Sports
Johan Franzén
born 1979 · ice hockey winger
Swedish power forward, nicknamed 'The Mule' by Steve Yzerman, who played his entire eleven-season NHL career with the Red Wings and set the franchise's single-series playoff goal-scoring record.
- Born
Vetlanda, Sweden
age 46- Birth name
- Johan Marcus Gunnar Franzén
- Also known as
- The Mule
- Detroit years
- 2005–2016
- Field
- Sports
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Drafted by Detroit in 2004 on the recommendation of the club's European scouts, Franzén made his NHL debut in 2005 and was named the team's rookie of the year, earning his nickname from outgoing captain Steve Yzerman for his workmanlike style. He became a playoff-tested scorer, and during Detroit's 2008 championship run he broke Gordie Howe's decades-old franchise record for goals in a single playoff series, part of a Stanley Cup-winning season that also brought him a long-term contract extension. A torn ACL, then post-concussion syndrome, gradually shortened his career, which ended early in the 2015–16 season, but by then he held or shared several Red Wings postseason scoring records, some still measured against Howe's name.
Highlights
- Named Detroit Red Wings Rookie of the Year, 2005–06
- Won the Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008
- Set the Red Wings' single playoff-series goal-scoring record (nine goals, 2008)
- Played his entire eleven-season NHL career with the Red Wings
- Career ended in 2015–16 due to post-concussion syndrome
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Played here · 2005–2016
Joe Louis Arena
Demolished · 1979–2017
His home rink for his entire Red Wings career, including the 2008 Stanley Cup run.