Franzen, Zetterberg or Hossa?

[Wilfredo Ledezma]

So I was listening to a Kevin Allen interview on WDFN, and I heard about the Wings FA dilemma.

Franzen, Zetterberg, & Hossa are all UFA this upcoming offseason.

Prior to the season starting, it was thought that Hossa would be one year and done, and we would re-sign both Franzen & Zetterberg. Well, apparently, according to Allen, Ken Holland has fallen so enamored with Hossa's play, that he has since leapfrogged both Johan & Hank, and is now #1 priority to sign long-term.

Odds are strong we're going to lose at least one of them. Because if they sign all 3, then they're going to have to get rid of some 'depth guys' like Filppula or Hudler (Jiri is an RFA, btw). Not to mention, Samuelsson is also a UFA (good ridance if you ask me).

So my question is this, of the 3 (Franzen, Hossa, Zetterberg) which two would you sign?

My answer would be Hossa & Zetterberg.

The ages are identical, which surprised me since it seems like Hossa has been in the league forever.

Hossa is 29 years old
Franzen is 28 years old
Zetterberg is 28 years old

I love Franzen, but I just think he has less of a track record to suggest he deserves a huge contract like the other two. He's more a product of having superior talent around him rather than being a super star player, like the other two. Not to mention, both Hank & Hossa are better two-way players.

It's a tough choice for Holland to make.

[WTFchris]

Hank is still #1 on that list. He's still a better overall player than Hossa IMO. I would think Franzen would be the odd man out (if there needed to be one). I thought Hudler was a FA as well. He's lighting it up this year too.

[Zip Goshboots]

Fuck Hudler.

[WTFchris]

Well apparently he's had some sort of realization to play hard %100 of the time. He's 4th in points on the team with half the ice time of the top players.

[Zip Goshboots]

Well then don't fuck him.
But I wouldn't keep him at the expense of the other three. So there.

[DE]

Hudler's a restricted free agent so the Wings have a lot more maneuverability in how they will handle that (unless some team comes along and absolutely throws big money at him).

The other three will be a bit tougher. First of all I'm hoping the NHL will give the cap a big bump which would at least make things easier. I think we can all agree that Franzen is the third on this list in terms of talent and impact (which just tells you how ridiculously talented the Wings really are); he's a great player but the other two are superstars. I would say that Hossa right now has been playing better than Z, but I believe it could be Z's not in full stride after taking time off from the groin injury (or his not being 100% because of it) or it's just another example of how great playing with Datsyuk can be.

If all things were equal (talent, age, impact, intangibles) than Z would have to get the nod. Hossa is a terrific two-way forward, but elite two-way centers have more value than elite two-way wingers. Z also wears that A and has shown he can step it up and dominate in the playoffs.

But really it all depends on what these guys are willing to accept as well. Hossa came to the team knowing he wouldn't get more than 7.5 because no one should make more than Lidstrom. Would both Z and Hossa be willing to take multi-year deals at 7 a year (more or less, depending on how the cap is determined for next year) or even less? There's no doubt that there will be a few teams that can offer each of them much more than that.

To be honest, I try not to think about it too much since it is a bit worrying. It seems pretty much impossible that we'll be able to keep all four of these players. But, at the same time, Holland's pulled off so many remarkable miracles I'm hopeful to say the least.

[WTFchris]

I'm betting Hossa and Z would both take less money (7 mil isn't chump change) to win here. Franzen has probably hasn't made big money (don't know what he gets now), so I could see him cashing in if the Wings can't give him at least decent money.

I still think they'll move Lilja at the deadline if Meech keeps playing well and Chelios comes back strong. That would free up money for the wingers.

[DE]

I'm betting Hossa and Z would both take less money (7 mil isn't chump change) to win here. Franzen has probably hasn't made big money (don't know what he gets now), so I could see him cashing in if the Wings can't give him at least decent money.

I still think they'll move Lilja at the deadline if Meech keeps playing well and Chelios comes back strong. That would free up money for the wingers.

Here's a pretty good chart on salaries:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/cap-central/team.php?team=DET

I like Meech a lot (especially as a checking winger) but Chelios is going to really have to kick ass for them to move Lilja IMO. He takes a lot of crap and he still can make some glaring mistakes, but Lilja has been very solid as a third line defenseman this year so far and our top two defense lines are pretty damn sound.

[WTFchris]

Here's a pretty good chart on salaries:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/cap-central/team.php?team=DET

I like Meech a lot (especially as a checking winger) but Chelios is going to really have to kick ass for them to move Lilja IMO. He takes a lot of crap and he still can make some glaring mistakes, but Lilja has been very solid as a third line defenseman this year so far and our top two defense lines are pretty damn sound.

Well, besides Meech and Chelios you have Lebda and hopefully Erickson ready to play on the 3rd pairing next year. Right now that is 3 guys that are capable 3rd liners (you have to sit two of them now). I'd rather move Lilja than see Franzen and Hudler leave and then we're counting on Maltby and McCarty for scoring.

[Zekyl]

Well, besides Meech and Chelios you have Lebda and hopefully Erickson ready to play on the 3rd pairing next year. Right now that is 3 guys that are capable 3rd liners (you have to sit two of them now). I'd rather move Lilja than see Franzen and Hudler leave and then we're counting on Maltby and McCarty for scoring.

We definitely have the young depth on D to move Lilja if we need to, but he's obviously the better player because he's playing and they're sitting.