Rafalski out Sat, Mule maybe out Monday

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

Bad News:

Rafalski will not be taking the trip to Buffalo due to back spasms. He is hoping to join the team for the trip to California however.

Good News:

Franzen is a maybe for Monday. His wife is due with their first child on Saturday. Franzen said they will induce labor on Sunday if she hasn't had it yet.

Red Bird One will be making a short stop in Detroit between Buffalo and LA swapping Franzen for Raffy.

Also, Osgood's wife is due sometime in March.

http://www.freep.com/article/20110225/SPORTS05/110225036/1053/sports05

[Gordie Howe hat trick 110]

Good news overall I would say.

[Majsheppard 203]

Worth losing one man game for one future man. (or woman)

Congrats, and hopefully congrats on having another generation of Mules and Wizards wearing the Red Wing.

[HankthaTank 1,100]

Congrats Mule family. Hopefully he can refocus after this and bear down for the playoff push like only he can.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Is that what's distracting Mule? We all know how that went for Luongo a few years back.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Is that what's distracting Mule? We all know how that went for Luongo a few years back.

It's certainly possible. Being a first time father would definitely weigh on my thoughts.

[Konnan511 1,736]

And the US gets another future NHL star (if it's a boy ). mwahahahaa

[wingslogo19 281]

Congrats to the Mule family

[hooon 1,089]

I thought Mules were infertile? Its a miracle!

Congrats to the Franzens, hopefully years from now the Mule can tell his kid "and then RIGHT after you were born, I went on the biggest scoring streak in the history of hockey!"

Edited February 26, 2011 by hooon

[HankthaTank 1,100]

Congrats to the Franzens, hopefully years from now the Mule can tell his kid "and then RIGHT after you were born, I went on the biggest scoring streak in the history of hockey!"

Got to wait until April-June for that to happen

[McAwesome 754]

Got to wait until April-June for that to happen

Are you forgetting about March '08? 14 goals, team-record 6 GWG, continued his hot streak well into the playoffs before getting a concussion. I would welcome that kind of response to becoming a first-time father.

[55fan 5,133]

Draper's youngest was born right before the 2008 Cup and it made for a really cute pic.

Just sayin'.

[dirtydangles 1,328]

can't be upset about mule - the guys gonna be a father! i bet his kid will come out bucking his heels.

that really sucks about raffi. i wanted to get a look at our team when we are healthy on top 3 lines and d. oh well, itll have to wait.

maybe sometime next week when raffi and eaves are both back we will be fully healthy.

[Original-Six 254]

Cool didn't know Franzen had a kid on the way. Congrats, hopefully he will find some kind of a grove now too.

[under_par_00 45]

INDUCE!!! INDUCE LABOR!!!!

Haha, seriously tho, I want to see Mule out there kicking on Monday. If he has a kid, send him on the West Coast swing and let him tear it up as he anxiously awaits his homecoming. Can't play any worse than he has recently!

And of course, hope all goes well with the birthing of a BABY MULE!!! Ahhhhhh

[sixer 37]

Why is Joey Macdonald starting in net Saturday night!!!!

It's not back to back games and we've lost three in a row, get Jimmy in there, Joey sucks!

My link

[wings1110 184]

dont really care to see mule playing at all babs should put him in the press box.

[Buppy 1,720]

dont really care to see mule playing at all babs should put him in the press box.

But...he's on a 34 goal pace his last 12 games!

That's better than the season stats of anyone on the team except Cleary!

[wings1110 184]

But...he's on a 34 goal pace his last 12 games!

That's better than the season stats of anyone on the team except Cleary!

i wish we could put the whole team in the press box

[Guest mjtm77]

Mabey raffi will not play cause he agreed to waive his NTC. One can dream................

[puckbags 863]

dont really care to see mule playing at all babs should put him in the press box.

Really? Cmon, maybe we should put you in press box...............nevermind that...being in the press box would be pretty damn cool.

[Mabuhay Red Wings 177]

Having a kid can have all kinds of effects on your psyche. For Stevie Y, Isabella (sp?) became his good luck charm. His words, not mine. For Mule... Who knows? It might inspire him to make the little mule or mulette proud. It might make him play even more soft because he can't be getting surgery and concussion like symptoms every year. I mean... He does already have his contract...

[Rivalred 630]

Rafalski has been crap and Johan has been invisible

[Kira 451]

Let's see...Ozzie's wife is due soon...Ruslan Salei's wife is due any day...and Johan's wife is due today...

Guess we know what they were up to in the off season...

[55fan 5,133]

Let's see...Ozzie's wife is due soon...Ruslan Salei's wife is due any day...and Johan's wife is due today...

Guess we know what they were up to in the off season...

And you can tell they're Red Wings since the kids aren't due in May or June.