I think Kenny is going to turn me gay for him.

Posted by Osrt on 04/11/09 at 10:23 AM ET

That is good news indeed.  Now we have to wait until the “off-season” to see if Hossa and the Wings can come to terms.

It is another great day to be a Red Wing fan (exclamation point).

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 04/11/09 at 10:30 AM ET

Osrt, like I said a long time ago, after all Tick Tock has done, I’m willing to be confused for a night.

Posted by calquake on 04/11/09 at 10:31 AM ET

I love it.

Posted by moore00 from Columbus, OH/Grand Rapids, MI on 04/11/09 at 10:36 AM ET

The Emperor emailed me, too…was busy writing a game preview thingy…

Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 04/11/09 at 10:39 AM ET

Signing Franzen before Hossa is all the more reason I’m hoping for #12 this June.  He came here to play for the cup.  I think cup euphoria might be able to keep him here.  I’ve read all the arguments about what this team would have to give up to keep Franzen and Hossa and how top-loading your team with so much salary that you can’t afford the mid-to-low-salary impact players is a recipe for failure in the New NHL,  But, aside from Datsyuk, who else among the Red Wings can you say stands out as the guy who has brought it every single game he’s played this season?  Hossa’s a character guy, and you can never have too much of that. 

All that being said, yeah, I’d go gay for Tick Tock.  Let’s hope that Franzen has another playoff season like last year.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 04/11/09 at 10:42 AM ET

‘07-‘08 playoff numbers:

1 Henrik Zetterberg DET L 22 g/p,  13 g,  14 a,  27 pts,  +16  
2 Pavel Datsyuk DET C 22 g/p, 10 g, 13 a,  23 pts, +13  
3 Johan Franzen DET C 16 g/p, 13 g,  5 a,  18 pts, +13

2 Marian Hossa PIT R 20 g/p, 12 g, 14 a,  26 pts, +8

This season:

C Pavel Datsyuk 79 32 65 97 37
C Henrik Zetterberg 75 30 42 72 15
RW Marian Hossa 74 40 31 71 27
RW Johan Franzen 69 34 25 59 23

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 04/11/09 at 10:50 AM ET

...and I don’t buy the excuse you were fishing on your boat!

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 04/11/09 at 10:54 AM ET

This means a deal for Hossa is way more likely.

I cannot believe this, but if Holland got Franzen locked up for 10 years, that keeps him in the fold until he is 30.  This year he made 1.15, but he could easily have signed this deal for $5 million at its peak.  I would guess the overall cap hit to be at around $3 million a year.  That puts our cap hit next year at $50 million and we still need to sign Hossa, Samuelson, Hudler, Kopecky, and Conklin. 

If Kenny let’s some of these guys go in favor of our young guns (Leino, Abdelkader, Helm, etc.) we have the room to make a deal for Hossa.

Posted by John from Pittsburgh, PA (Wings fan for life!) on 04/11/09 at 10:56 AM ET

My brain tells me I would rather have Hossa signed, but my gut tells me that signing Frazen first is a better move long term.

I’m going with my gut, since it is much larger than my brain.

Posted by dougie on 04/11/09 at 10:58 AM ET

Franzen,yes, not Frazen…..I had to lay off both my proofreader and food taster due to the rough economy.

Posted by dougie on 04/11/09 at 11:02 AM ET

Two Down:  Franzen For The Next Nine Or Ten

Damn you, Chief. Watch those headlines will you? I saw that and thought, “Oh, fine, now Mule and Lilja are both down. And for nine or ten games? We’re sunk.” Talk about dejection turning to euphoria.

Does that mean Holland’s got the leeway to sign Hossa if 81’s being reasonable about salary?

Even if Mule signs for $4.0M per year, the only way to keep Hossa is to lose Filppula, Happy and Lebda. Even then, the numbers only work if Hossa signs for $5.0M or less and one of the Griffs can step up and take Fil’s spot as the 2nd/3rd-line center. You can check two possible scenarios here.

Hossa is a horse. No doubt about it. And he may prove during the playoffs that he’s worth having the problems caused by playing with a handful of super stars and a bunch of untested/overaged “others”. But, personally, I’d still prefer to see Hossa leave (hopefully for a team in the East) so the Wings won’t spend another season jammed up against the cap ceiling.

Mule’s signing is all I was hoping for and, in spite of the near heart attack I had after reading the headline, I’m a very happy guy today.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 04/11/09 at 11:07 AM ET

I’m going with my gut, since it is much larger than my brain.

Ya gotta love an honest man…but in a not-gay way, of course. 

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 04/11/09 at 11:10 AM ET

Good morning 19. Yes it’s still morning for me. Here’s hoping the Wings have some fire in their bellies today and don’t just sit this one out waiting for the playoffs to start. Chicago will be playing hard, you know it. I’m thrilled about the Franzen signing. I hope they also manage to squeeze Hossa in somehow but we’ll see.

Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 04/11/09 at 11:13 AM ET

OTC, I’m not one to dispute your mathematical genious.

But the $5.0M number you have remaining is realisitic when you take into account the salary cap hit is the avg. salary over the term of the contract (I think, damn CBA written by attorneys/CPA’s with way too many brains cells and billing hourly).

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 04/11/09 at 11:15 AM ET

Thats fine we wont need a goalie for the next 9 or 10 years anyway.

Posted by AxeMaster9 on 04/11/09 at 11:17 AM ET

This is good news. I now look for Tick Tock to sort out the Cobo Hall deal, fill potholes and sign Hossa after the season ends.  Ring fitting day for #12 is a good time.

I think Kenny is going to turn me gay for him.

Ummm….good luck with that….

Posted by Rumbear from Top O da Hasek, sippin rum & catchin some rays on 04/11/09 at 11:20 AM ET

Franzen before Hossa makes sense. Hossa and Franzen aren’t the same, but as minute a difference between their numbers as it could have been, the extra room from Franzen could mean a lot more to the supporting cast next year.

Then, it also continues a strong, positive image for the Wings, taking care of their own before Hossa, who as strong as he’s been is still so far just a one-year Wing.

The final hope for those who want both? Franzen would likely have been able to get just as much money elsewhere, if not considerably more, had he been forced to leave if they decided on taking Hossa first. However, Hossa being potentially more on top of that, he might not find as many suitors out there in terms of money or term due to the worries about the slumping economy. The teams with the room wouldn’t be the kind to work in an expected buyout at the end of the contract either; they don’t want to be eating that money that is still far less than Detroit and other powerhouses were used to paying before the salary cap. Suddenly, any gap between the offers for Hossa from the Wings and from the rest of the League might not be so large that Hossa won’t feel that it is indeed best for a happy career to play out his days at the Joe.

Posted by SENShobo from Waterloo, ON on 04/11/09 at 11:24 AM ET

Bye Hoss.  It was fun.  Please still try hard during the playoffs, as I’m sure you will.

9 or 10 years for Franzen is a little frightening, even if you don’t think he’s injury-prone (I don’t).  That’s eight players signed through 2011/12, five forwards signed through 2012/13, and two players locked into being 37/38 year old Red Wings through in 2017/18.  That’s a little frightening, even if you don’t think the cap is going to be volatile (I do).

I sure hope Ken Holland is smarter than me (he is).

Posted by Ryan from Toronto on 04/11/09 at 11:25 AM ET

But the $5.0M number you have remaining is realisitic when you take into account the salary cap hit is the avg. salary over the term of the contract…

I agree, Jeff. That’s why I said they could do it if they’re willing to top-load the line-up with super stars and fill out the rest of the lineup with untested/overaged players. Basically, Kenny’s choice is Filppula at center on the 2nd or 3rd line and Happy as a wing on either of those lines – or – using both Pavel and Hank as centers (on the 1st and 2nd lines respectively) and then using Helm or Draper as the 3rd-line center with Hossa as a wing on the 1st or 2nd line.

God knows there’s more that goes into Tick Tock’s decision than how the math plays out. He may well decide the latter scenario is what’s best. He’s the one who has to live with the resulting cap restrictions, so I know he’ll do what’s best for the team. But I’d really hate to see Happy go. He’s finally turning into a complete player, and I’d love to watch that little guy grow into Dangle Dangle Jr. over the next few years.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 04/11/09 at 11:36 AM ET

I think Kenny is going to turn me gay for him.
Posted by Osrt on 04/11/09 at 11:23 AM ET

That’s funny and timely, cuz Tuesday night this guy turned me gay.  No kidding.  I would totally stroke his package.  His earlier “play that funky music” was ridiculous soul, especially for a gay white guy.  REM never had a clue their “Mad World” could sound like this.

I know, this doesn’t make sense, but I’m really bored waiting for the playoffs, and I undoubtedly have a better shot at this gaywad than I do with Elisha Cuthbert.  And being daddy to two daughters exposes you to this type of programming crap.  But hey, I dig this flaming homosexual.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/adam_lambert_play_that_funky_music

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/adam_lambert_mad_world

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 04/11/09 at 11:41 AM ET

Signing Franzen before Hossa is all the more reason I’m hoping for #12 this June.  He came here to play for the cup.  I think cup euphoria might be able to keep him here.

I sort of look at it the other way.  I think if they don’t win he’ll want to stay so he has another chance.  of course, I suppose as soon as you win your first Cup you want to do it again, so that’ll entice him to stay.

either way, I guess my point is he’d be crazy to leave.  a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of the hockey players in the world get to play in the NHL.  a fraction of those get the chance to win the Cup.  a fraction of those actually win it.  and yet a fraction of those get the chance to ever play for an organization like the Red Wings and have a shot at it every single season.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 04/11/09 at 11:45 AM ET

Chicago will be playing hard, you know it.

why?  the game means nothing to either team.  both teams are thinking the same thing: “get a good skate, try to win, but don’t get injured.”

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 04/11/09 at 11:47 AM ET

why?  the game means nothing to either team.  both teams are thinking the same thing: “get a good skate, try to win, but don’t get injured.”
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 04/11/09 at 12:47 PM ET

Yeah that’s my thoughts, that’s why I’ve said “If you’re ever going to miss 2 Red Wings games, make it this Sat and Sun”.

The BlackHawks senior leaders need to put a lid on the young folk who have never been to a playoff before and convince them “These two games don’t mean crap, if you start some sh1t I’ll be really pissed.”

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 04/11/09 at 11:53 AM ET

Chicago will be playing hard, you know it.

why?  the game means nothing to either team.

Eh, I disagree….Chicago wants to shake the idea that they can’t skate with Detroit.  And Detroit needs to prove that they’re actually in playoff mode and it wasn’t just another fluke last week.

I think there’s enough bad blood out there for this to be an entertaining couple of games.

As for Mule, I reserve judgement until I hear the number.  He could have gotten $5M for 3-4 years on the market, so a hometown discount would be $4.2ish for the same duration.  But for 9-10 years?  If the total cap hit is more than $3.25, I’ll be disappointed.

Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 04/11/09 at 11:57 AM ET

Saturday just started looking a whole lot better.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 04/11/09 at 12:01 PM ET

The Blackhawks mocked a long-standing Red Wings postseason tradition in a TV commercial promoting the playoffs.

In the ad, forward Adam Burish scoops an octopus off the ice with his stick and tosses it aside, saying, “My goal is to end old traditions, and start some new ones.”

DoucheNozzles, they probably will not even advance enough to get beat down by The Wings.  Another example of how the NHL is coattailing the Wings franchise.

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 04/11/09 at 12:03 PM ET

Absolute Datsyuk Gem

Not long ago the Red Wings lost a couple of games, giving up eight goals to Nashville and Columbus.

When was that? In the previous life. Well, yes, these things happened. But we forgot about it. We have been working on our mistakes. But trust me, those were great games. Fans were excited!  Unfortunately, not our fans…

Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 04/11/09 at 12:12 PM ET

Dan Rosen NHL.com:  Datsyuk Player of the Year

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=417600&navid=DL|NHL|Home

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 04/11/09 at 12:16 PM ET

  Chicago will be playing hard, you know it.

  why?  the game means nothing to either team.

Eh, I disagree….Chicago wants to shake the idea that they can’t skate with Detroit.  And Detroit needs to prove that they’re actually in playoff mode and it wasn’t just another fluke last week.

Exactly Gabe. Chicago is a team with a lot to prove right now. Of course the Wings need to prove that they still want it but Chicago needs to show that they have what it takes to play with the big dogs.

Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 04/11/09 at 12:18 PM ET

Chicago needs to show that they have what it takes to play with the big dogs.

Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from the back of the Hasek car drinking heavily on 04/11/09 at 01:18 PM ET

Yes, but there is not one hockey player alive who believes that is established in meaningless regular season games.  Legends are made during the playoffs.  This weekend is 100% meaningless and will be forgotten by 6 pm Sunday.

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 04/11/09 at 12:22 PM ET

Woo-Hoo Mule! Now the ball is in Hossa’s court. That being said, I do not like the thought of losing Fil,Happy,or Lils. Although, Lils might not be back, as his injury is worse than previously thought.
As far as today’s game, The Not Ready For Prime Time Players, will be running our guys right and left, trying to send a message, and for sure, trying to put the hurt to the Wings. I hope the guys are ready.Bitches.

Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!

Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 04/11/09 at 12:23 PM ET

Exactly Gabe.

I love it when Jen agrees with me. Mostly because I feel like a tool when she doesn’t.

Yes, but there is not one hockey player alive who believes that is established in meaningless regular season games.

I heard that the Wings are playing today in their Winter Classic jerseys. You want added motivation for the Hawks to come out with something to prove?  There ya go.

Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 04/11/09 at 12:24 PM ET

By the way, Center Ice has a free preview promo. That includes baseball for anyone that cares.

Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!

Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 04/11/09 at 12:27 PM ET

By the way, Center Ice has a free preview promo. That includes baseball for anyone that cares.
Posted by Kate from Pa. on 04/11/09 at 01:27 PM ET

Yes the NHL Center Ice channels have already begun carrying MLB games.  How awesome it was to watch local hero J. Verlander blow up in the season opener.  The NHL center ice subscription gives you MLB games until May or June then slams the door shut, at which time you have to decide whether you’re going to invest maybe $139 to have all baseball games available on your TV, night after night.  Expensive just to hear “Gimme back that filet-o-fish, give me that Fish” and reminisce about the glory nights of The 19.

I don’t know if you subscribe to MLB how far into the NHL season it would take you.

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 04/11/09 at 12:35 PM ET

  Exactly Gabe.

I love it when Jen agrees with me. Mostly because I feel like a tool when she doesn’t.

lol… too funny.

Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 04/11/09 at 12:36 PM ET

Tick Tock knows what he is doing. It sucks that we are going to lose some great players but look at who we are getting in return.

Posted by YYZerman from Detroit, Michigan on 04/11/09 at 12:40 PM ET

James Jahnke, Detroit Free Press gets confirmation from Tick Tock on Mule’s contract:

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland announced today that the club has signed forward Johan Franzen to an 11-year contract. Additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The 11-year pact represents the second-longest deal in club history, just behind the 12-year contract signed by Henrik Zetterberg in January.

“We are thrilled that Johan will remain a member of the Detroit Red Wings,” Holland said in a released statement. “His production over the past year and a half, both regular season and playoffs, has been remarkable, and we feel, at 29 years old, that he is just now entering the prime of his career. We look forward to having him as a part of our core unit in Detroit moving forward.”

Franzen was a third-round draft pick (97th overall) in the 2004 draft. In 69 games this season, Franzen has set career highs in goals (34), assists (25) and points (59).

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 04/11/09 at 12:42 PM ET

Still waiting for the press conference.

Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 04/11/09 at 12:43 PM ET

SI’s got it at 11 years.

Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 04/11/09 at 12:43 PM ET

http://www.ticnet.se/html/venue.htmI?l=EN&venue=LLA

If preseason games weren’t bad enough, you can get tix for the preseason game in Sweden here.

How much moola for Franzen?  Anyone get a feed yet?  I just don’t see that we can keep both Hossa and the supporting cast.  Maybe Happy would take 1 year at below market and wait for Lidstrom’s 7.4 million to drop to 4 million and free up a little bit of space.  by then with the drop in the canadian dollar and attendance the cap will still be dropping not going up.  i hate gary.ass.socialism.

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 04/11/09 at 12:48 PM ET

Four million per year according to…some newspaper.

http://www.dagensnyheter.ws/sport/04/11/johan-franzen-kvar-i-detroit-i-ytterligare-tio-ar/

Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 04/11/09 at 12:55 PM ET

I don’t know if you subscribe to MLB how far into the NHL season it would take you.

Posted by RWBill from Do we really have to play these meaningless games? on 04/11/09 at 01:35 PM ET

It doesn’t take you anywhere. I have had Center Ice since it’s inception and I can’t recall MLB ever overlapping with the hockey package. Although, MLB will run until the end of the playoffs.

Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!

Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 04/11/09 at 12:56 PM ET

Actually, they’re saying 370 Million Kronor, or $44M.

http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/hockeybladet/internationellt/nhl/article4882414.ab

Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 04/11/09 at 12:57 PM ET

Continuing with the Gay theme today…..

The Red Wings’ Johan Franzen, left, and Nicklas Lidstrom, right, talk to Henrik Zetterberg, in pool, at the Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa in Hollywood Beach, Fla., Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005. Franzen played in 80 games as a rookie in 2005-06. (AP)

Photo Gallery - “The Best of Mule” 

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=C4&Date=20080503&Category=SPORTS05&ArtNo=430004&Ref=PH&Profile=1048&Params=Itemnr=1

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 04/11/09 at 12:57 PM ET

http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/hockeybladet/internationellt/nhl/article4882414.ab

Translation (via Google)

New contracts—
370 for one million
Johan Franzén.

Franzen makes as “Zäta”
- Long stay in Detroit

Detroit Red Wings are hard in their Swedes.

After Henrik Zetterberg tolvårskontrakt linking the now to the Johan Franzén in eleven years.

The salary?

370 million.

First July, the contract running out. But now may be the Red Wings fans expect to see “The Mule” in the red shirt a good while to come.
Four million dollars per season

After a period of negotiations, the attacker målfarlige now signed a new contract over ten years. According to the Sportbladet, he will earn around four million U.S. dollars per year.

Or the same team: 370 million kronor for the whole period.
Blossomed in the last year

This year, Johan Franzén has 34 goals and 25 målgivande passes, which will provide a new personal in points for a season. Yet it was during the last finals as the buffet Swede presented themselves seriously. With 13 goals in 16 matches, he became both a multiple match winner and audience favorite.

- We are more than happy to Johan continues at Detroit Red Wings. His målproduktion over the past one and a half years, both in the basic series and the finals, has been tremendous and we feel that 29-year-old, he is just on the road to a career peak. We look forward to having him in our core group in Detroit to take a step forward, “said Ken Holland of the contract.

Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 04/11/09 at 12:58 PM ET

This one goes up to eleven.

Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 04/11/09 at 12:59 PM ET

Way to go Gabe.  44 mil over 11 = 4 mil/yr.  SWEET

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 04/11/09 at 12:59 PM ET

Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 04/11/09 at 01:57 PM ET

Good catch, and although Adam in American Idol has turned me gay, how’s your sister?

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 04/11/09 at 01:00 PM ET

the buffet Swede presented themselves seriously.

Given the Gay theme today, that is hilarious.

Is that buffed or buffet, either way it’s funny.

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 04/11/09 at 01:02 PM ET