Red Wings to Lose Franzen for 4 Months

by Casey Richey on Oct 9, 2009 5:23 PM CDT in News Comment 25 comments

Johan Franzen, who scored the game winning goal against the Blackhawks last night, will be out for at least four months. According to mlive.com's Ansar Khan, Franzen tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee. The Red Wings lose one of their most talented and most clutch scorers for a good portion of the season and will be forced to call up Justin Abdelkader. Abdelkader was just sent down to Grand Rapids following the signing of Brad May but will likely find himself playing nightly in the absence of Franzen. This will also mean that Patrick Eaves is likely to see more and more time to relieve Abdelkader, May, and Maltby in the line-up

Detroit has roster depth but finding a replacement within the system that can fill the void of Franzen is going to be unlikely. The team has stated that they will not seek a trade for a temporary replacement. The offensive production will now fall on guys like Todd Bertuzzi, Dan Cleary, and Valtteri Filppula. These three guys will be need to step up in the offense at this time and now the defense will be called on even more as the team has lost 122 goals from last year. As if defense and goaltending wasn't stressed enough coming into this season, the Red Wings will have to rely on this even more than anticipated.

Is it time to freak out? No, I don't think so but it just might not be a pretty run for a few months and things won't be nearly the same without "The Mule" in the line-up.

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Comments

had one of those earlier

i mean, yeah this is some unfortunate news for sure.

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Oct 9, 2009 5:37 PM CDT up reply actions

What?

Damn it… I was expecting him to make his first all-star team this year…

by ZWC11 on Oct 9, 2009 3:47 PM CDT reply actions

shoot, i had him for MVP!

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Oct 9, 2009 4:07 PM CDT up reply actions

Damnit. That hurts the Wings. Helm better get back quick.

This also kills me fantasy team. =\ Thankfully, I managed to grab him in the fifth round somehow.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Oct 9, 2009 4:31 PM CDT reply actions

Yeesh

Well the good thing is that Franzen is pretty damn tough so he should be 100% after that time. The Wings should be able to compete until then and then get him back just in time for things to get good.

by Zegarek88 on Oct 9, 2009 4:44 PM CDT reply actions

New Lines?

Does this put Pav and Z together again? Move Filp and Leino up?

by Arun_AZ on Oct 9, 2009 4:56 PM CDT reply actions

Good question

What kind of lineup changes do you guys anticipate?

by Brobz on Oct 9, 2009 5:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Here's my two cents

Holmstrom-Datsyuk-Cleary
Bertuzzi-Zetterberg-Helm
Leino-Filppula-Williams
Draper-Abdelkader-Maltby (Eaves in and out)

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Oct 9, 2009 6:02 PM CDT up reply actions

It won’t be like that for now. Helm is still injured (unless I missed something) and you have to have May in there, I thinkhe is there for the long haul after his showing last night (I thought he played very well for someone many though to be washed up).

Holmstrom-Datsyuk-Cleary
Bertuzzi-Zetterberg-Williams
Leino-Fillpula-May
Eaves-Draper-Maltby (Abdelkader in and out)

I don’t think Babcock, Holland, and Stevie were that impressed with the way Abdelkader played in the preseason and Sweden. I get the feeling that Eaves will make his Wings debut tomorrow next to two of the most experienced and mature players on the team (and possibly in the league).

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Oct 9, 2009 8:35 PM CDT up reply actions

After some thought I would really like to see Pav and Z back together.

Cleary – Pav – Z
Bert – Filp – Leino
Homer – Draper – Williams
Maltby – Helm/Abdelkader – May / with Eaves taking either wing depending on match up.

Remember if Lebda is okay they could move Meech up if needed. I love Homer but he is really slow, with less ice time he could stay healthy and excel on the powerplay.

by Arun_AZ on Oct 9, 2009 11:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Babcock isn’t going to put his top two players on the same line. He hates doing it and will only do it if absolutely necessary. Homer isn’t going away from that top line either.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Oct 10, 2009 12:21 AM CDT up reply actions

Homer/Datsyuk/Filppula
Bertuzzi/Zetterberg/Cleary
Leino/Williams/Eaves
May/Draper/Maltby

That is until Helm comes back. Then they will sub May in an out for someone.

by dewman8810 on Oct 10, 2009 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions

According to Yahoo! there is some info on the lines tonight:

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom
Leino-Filppula-Cleary
?-Abdelkader-Bertuzzi
4th line unknown.

I do like the Eurotwins reunited.

by Brobz on Oct 10, 2009 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions

That sucks. He was the guy that could reach 40 goals. He just can’t stay healthy a full season… especially at the beginning.

by dewman8810 on Oct 9, 2009 4:57 PM CDT reply actions

i read somewhere...

that this is the third time he’s injured his left knee. all three times in October and all three times against the Blackhawks. Strange.

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Oct 9, 2009 5:25 PM CDT up reply actions

I was just thinking it seems that he always gets hurt in the first game against the Hawks every year.

by dewman8810 on Oct 10, 2009 8:59 AM CDT up reply actions

WTF

this came out of nowhere…shitt

we seem to have gotten over that HURDLE

ROCKTOBER HAS BEGUN!

by TuLoRocks2008 on Oct 9, 2009 5:35 PM CDT reply actions

Um...

well…

damn

by 42jeff on Oct 9, 2009 7:42 PM CDT reply actions

NOOO! This can’t be happening. I had him on my keeper league and I’m trying to replace him. How can you replace “The Mule?”

by hockeyheidi on Oct 9, 2009 9:11 PM CDT reply actions

Not good. at least eaves will get some ice time, but for the team this is not good. maybe we will sign some other old man and bring him to the linup instead of one of our young talented players again. seems like we just keep signing old washed up has beens. bertuzzi on the second line is a joke. we got him for his power and roughness, not his scoring. anyother wing would made more out of their situation if they were in his spot. bertuzzi , draper and maltby would be a good checking line

by Fiend on Oct 9, 2009 9:22 PM CDT reply actions

Bertuzzi-Helm-May would be one hell of a checking line when Helm returns.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Oct 9, 2009 9:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Goaltender

Maybe instead of an old washed up forward we need a back-up goalie. With Franzen being placed in IR, we now have some cap room. I am not a fan of Howard.

by maksohockey on Oct 10, 2009 11:02 AM CDT reply actions