http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=4061069



DETROIT -- Detroit signed forward Johan Franzen (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?playerId=3099) to an 11-year, $43.5 million deal Saturday, keeping him off the free agent market and retaining talent that helped the Red Wings win the Stanley Cup.

Franzen will be paid between $5.5 million and $5 million for the first seven seasons of the contract, a source told ESPN.com. The team said the deal for Franzen, known as Mule, is the second-longest in team history.

Do we still have funds set aside for Hossa?

I think it's safe to say Lilja won't be back next year with the emergence of Ericsson.

Also, Hudler is an RFA, if we signed Hossa, he'd be tough to re-sign right?

If we resign Hossa, Hudler is gone. I was going to buy a Hudler jersey but then they started talking about that possibility so I decided it was probably better to wait. We'll also probably have to get rid of some other guys at the back end. Like choosing between Malts and Kopecky. Start using guys like Helm and Lieno who aren't on big contracts because they're still youngsters.

can't wait for the playoffs to start, hoping we face SL

How do these 11 year contracts affect our cap in a future sense? I know they help out with it right now because it uses the average number, but say he retires in 7 years, does that mean he's still on the cap for 4 more years after retiring or does that all come off the books the second he retires?

How do these 11 year contracts affect our cap in a future sense? I know they help out with it right now because it uses the average number, but say he retires in 7 years, does that mean he's still on the cap for 4 more years after retiring or does that all come off the books the second he retires?

Don't quote me on it, but I believe the NHL's CBA is like the NFL, whereas your contracts aren't guaranteed.

How do these 11 year contracts affect our cap in a future sense? I know they help out with it right now because it uses the average number, but say he retires in 7 years, does that mean he's still on the cap for 4 more years after retiring or does that all come off the books the second he retires?

The contract comes off the books when he retires.

However, If a player is 35 or older and signs a multiyear deal and retires during the contract than it remains on the cap throughout the duration.

My guess is that the league may do something about this process in the next CBA(12 year contracts) but right now, it's smart to take full advantage of it.

I'm not sure about this move yet. I really prefer Hudler and Hossa to Franzen so we'll see what heppens with those two before I throw a hissy fit!

I think Hudler will end up wanting his pay day. I doubt Hossa and Hudler would have fit under the cap. Also, Franzen plays special teams and defense. Hudler does not. Since I think guys like Maltby will be cap casulties fairly soon (or just phased out of the lineup by younger guys), we need guys that are more versitile than Hudler.

I'm happy with this move because it's cheap. No matter who the Wings sign, there will be more money available. If Hossa wants too much, Holland can sign a top-teir defenseman. To be honest, as much as I love Hossa, great defense is better than great offense. And Lidstrom is not getting any younger.

But with Ericksson and Kindal (possibly) making the team next year I think we're OK at defense. Plus we can move Meech back.

I would never pass up a top-teir defenseman, no matter how solid our prospects look. You can never have enough defense. Just look what Rafalski and Stuart did for the Wings last year.

I bet they regret giving Brad Stuart a new deal.

He was pretty lousy this year and Ericsson is by far better.

They also have to clear some room for Leino, Helm, and possibly Abdelkader, don't they?

Plus, is it safe to say Conklin's gone? We'd have to pass Howard through waivers where he'd surely be claimed, right?

Yeah, Conklin will be gone. They have to give Howard a shot. I agree they'd probably like to have Stuarts money back. He still has a few years too. I wonder if they can move him at all.

I wonder if anyone gives Conklin a shot at a starting spot next year. I don't know who has a goalie vacancy, I haven't been keeping up with other teams as much as usual this season.