is making way too much for how s***ty he is playing and I'd much rather we keep Huds than Filppula. That way we could also sign Franzen with Hossa. I'd much prefer those three than any other combination with Filppula still on the team.

Start the bashing if you want, but look at the stats and you can't argue Hudler isnt a better player than Flip.

[Ms_Hockey 0]

Courtesy of freep.com:

Negotiations with Franzen have progressed steadily.

"I think we're in the ballpark, but we don't have a deal done," Holland said Monday.

So.. who knows how true this really is.

[Winged_Wheeler 3]

Franzen is signing and so is Hossa.

I've spoke with Hossa and he told me he's living a players dream by playing in Detroit and his agent is trying hard to work out a deal with Ken Holland.

[waitahochiminute 2]

I think we gotta trust our badass Ken Holland. He'll get both the Mule and Hossa to sign...I hope

[Guest Murph]

I was all for re-signing Franzen earlier in the season, but the guy is the size of a Viking and is a big wuss. Also he gets hurt 2-3 times a year. Absolutely made of paper.

I wasn't a big Hossa fan, but he's really grown on me. I say re-sign Hossa over Mule.

[Guest Murph]

I was all for re-signing Franzen earlier in the season, but the guy is the size of a Viking and is a big wuss. Also he gets hurt 2-3 times a year. Absolutely made of paper. The guy's nickname is, 'The Mule' but he can't play 20 games without getting hurt. Reliable like a Mule, right?

I wasn't a big Hossa fan, but he's really grown on me. I say re-sign Hossa over Mule.

Edited February 23, 2009 by Murph

[boomer 0]

I was all for re-signing Franzen earlier in the season, but the guy is the size of a Viking and is a big wuss. Also he gets hurt 2-3 times a year. Absolutely made of paper. The guy's nickname is, 'The Mule' but he can't play 20 games without getting hurt. Reliable like a Mule, right?

I wasn't a big Hossa fan, but he's really grown on me. I say re-sign Hossa over Mule.

Totally agree with you mule is a misnomer for this guy. Remember when Gary Roberts took a swat at him last year in the Finals and he did a big song and dance, kind of wimpy his act was even if it was to draw a penalty. It's funny I felt the same about Hossa at the outset as you did, but now I see him as part of the big picture. Franzen I'd trade in a heartbeat for a gritty defenseman.

[boomer 0]

Looks like Franzen is not resigning in Detroit.

Eklund said last year that Hossa was an E5 to resign in Pittsburg...

Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[eva unit zero 271]

Eklund really doesn't deserve all the negativity that he gets whenever his name is mentioned. His sources are legit, he tells people what he hears, and talk goes on all the time. He talks to people on the inside of the hockey world and he literally reports everything he hears, if you know how his system works, you probably wouldn't be so fast to judge. Don't get worked up over anything e1, e2, e3, it means he has heard a rumor or two from a reliable source. e4 I think is the one that claims his source said it's a done deal, then e5 is almost definite. Everyday he reports what he hears to you fans, who creep on your computers all day long to hear SOME sort of rumor or update, and yet he always gets blasted, don't get yourself too worked up over a small rumor.

The majority of his rumors do not turn out as reported, but that doesn't mean they are fake or lies, just that the deal didn't go through. If you can't help yourself from getting caught up in the dream world that every rumor he reports is going to happen, then don't go to his site. If you want to be somewhat informed of what might happen before it actually happens, give him a go.

Show me a better site for hockey rumors and inside information.

Here it is.

Écouter!

[Frozen-Man 144]

Here it is.

�couter!

:hysterical:

[skacore 2]

sup http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20...zen_says_d.html