Franzen: "I am not a goal scorer"

[unsaddleddonald 357]

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130829/SPORTS0103/308290115#ixzz2dRI8x4S0

Just reaffirms something I've always felt was true.

He doesn't feel comfortable being THE GUY. He thrives playing second fiddle to a '08 Zetterberg or a '09 Hossa.

[puckloo39 5,686]

He needs to step up and PLAY HOCKEY, then, and not float all season only to contribute a few goals in the playoffs. I have my shoe ready to throw at him, pretty much every game.

This article does nothing to endear him to me...

[turbowhistle86 155]

Next article will be Sammy talking about how he's not comfortable being a regular roster player.

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

The problem is that if Franzen isn't scoring goals, he doesn't bring anything else to the team.

He needs to be more aggressive offensively and always look to shoot first. That doesn't always seem to be the case. We've seen him go on streaks where he's as good as anyone in the league at scoring goals. When he doesn't do it consistently, it appears it's because of him having a lazy work ethic.

The converse argument is when people state that he produces at the pay level he's currently at. I guess that's true. But that doesn't mean it's OK for a guy to be lazier and underachieve a bit.

[HelmFan 84]

WTF!! if you're not a goal scorer, then what are you?

he's not a skater, he's not a checker, he's not a grinder, he's not a set-up man, he's not a net front man.

Now he's telling us that he's not going to score goals. He's a big lazy ***** who got his payday. that's it.

What a waste. I can't imagine he will be in the top 6 much longer. It won't be long before Nyquist or Tatar takes his spot.

and you know what? Franzen won't care. He'll be happy that he gets less ice time.

lazy,lazy,lazy. So much potential. such a frustrating waste.

/end rant

[55fan 5,133]

"I am not a goal scorer,” he said. “I am a hockey player. I never look for goals. I look to play good and then people score or I do."

From the article.

So he's not a goal scorer. He's a hockey player. I'd rather have a guy who's just as happy to set someone else up as he is to score.

Just so long as the puck goes in the net, I don't care whose stick it hits first.

[joshy207 156]

Wow. Bum. And now the primary Compliance Buyout candidate next summer unless he proves he actually cares enough about his job to actually do it.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

This would be more acceptable if Franzen was decent at other areas of hockey. That isn't the case at all.

He should be looking to score goals. That's what the Red Wings are paying him to do for the next 35 years of that contract.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

From the article.

So he's not a goal scorer. He's a hockey player. I'd rather have a guy who's just as happy to set someone else up as he is to score.

Just so long as the puck goes in the net, I don't care whose stick it hits first.

Generally I agree, but I'm sure someone on the team has told Franzen more than once that they want goals from him. He may not consider himself a goal scorer, but the Wings need him to be one.

When the Wings look up and down their roster for who they need goals from, Mule is at the top of the list. The Wings have needed a sniper for several seasons now and Franzen is the closest thing to it. Franzen's mentality should be rip a shot on net and use that big body to go after it if it doesn't go in.

And as others have mentioned, he didn't get an 11 year contract extension due to his hustle.

I don't want to read too much into one quote from him but if that's truly his mentality then it's no surprise he seems to be especially streaky and score in bunches. It's seemed like when one goes in for him, Mule remembers how fun it is to score and tries to do it more, but then that fades.

True goal scorers have that desire all the time.

[kylee 727]

Problem with Franzen is he's very one dimensional. Doesn't mean he's not worth being on a playoff team like Detroit, it's just how he is.

[Euro_Twins 4,475]

Generally I agree, but I'm sure someone on the team has told Franzen more than once that they want goals from him. He may not consider himself a goal scorer, but the Wings need him to be one.

When the Wings look up and down their roster for who they need goals from, Mule is at the top of the list. The Wings have needed a sniper for several seasons now and Franzen is the closest thing to it. Franzen's mentality should be rip a shot on net and use that big body to go after it if it doesn't go in.

And as others have mentioned, he didn't get an 11 year contract extension due to his hustle.

I don't want to read too much into one quote from him but if that's truly his mentality then it's no surprise he seems to be especially streaky and score in bunches. It's seemed like when one goes in for him, Mule remembers how fun it is to score and tries to do it more, but then that fades.

True goal scorers have that desire all the time.

Zetterberg is more of a sniper then franzeb

[rick zombo 3,739]

Franzen is a laid back dude. He's always saying s*** like this. It's the verbal equivalent of "shrugging".

It'll be status quo for Franzen this season. If any of you are holding out hope for him to go full beast mode, you'll be disappointed. However, if you're more or less happy with what he brings vs what he gets paid, then there's no cause for alarm based on this latest quote from Mule.

[Euro_Twins 4,475]

Franzen is a laid back dude. He's always saying s*** like this. It's the verbal equivalent of "shrugging".

It'll be status quo for Franzen this season. If any of you are holding out hope for him to go full beast mode, you'll be disappointed. However, if you're more or less happy with what he brings vs what he gets paid, then there's no cause for alarm based on this latest quote from Mule.

I think franzenstein will either bring it this year or get bought out.

[Z and D for the C 712]

I'd rather have a guy who's just as happy to set someone else up as he is to score.

We have plenty of those kinds of guys. We need someone who would rather score than set someone up.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

Too bad he couldn't handle/didn't like the assignment when he was going to be the "New Holmström".

Nothing starts off the month of September better than a player negotiating via the media.

[Chunkylover 26]

It's a good thing none of you guys are coaches! The guy was making a pretty straightforward statement. He's at the other end of the spectrum of guys like Yzerman, Gretzky, Crosby, Ovechkin, etc. Goal-scorers are often very snobby. Good for him that he's not, but he can be, and a good coach is able to bring that out. Sort of like how Bowman would "coddle" Fedorov to keep him productive. Humans are very complex. Don't hate on him.

[Jesusberg 1,256]

Like others have said, I don't care how he produces, just that he does. It's getting difficult defending his attitude sometimes, though. He really needs to come off like he cares a little more, even if he's just pretending.

If the line is Mule-Weiss-Alfredsson, he may really need to step up, though. That's some solid skill, but they're all passive in nature and the type of game they play. Someone's going to have to be willing to fire the puck at the net.

[nuts2u 22]

About the only time Francine manages an assist is when someone else works their ass off to get him the puck and he happens to bounce it off a teammate and into the net. Makes me wanna puke each time I think about him making only 1.7M less than Datsyuk, one of the best players in the league.

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

Maybe Franzen was misunderstood, and he was trying to say he does more than just score goals (hence, he doesn't see himself as one-dimensional).

[HelmFan 84]

Maybe Franzen was misunderstood, and he was trying to say he does more than just score goals (hence, he doesn't see himself as one-dimensional).

Then he needs to watch some game tape.

[MadDog39 4]

He needs to be more like Holmstrom. Holmstrom has half the talent Franzen does but he worked harder and did his job. Franzen needs to simplify and just play in front of e net.

[ben_usmc 253]

I hope he was telling Holland that before signing that contract

[Guest DeGraa55]

So he isn't a goal scorer? So he confirms my opinion of him being a useless piece of crap and a waste of money and roster space? THANK YOU FRANZINA.

[Aznknight 139]

If he showed Cleary's hustle, and Homer's grit he'd be our top scorer every year. Holland probably feels like Mattie Ross toward Rooster Cogburn from True Grit

Holland: "They told me you're a man with true grit"

Franzine: "What do you want girl, speak up it's supper time".

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

Those 2008 and 2009 postseasons may be the best and worst thing that ever happened to Franzen.