Franzen signs extension with Detroit - 4-11-09

I think Holland re-signs Hossa.

It'll be another extra long deal (they seem to sign their core thru age 40), so the cap hit per year is reduced.  

Something like 9 years and $45M, for a cap hit of 5.0M/year.

I know it sounds ridiculous--esp. given what the Penguins offered last year--but that's Detroit's MO.  

Franzen for 3.95M/year is HIGHWAY ROBBERY.

The catch, of course, is the length of the agreement.  But they have the horses to win CupS right NOW--so why not keep 'em in the barn for as long as possible?

Vegas has the Red Wings as THE favorite to repeat this year.  I don't see how that can be disputed given that they kept last year's championship team intact and THEN ADDED Hossa and Conkblock.

Osgood is their Achilles heel, but w/ Conklin there to step in, if necessary, they are extremely well-positioned.

Its interesting to look at the salaries of Detroit's key forwards vs. Pittsburgh's for NEXT year:

PITT    (25.15)             DETROIT (25.85)

Crosby    8.70              Zetterberg   7.75

Malkin      8.70              Hossa         7.45  (current.  go down?)

Staal       4.00               Datsyuk      6.70

Kunitz     3.75               Franzen      3.95

As awesome as Malkin and Crosby are...I'd take Detroit's "Core Four" in a heartbeat.

Also, if Holland can re-sign Hossa, and follows his MO of long-term, ultra cap-friendly deals, they will do so for LESS, perhaps significantly less.

If the Penguins want to win the Cup, they've got some catching up to do vis-a-vis Detroit.

Similarly, in net, Fleury makes $5.0M/year while Osgood ($1.70) and Conklin ($1.45) COMBINED earn less than 1/2 that amount.  Osgood is signed next year for $1.45 and Conklin is an UFA.  Also, I would take Fleury ("in a heartbeat") over Osgood, but over the tandem...I am less sure.

Correction:   Conklin's salary this year is 0.75M -- w/c is how Detroit's tandem makes less than 1/2 of Flower's salary.

Also the Red Wings have to re-sign Jiri Hudler (who is a restricted FA).  I think they'll try to move a guy like Dan Cleary or Brad Stuart this off-season, but who wants to take those bad contracts?

We'll see, it's definitely a great rate to get Franzen for $3.95 for the forseeable future....But when you look at power forwards and how injuries, age can catch up quickly (Cam Neely, John LeClair, Kevin Stevens, etc) it'll be interested to see what happens when he's 35+.

@hooksorpik - agree on power forwards and injuries.

of course, Franzen won't be 35 for SIX MORE YEARS.

they could have won 7 Cups in a row by then.

There’s not much room for Detroit to sign Hossa, not without trading someone. Problem is, everyone with significant salary has a no-trade clause (Clearly, Stuart and Rafalski have one;I believe Filpulla does as well; not sure if Kronwall does, but I can't imagine Holland trading him anyway). They have a goalie-in-waiting in the minors to replace Conklin. After factoring in his salary, they have about $4.7 million left to fill four forward positions assuming salary cap is the same next year (defense is signed and set). That’s enough for Hudler and three of their prospects – probably Helm, Leino (both ready for regular action) and someone else (maybe Downey/McCarty regular time again).

Their only chance, really, is if Lidstrom retires early (maybe if they have a successful cup run). But then that just creates issues when the cap drops. Lidstrom’s contract expires at about the right time, in that sense.

News tonight is that the Red Wings and Hossa's agent were in negotiations today and they are "close" to a deal.

These 9, 10, 11, 12 year deals circumvent the CBA.

Hypothetically, they could sign Hossa to a 9 yr. $45M deal that broke out like this:

yr     $M

1       7

2       7

3       7

4       7

5       7

6       5

7       3

8       1

9       1

After year 6, Hossa is 35 y.o., Detroit can buy out the remainder of his contract for approx.  $3.5M w/c they can spread out over several y-e-a-r-s.

The actual deal will probably be a LITTLE more than this, but you get the idea.  Ruck the Fed Wings.

MVP - Wings can't sign Hossa at this point. The tagging rule prevents them from signing anyone else if it puts them over the current cap limit (if I understand it correctly). They have to wait until the end of the season (or is it July 1?) before they can sign Hossa; and Holland said he was shutting down negotiations (he doesn't negotiate during the playoffs).

You know, as good as the Red Wings are, they haven't been enough of a dynasty to sell the organization so well. That must be heck of an organization to get so many players to sign at bargain rates.  Red Wings are signing these guys at ridiculous amounts. even if Franzen doesn't serve the length of the contract, it is a bargain. Fetterberg was signed for less than market value. And if they sign Hossa, it will be for less than market value unless Detroit loses early this post season. I sure hope Detroit loses quick because that means Hossa won't be in a mood to give a discount for a non-sure thing.