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Team Sweden Coach Following Franzen Progress
by Paul on 02/09/10 at 03:56 PM ET
Comments (11)
via Jamie Bell at CTVOlympics,
Johan Franzen may end up at the Olympics after all.
The Detroit Free Press is reporting that Swedish Olympic team coach Bengt-Ake Gustafsson has asked Franzen to contact him following Tuesday night’s Red Wings’ game against the St. Louis Blues to give him an update on his status after a lengthy absence.
Franzen, who was not originally named to Sweden’s roster, has not played in over four months after undergoing surgery to repair an injury to his left knee.
“I’m going to call him after the game and tell him how I felt,” Franzen told the Free Press, “and then talk to him after the next game.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Detroit Red Wings | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Johan+Franzen, Team+Sweden,
Comments
Hahaha unreal and so predictable. I called this a couple hours ago under the Eurotrip posting. The only reason Franzen is rushing back so quickly is to showcase himself for the freaking Olympics, which have become the be all and end all in hockey. He probably has no business playing this quickly but BY GOD, spare no expense when it comes to OLYMPIC HOCKEY!!
What an absolute joke and sham. Why buy tickets to NHL hockey??? IT’S AN AFTERTHOUGHT.
All that matters is the OLYMPICS, baby!
Posted by Eric on 02/09/10 at 05:01 PM ET
It would still require an injury to someone on the Swedish roster for Franzen to be eligible for participation at the Olympics. That’s not entirely unlikely given the current season, but hardly a guarantee.
Posted by Moq from Denmark on 02/09/10 at 05:12 PM ET
You’re correct but missing the point. It’s obvious he is rushing back to try to make himself eligible for the Olympics. The Red Wings and the playoffs and the Cup are an AFTERTHOUGHT.
OLYMPICS, OLYMPICS, OLYMPICS!
Posted by Eric on 02/09/10 at 05:17 PM ET
If the Red Wings have a problem with that, or concerns about his health, they can force him to rest up properly. The fact remains, Red Wings wants him back as soon as possible for a playoff push, so the interests coincide.
Posted by Moq from Denmark on 02/09/10 at 05:28 PM ET
I may be wrong, but it seems I heard that Forsberg is already on the roster but doubtful to play. Not that I’m thrilled about the prospect of Franzen risking further injury in non-NHL games.
RE: the issue of him “rushing back to showcase himself for the Olympics”—I really don’t think Wings’ organ-I-zation and/or their medical staff would be on board with that. Especially in light of the roster and cap issues surrounding the impending returns of Franzen and Lilja. It would probably be a lot easier for Holland to make a deal to shed someone like Lebda or Meech if other teams didn’t know one of them will be likely to hit the waiver wire once everyone is healthy.
Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 02/09/10 at 05:31 PM ET
He probably has no business playing this quickly but BY GOD, spare no expense when it comes to OLYMPIC HOCKEY!!
Except that, for him to come back in the NHL, the Red Wings doctors have to OK him, and there’s no way they OK him unless they think he’s ready. The last thing they want is to OK him too early and have him reinjure himself, whether it’s in a Red Wings sweater or a Swedish Olympic sweater.
BTW, why are you being such a blithering idiot? Your posts read like you’re some kind of unbalanced psychopath.
Posted by Garth on 02/09/10 at 05:57 PM ET
I think it’s a joke that the NHL season is a total afterthought compared to the Olympics. I have a problem with teammates getting paid by their pro club going to play with their rivals. I feel it undermines the NHL season and the Stanley Cup. And I’ll laugh my ass off when, let’s say, a Washington Capital who plays for Russia, injures a Washington Capital who plays for Sweden. It will make my year.
Posted by Eric on 02/09/10 at 06:06 PM ET
Posted by Eric on 02/09/10 at 06:06 PM ET
How can I get a copy of your manifesto?
Posted by Garth on 02/09/10 at 06:29 PM ET
I do not care who wins the Olympics.
I will spend the whole time in the Hasek Car drinking scotch, hoping no Red Wings get injured!
Posted by w2j2 on 02/09/10 at 07:00 PM ET
It’s a risk-reward situation. Sure, Franzen doesn’t play in the Olympics, and he (likely) won’t get injured. But he also won’t be getting games against world-class competition, thus regaining his timing, stamina, and overall game shape. He plays in the Olympics, and sure, he might get injured, but he’ll be back at 100% game shape when they come back after the break.
The Red Wings have to go “all in” at this point. So, you have to take the risk, try to get Johan in the Olympics, and hope he stays healthy through it. I’m more worried about the other Wings in the Olympics that NEED a rest. Franzen NEEDS ice time.
What an absolute joke and sham. Why buy tickets to NHL hockey??? IT’S AN AFTERTHOUGHT.
All that matters is the OLYMPICS, baby!
Posted by Eric on 02/09/10 at 05:01 PM ET
Well, you’re right about one thing… NHL hockey is an afterthought.
Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 02/10/10 at 08:48 AM ET
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Good, we need him to shake the rust out at the Olympics. Don’t have time for him to come back after the break and need another 6 games to get into proper shape and find the hands.
Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 02/09/10 at 04:14 PM ET