Comments on: To Everything: Turn, Turn, Turn

By: J.J.

J.J. — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 12:57:00 +0000

In reply to Keith.

While I don’t think it’s impossible to move Franzen, there’s a bit of context which makes the Campbell move easier. For one, Brian Campbell was moved to the team with the GM that originally signed him to that contract (after Tallon was fired in Chicago, he moved on to Florida). There’s been some speculation about a few wink/nudge deals between those two teams where Tallon tried to help the Hawks out of a mess he helped created while also helping the Panthers out of a problem of their own: the salary floor.

The Campbell deal and it’s $7.1M cap hit basically solved their salary floor issues in one fell swoop. The thing about that deal is that Campbell is on a $7.1M cap hit for every year because he’s on a $7.1M salary every year. In the next 4 years of Johan Franzen’s deal, he’ll be paid $20.25M and only count for $15.8M against the cap. This is bad math for a bottom-of-the-payscale team which can’t afford to bring on salaries that are bigger than cap hits.

I agree that I don’t think it will be impossible to move Franzen, but I’m not sure it will be likely.

By: Keith

Keith — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 05:01:00 +0000

If Brian Campbell could be moved, Franzen could be moved. Yes, Campbell was moved for nothing but 1) his contract is 150% more expensive than Franzen’s and 2) he sucks. Franzen is inconsistant and his deal is crazy long (until he’s 40) but Campbell’s lasts four more years (until he’s 36). Franzen’s lasts 7 more years (yikes) but the actual payout tapers down to $1m. For a cheap team like Florida, they might actually like that. The cap hit is 3-4 times the actual cost so Florida can hit the salary floor without having to pay it.

I really think Detroit could get something for Franzen if they package him with someone like Cleary and Mursak. Cleary is obviously worn down and despite scoring 26 goals last season, he’s not worth almost $3m a year, especially when he’s going to turn 34 next season and he’s a UFA after next year meaning he can walk for nothing. If I’m Detroit I package them and add Mursak (who I like but he doesn’t seem to be Wings quality and he isn’t better than Eaves).
Detroit needs to let Nyquist and Tatar get top 9 playing time. Between them they scored 46 goals in Grand Rapids this year. They’re ready for playing time. Moving Cleary, Franzen and Mursak would give Tatar and Nyquist a spot to play in Detroit next year, clear north of $7m, replace a 33 year old and a 34 year old with a 22 year old and a 23 year old, and would probably also get Detroit either a top 4 defender or a top 6 forward in return.

By: Brendan Kelly

Brendan Kelly — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 18:02:00 +0000

The worst part of the “adjustments” we’ll have to make to be competitive is that a few minor tweaks each season here and there could have totally prevented us from having to make such drastic moves. It’s like spring cleaning, had we done “preventative” and routine tweaks and changes, we wouldn’t be in a position where the only way to get better is to make some bigger moves.

By: Matthew Shea

Matthew Shea — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 17:56:00 +0000

I totally agree we need some bigger changes and not just tweaks. But with the above listed problems of what can/can’t be done, what do you want to see done? Is that a topic of a future post? Not like a if I could have anything I wanted, but what do you feasibly think the best thing the Wings could do to get better for next season?

By: Graham Hathway

Graham Hathway — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 14:48:00 +0000

Perfectly said. I feel now the way I did after 2006: this team needs to get hungry again.

There’s a ton of “good” talent on this team, particularly at forward, but who is going to be the offensive leader when Datsyuk and Zetterberg inevitably begin their decline? I don’t believe that player is in the system yet, and if he is (Nyquist, Jarnkrok, Pulkkinen) then the team won’t allow him to showcase what he can do because he hasn’t played 4 years in Grand Rapids yet.

I have a lot of faith in Ken Holland, Mike Babcock, Jim Nill and the rest of the Wings’ braintrust, but this offseason is going to go a long way to prove that they’re still the best in the league.

By: J.J.

J.J. — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 14:38:00 +0000

The Red Wings have an organizational problem with their roles and perhaps the same nice way that Detroit treats their players (which is supposed to send a message to free agents that it’s a great organization for whom to play) may be getting in the way of them fixing it. Detroit has far too many middle-six forwards. I don’t want a goon squad out there, but I want lines that know what they’re supposed to do. 2 scoring lines, 1 energy line, 1 checking line. At times this season, it felt like all four lines were kind of a beige mess.

I like Todd Bertuzzi on a checking line role, I really do. But I’m done pretending that he’s a top-six “big-bodied” forward, especially with the reputation (and legitimate calls) against him. If Bert can consistently put together offense from the third line while those guys go out there primarily to lean on the other team and tire them out, then power to him, but the plan to have the most guys in the league with double-digit goals while at the same time lacking a guy who puts in 30 is not working.

There’s like, 12 other paragraphs I want to write about this. Bottom line is that the Wings are probably going to have to part ways with guys they like and guys that work hard to bring in guys who get more results. I’m a fan of every single person who puts on the Winged Wheel sweater (no, seriously), but I’m a much bigger fan of the logo on the front than the name on the back. The business is winning hockey games.

By: Eric

Eric — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 14:16:00 +0000

Awesome take. That Bertuzzi contract looks even more ridiculous than when he initially signed it. Its a mistake. I actually fully expect Holland to shop Fil the summer. I really like Fil but he is the only legitimate piece that can be moved. Unless Holland gets lucky and the new CBA allows some sort of amnesty clause, and then its so long Franzen. I was actually a little disappointed that they entered this year with the same team when everyone else looked like they made improvements. I am worried about Parise and Suter as well. Hard to believe they want to join a team that looks like it could be in for a rebuild, but the wings will have the money.

Son, when you participate in sporting events, it’s not whether you win or lose: it’s how drunk you get.

By: Jeff H

Jeff H — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 14:14:00 +0000

Wonderfully written post. Can’t agree more that (a) we have been spoiled as fans and really can’t complain about our situation; (b) if nothing is done to the Top 6 forwards of this team, we’ll be nothing more than a team built for the first round or two of the playoffs. I love the Euro Twins, but neither of them are dependable elite goal scorers. Our “system” creates a lot of puck possession and shots year after year, but systems don’t score goals – goal scorers do. Lots of uncertainty heading into next year.

By: Puckto77

Puckto77 — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 14:10:00 +0000

I whole heartedly agree.