Where Do They Go From Here? Wings' Franzen Out 4 Months With ACL Tear

The Detroit Red Wings have a knack for getting past tough times. Their current predicament looks very insurmountable.

The Red Wings beat the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night by a score of 3-2. Johan Franzen scored the game winning goal. Unfortunately, he will also miss the next four months with a left ACL tear.

"We knew he had been bumped but we never thought anything was wrong," Babcock said. "He played the whole game. Now, how do you play the whole game on a torn anterior cruciate ligament? He's a tough guy and he fought his way through." (nhl.com)

Franzen apparently injured his ACL during the second period but kept playing on it because he did not feel as if it required immediate attention. He scored his first goal of the season and will now sit and watch for four months.

In his role as "The Mule", Franzen will be missed very much. His 34 goals last season ranked second on the team behind Marian Hossa. His 59 points were tied for fourth on the team last year.

The third round, 2004 draft pick wasted no time adjusting to the NHL. Franzen's rookie season saw him put up 12 goals. Since then he has put up 10, 27, and 34 goals in his seasons with the Red Wings. The Wings are now in a world of hurt without Franzen because he is also a huge presence on special teams.

Franzen's absence in front of the net will make veterans like Tomas Holmstrom and Dan Cleary play more ice time for Mike Babcock's Detroit squad. Time will only tell how the 1-2 Red Wings fare without their superhuman "Mule".

Franzen's ability to continue playing on his "severely injured" knee gives Red Wings' fans hope that he may be able to make a full recovery and come back before the four months are up.

Babcock must now figure out what to do to replace Franzen's presence in front of the net. An idea that should be pondered is possibly putting Todd Bertuzzi in front of the net. Bertuzzi had 97 points in the 2002-03 season. There is no reason that he could not come close to this mark again with the help of his teammates in Detroit.

For now, this is all wishful thinking. Detroit has lost Franzen for four months. They are 1-2 and looking for someone to step up in a big way. Wings' fans wait with bated breath for the return of the celebrated Mule.