I think this might be finally it for the Mule, Sadly

[number9 3,297]

Today I learned LGW knows more about concussions and Franzen's personal health issues than he himself does.

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

Today I learned LGW knows more about concussions and Franzen's personal health issues than he himself does.

My best friend had to quit hockey his sophomore year of high school hockey because of so many concussions. I've had a couple also so I know a decent amount about them.

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

Think it might be time for mule to hang it up and think of his family ... Sucks but he's gotta think of his future

[RedWingsRox 614]

Respect to the Mule ... hope he'll fully recover. Anyone know the salary cap implication if he hangs them up?

Edited October 16, 2015 by RedWingsRox

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

Respect to the Mule ... hope he'll fully recover. Anyone know the salary cap implication if he hangs them up?

He'd probably just Pronger it and go on LTIR for the rest of his contract and we'd have some cap space.

[Bill Berzeench 310]

Franzen was a beast in 08. Remember that?

[91forever 8]

He just played two full hockey games at the professional level and looked very good in both so I'm not too concerned about his functionality for the time being, he'll be ok. I'm glad he's being sat as precaution right now though. Also, if anyone followed his instagram this summer he seemed to do a lot of playing with his kids.

Hey I would love to see him return and play but over the past 10 years he has had a total of 7-8 concussions. I think its a bit more permanent damage then he thinks. I am not a doctor but i do have enough brains to know when I should look at not stepping back onto the ice. For some players its all they know is the game and unfortunately when the signs point to its not the best option to continue to play based off the injuries then they should make the call. If Franzen ever gets to return to the ice all it will take is one bad play where someone smacks his head off the boards or a misplaced elbow to the head and he could be brain dead permanently. Here is a recent post i didn't see it in this discussion but I will post it again: http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2015/10/red_wings_johan_franzen_experi.html

Edited October 16, 2015 by 91forever

[Holmstrom96 347]

I've got a lot of great Franzen memories, but it's time for him to retire. I wish him well. I hope his concussion issues go away.

[Opie 308]

Preface: I am no where near a professional athlete!

I am always torn when it comes to the "he should retire for his own well being."

Would I be able to walk away, would I know it is time to walk away.

Would I be like Lidstrom and walk away before the game gets away from me, or be like Cleary and hang around too long (IMO) and that is players who are/were a lot healthier than Mule.

I think about walking away from even league minimum salary and what I would be able to make away from the game.

In a situation like Mule's, I think would I realize what is happening, would I be able to walk away from my life goal because I get headaches and nausea (not trying to down play it, just hypothesizing how I would view it.)

I think he should walk away, but I do not know that in the moment I would be able to walk away.

[MaynardJmzKeenan 18]

Oops, edit

Edited October 16, 2015 by MaynardJmzKeenan

[Opie 308]

https://octopusthrower.com/2015/10/16/detroit-red-wings-the-beginning-of-the-end-for-johan-franzen/

Another article on the subject

[WingedWheel91 271]

I still don't understand why he wanted to come back...

Considering what's happened (recently) to so many athletes in regards to traumatic brain injury, and the long term effects we've been exposed to - why would someone (who's admitted his career ending vulnerability to even one more hit) decide that at age 35, playing in the NHL still a good idea?

He's never going to win his first Stanley cup again, never lead the league in scoring again, and never sign another contract - given his accomplishments, and the money he's guaranteed - I'd like to know which doctor(s) supported this decision.

[kipwinger 8,518]

I still don't understand why he wanted to come back...

Considering what's happened (recently) to so many athletes in regards to traumatic brain injury, and the long term effects we've been exposed to - why would someone (who's admitted his career ending vulnerability to even one more hit) decide that at age 35, playing in the NHL still a good idea?

He's never going to win his first Stanley cup again, never lead the league in scoring again, and never sign another contract - given his accomplishments, and the money he's guaranteed - I'd like to know which doctor(s) supported this decision.

Because he loves playing hockey? So much so that he pursued a career in it? He's probably fairly passionate about it wouldn't you think?

[LeftWinger 4,949]

From the sounds of that article Opie posted, it doesn't look good. I guess he will at least have the 7 minimum games to sit out and try to get his head together. Maybe give it another go, but if symptoms return again, I would think he would call it.

[Buppy 1,720]

I think the requirements for IR is seven days, not games. Don't think there is any game limit. To qualify for LTIR is 10 games and 24 days.

Also worth noting that LTIR isn't really a separate list. It's a cap relief exemption for players on IR for a long time. There's no point in claiming it right now, since we're already claiming Datsyuk. There's no benefit, and all it would do is make Franzen ineligible for a while. Teams never use LTIR unless they need it for cap reasons.

edit: It may not even be possible to claim LTIR for Franzen right now, since we're not even using all of Datsyuk's. Point is, we can't read anything into the "he's only on short-term IR" thing.

Edited October 16, 2015 by Buppy

[kickazz 5,459]

FSN is basically hinting at his bleak future outlook right now.

[Cali-Wing-Nut 102]

Because he loves playing hockey? So much so that he pursued a career in it? He's probably fairly passionate about it wouldn't you think?

Im not so sure. His production hit the skids immediately after his monster contract was completed. He went into preservation mode in order to grab up all the front loaded cash and considering his base pay drops after this year to 3.5 and then to a mil, hes probably milking it until he can retire.

[Euro_Twins 4,475]

Im not so sure. His production hit the skids immediately after his monster contract was completed. He went into preservation mode in order to grab up all the front loaded cash and considering his base pay drops after this year to 3.5 and then to a mil, hes probably milking it until he can retire.

Or you know if he's trying to soak up all that cash he can just stay on ltir until his contract expires and get all his money

[Nightfall 871]

Im not so sure. His production hit the skids immediately after his monster contract was completed. He went into preservation mode in order to grab up all the front loaded cash and considering his base pay drops after this year to 3.5 and then to a mil, hes probably milking it until he can retire.

His stats say otherwise. I think if he could have stayed healthy it would have been a very good contract for both sides. As it turned out, it didn't work out.

Or you know if he's trying to soak up all that cash he can just stay on ltir until his contract expires and get all his money

I really am glad this isn't how a majority of Wings fans feel. Talk about insulting.

[Euro_Twins 4,475]

His stats say otherwise. I think if he could have stayed healthy it would have been a very good contract for both sides. As it turned out, it didn't work out.

I really am glad this isn't how a majority of Wings fans feel. Talk about insulting.

I'm not sure if you are insinuating I feel that way. I've been a huge franzen supporter forever and I would love to have him if he was still healthy. I was pointing out he wasn't trying to just play till his pay dipped and then retire, cause he could have just gone the ltir route and collected all his money without playing. Instead he is still trying to play. So obviously he still has the passion and wants to play

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

His stats say otherwise. I think if he could have stayed healthy it would have been a very good contract for both sides. As it turned out, it didn't work out.

I really am glad this isn't how a majority of Wings fans feel. Talk about insulting.

I'm not gonna dig through to show you e.ts stance on Franzen, but he was just responding to the comment, he's been on the pro Franzen side for a while.

I'm not sure if you are insinuating I feel that way. I've been a huge franzen supporter forever and I would love to have him if he was still healthy. I was pointing out he wasn't trying to just play till his pay dipped and then retire, cause he could have just gone the ltir route and collected all his money without playing. Instead he is still trying to play. So obviously he still has the passion and wants to play

Yeah, this.

I should've scrolled down more.

[kickazz 5,459]

Dude wants to play. He's a die hard red wing so get over it if you think otherwise. He could have opted LTIR to make his money a while back.

Practicality just makes some of us believe it's not worthwhile.

Then there's others secretly hoping he's done.

And other die hard Franzen fans clinging on hope for him to not be done. Like any of you would for your fav player.

It's like rinse and repeat every time a franzen thread opens up.

Yawn

[TheXym 2,606]

I just hope Franzen is able to overcome the symptoms he is facing right now and is able to lead a healthy life with his family. While I think a healthy Franzen is a big asset for the Wings, if he hangs it up, I wish him the best and thank him for his efforts as a Wing. He was in beast mode in 08. I hope he LTIR's it for his long term health, but I don't have the right to tell him what to do.

[Nightfall 871]

I'm not sure if you are insinuating I feel that way. I've been a huge franzen supporter forever and I would love to have him if he was still healthy. I was pointing out he wasn't trying to just play till his pay dipped and then retire, cause he could have just gone the ltir route and collected all his money without playing. Instead he is still trying to play. So obviously he still has the passion and wants to play

Sorry about that then. It just read a bit differently.

[WingedWheel91 271]

lol why is this always a personal battle against Franzen? .

He said he was "one hit away from being done". He never took that hit, but looks like he still might be.

This isn't complicated. Johan Franzen was a great player for a decent stretch of Red Wing hockey, and I'll never forget what he was able to accomplish during the 2008,2009, and 2010 playoffs - actually those 3 postseasons are primarily what I'll remember him for - even if he come's back again.

But what doctor can honestly look at his age, his concussion history, his most latest setback (for no obvious reason), and the long term effects of multiple brain trauma injuries, and say... "Johan, you're good to go bud!!". It isn't "convenient" to say his time is done, or because you don't like that he's lazy, or that we have too many forwards so forget about him. It's common sense - that when an NHL player come's out and tells everyone that if he takes one more check to the head, his career is likely over - no one benefits from him being on the ice.

Especially not the guy playing.