Lofty praise from “the Godfather” of coaching indeed. 

Good grief, I certainly hope the Wings “unnamed source” is just throwing a “red herring” on the Pens.

Great find Paul!!

Posted by Jeff - - OklahomaWingNut from Wind-Swept-Plains on 05/25/08 at 07:58 AM ET

I can’t see how, if Franzen is already practicing and clearly only waiting for the doctor’s clearance for full contact, anyone can already call him out for another one or two games.  He might very well be, but I would think it would be determined on a day to day basis.

He’s certainly ready to be back, and the coach and team are ready to have him back in the lineup - and his girlfriend is probably ready to shove him out the door and change the locks by now. 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/25/08 at 08:34 AM ET

yeah that babcock is not a bad coach, eh?

NHL.com and VS might want to hold up on those comparisons of these Pens to the Oilers of the 80s.

Posted by rwbill on 05/25/08 at 10:29 AM ET

They should hold up on those comparisons regardless.  That team was able to stay together for a lot longer than this one will be able to.  They have something like 10 or 12 free agents after the season, I think, and Fleury is RFA so he needs to have a new contract, too.

There is no way they will be able to hold everyone on that team together, no matter how many players take “hometown discounts,” and even though Pittsburgh should be a very solid, talented team for years to come with smart decisions, the years of the old-definition dynasty are so over.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/25/08 at 11:21 AM ET

I think we’re getting the real story on Franzen as best as they understand it.  Franzen’s long term health is in obvious question or else he’d have been in the lineup 3 games ago.

I don’t think they are disguising his situation in a typical playoff cover up.  If they suddenly send him out in a surprise move I’d be happy but I don’t think that’s coming soon.

Posted by RWBill from the Old Dominion, waitin for Jan 31 Wings invasion on 05/25/08 at 11:40 AM ET

Agreed - I tend to wonder about “unnamed sources.” The real story isn’t game four or game three, it’s “we don’t know because concussions are tricky and although he’s feeling better, he is day-to-day until the doctors give him the okay.”

Better be overly cautious than rush him back as the Philadelphia doctors seem to have done in the past.  Nice to have him back, but still a solid team without him - especially if Pittsburgh doesn’t improve their play.  Malkin was almost invisible, and he was outstanding during the regular season.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/25/08 at 11:50 AM ET