Reports from TSN.ca and the Detroit Red Wings website state that Johan Franzen "The Mule" has reportedly signed a long term deal with figures undisclosed. This deal is in the ballpark of 11 years, so I'd hoping the annual cap hit will be low enough for the Wings to secure Marian Hossa's services for the near future as well. With Hank, Pav, and the Mule locked into long term deals, and Rafalski, Stuart and Kronwall patrolling the blueline 'till 2012 it looks like the Wings have a solid core of players for the near future. My only major concern still resides in goal.I'll update this post with the length and value of the contract when proper numbers are released.
*UPDATE: Ansar Khan of Detroit's MLive.com has broken down the deal as an 11 year front loaded contract that averages approximately $3.9 million per season. Here's a portion of the official press release;
"Franzen was originally a third round draft pick (97th overall) of the Red Wings in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He is currently in his fourth season in the National Hockey League. In 69 games played this season, Franzen has already set career highs in goals (34), assists (25) and points (59). He burst into the NHL spotlight last March scoring 14 goals and adding four assists for 18 points in just 13 games. Six of Franzen's 14 goals were game-winning goals, eclipsing the franchise record of five in one month held by Gordie Howe and Zetterberg. 'Mule' would finish the 2007-08 regular season by scoring 15 goals over the final 16 games.
"Franzen's incredible run continued into the 2008 playoffs. He found the back of the net 13 times in just 16 postseason games. Along the way, he set or tied numerous franchise playoff records including most goals in one playoff year (13, with Zetterberg), most goals in one playoff series (9), most game-winning goals in one playoff year (5), longest playoff goal streak (5 games) and most three-goal games in one playoff series (2).''
That's nice and all, but answer me this: why is Detroit playing at home in white jerseys today when I thought the current rule was that white was for road teams?!?
ReplyDeleteYou are correct sir, the road team typically wears white, but those were the "vintage" Winter Classic jerseys they wore against Chicago when they played at Wrigley Field. Detroit wanted to wear them for their home crowd.
ReplyDeleteThe had better luck when they wore them outside...