101 replies to this topic

[Doc Holliday]

Yeah, would have meant we wouldn't have signed Jason Williams. Oh the calamity.

And would have made a long term commitment to a player who was not only a one year rental, but who had issues scoring in the playoffs (something that Chicago didn't have to worry about in 2010) and would not only missed half the 2010 season due to rehab, but would also be a potential risk due to other injuries.

It isn't like Hossa was an easy choice.

[wolverine1817]

Some motivation from Franzen would be pretty awesome to see, even if it is the regular season. What could it hurt?... allI'msayin

[Crymson]

Yeah, would have meant we wouldn't have signed Jason Williams. Oh the calamity.

You forget that re-signing Kopecky would very possibly have been a condition of re-signing Hossa.

[stinky fish taco]

franzen sucks.

[Z Winged Dangler]

I think you all know my opinion of Franzen so I will refrain from just bad-mouthing him. I will just say I really appreciate this thread and agree with the OP to the Nth degree!

edit: on a side note, the same can be said about Zetterberg. I do believe wholeheartedly that because of his back, he is on a downswing and will continue to get worse. I predict both of these guys retire because of health issues before their contracts are up...

i think this is a very unfair assessment of Z. while he's having an offseason, and just moved into 2nd on the team in scoring btw, he competes hard night in and night out. he's had back issues yes, but if Franzen had Z's compete level, this thread would not exist. the point of the topic is that Mule takes not just nights off, but weeks. he's a floater that for some reason cannot hit the net with more than 10% of his shots. if you want to compare him to Z, which is completely absurd, i'll play along. Z penalty kills, is the guy you send out to kill EVERY 5 on 3, 2nd on team in scoring, skates hard and wears his heart on his sleeve and bleeds for the TEAM and that's the reason he has an A on his jersey. Franzen....floats around and just doesn't give a s*** and he doesn't PK cause he has no heart and probably wouldn't even try to block a shot. he doesn't hit very much at all, and for a guy that's 6'3 240ish, you should bef****** s*** up. this year every game i watch, Franzen shows up in the game just long enough to miss the net by 2 feet on a golden opportunity to bury the biscuit.

I for one would be very open to trading Franzen. I would rather see his spot filled by Nyquist and have the Wings try to add a sniper like Selanne or Iginla, whom also bring it every night no questions asked. i would dump Franzen's long contract for a rental that would help the Wings win the cup for sure. Then bring up Nyquist and Tatar full time. Young energy is nice to have on the team. might even get a few other guys going harder trying to keep up with the young legs...

[Tim.D]

He was demoted to the third line in practice today.

[Z Winged Dangler]

He was demoted to the third line in practice today.

2-3 more games and we'll see a 4 mil/year 4th liner. i hope he doesn't go Gomez on us and completely s*** the bed and not score for a year.

[Doc Holliday]

2-3 more games and we'll see a 4 mil/year 4th liner. i hope he doesn't go Gomez on us and completely s*** the bed and not score for a year.

Seems strange that you would make that statement about our leading goal scorer, who is paid half as much.

[Z Winged Dangler]

Seems strange that you would make that statement about our leading goal scorer, who is paid half as much.

cause he's been in a nice slump lately averaging a point every other game. and the rate he's missing the net with his shots lately which is more and more all the time, things aren't looking very good for him. leading scorer or not, he's a shooter and one of the few snipers on a team full of playmakers and grinders. guys get him the puck in prime zones on the ice constantly and he's high and wide 90% of the time...not what you want from your leading "goal scorer" on a regular basis.

[Doc Holliday]

cause he's been in a nice slump lately averaging a point every other game. and the rate he's missing the net with his shots lately which is more and more all the time, things aren't looking very good for him. leading scorer or not, he's a shooter and one of the few snipers on a team full of playmakers and grinders. guys get him the puck in prime zones on the ice constantly and he's high and wide 90% of the time...not what you want from your leading "goal scorer" on a regular basis.

And this relates to Gomez, how?

Goal scorers have slumps. Franzen has shown to have more irritating slumps than most goal scorers, but still can put the biscuit in the basket a good number of times over the course of the season.

Gomez has proven to be relatively useless in every single facet of the game. And is paid a ton more. Not comparable.

[b.shanafan14]

He was demoted to the third line in practice today.

Great, now he is going to screw up another line that is meshing . Seriously though, I hate this. Helm Abdelkader Miller have been chewing up opposition defense and have been our best unit for a few weeks now. I would rather sit Franzen and make him watch how they operate without messing things up.

I understand the logic of putting him with guys who are busting their asses, hoping it rubs off on him, while at the same time checking his ego by 'demoting' him, but it stinks in my opinion. Now the fourth line... (I honestly have no clue what to do with Franzen; don't like wasting anyone's effort on him until he fixes his attitude, really, knowing full well that is unrealistic)

[Red Crazy]

Mule does not compete and that is getting to be a huge problem for the Wings. If all he provides is a few goals that are usually gifts then he is replaceable for a player that may not score more but that brings more to the table.

[Z Winged Dangler]

And this relates to Gomez, how?

Goal scorers have slumps. Franzen has shown to have more irritating slumps than most goal scorers, but still can put the biscuit in the basket a good number of times over the course of the season.

Gomez has proven to be relatively useless in every single facet of the game. And is paid a ton more. Not comparable.

that's why i said i hope that Franzen doesn't turn into Gomez. it was an extreme comparison to get the point across that Franzen has been less than good as of late.

[Nev]

He was demoted to the third line in practice today.

I want to say "good" but Miller - Helm - Abdelkader has been playing lights out lately.

Whatever happened to The Mule?

[Supface]

For having these supposed "soft hands", dude has a hard time catching passes and not losing the puck.

[redwingfan19]

how long will the demotion on the third line last for mule??

i'm guessing a couple shifts.

[NeverForgetMac25]

we got him instead of hossa.

for 8 or 9 more years.

Plus more than a million in cap space each of those years.

Not saying he hasn't been a disappointment (he certainly has), but its not apples to oranges.

[Red Crazy]

So if he drops down to the 3rd or 4th line (which I really doubt will last longer then pre-game skate) who takes his place? Nobody else is really filling the net.

[MibJab]

In 458 Red Wings games, the Franz has 144 goals and 122 assists 266 points. 'nuff said.

[kipwinger]

In 458 Red Wings games, the Franz has 144 goals and 122 assists 266 points. 'nuff said.

In 475 Red Wings games, Cleary has 109 goals and 135 assists for 244 points. Does he get a free pass too, since his numbers are comparable? I'm sick and tired of Franzen getting a free pass because everyone wrongly assumes his numbers are great. They're good...not great. Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and Lidstrom all have better numbers than Franzen, both playoff and regular season, and we expect each of them to bring an A game every night. If our stars don't get a pass for producing, neither should anybody else.