Johan Franzen
Encyclopedia
Johan Franzén (ˈjaʊ.hɑːn frænˈzɛn , born 23 December 1979) is a Swedish professional ice hockey
winger
currently playing for the Detroit Red Wings
of the National Hockey League
(NHL).
near Vetlanda
in Sweden. He was suspended for a full year after knocking down a referee, but was then moved to play with the Tranås AIF in the Swedish Allsvenskan in 1999. After one season with the club, he moved to Linköping
where he stayed for five seasons, helping the club win the promotion for play in the Swedish elite league Elitserien
in 2001. Recommended by European scout Håkan Andersson
, Franzén was drafted by the Red Wings in 2004. For the 2005–06 NHL season, Franzén played in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings
, totaling 80 games for 16 points (12 goals, four assists) in his rookie season. His workmanlike service was lauded by former teammate and captain
Steve Yzerman
, who gave Johan the nickname "The Mule
", because "he carries the load".
In August 2006, Franzén re-signed with the Detroit Red Wings to a three-year contract worth $2.825 million.
On 21 April 2007, during a playoff game versus the Calgary Flames
, backup goaltender Jamie McLennan
slashed Franzén in the stomach, resulting in a game misconduct for McLennan. In the following game (Game 6), Franzén scored the double-overtime winning goal to advance the Red Wings past the Flames.
On 30 March 2008, Franzén scored his sixth game winning goal for the month of March, against the Nashville Predators
. This goal broke the Red Wings team record for most game winning goals in one month (5) set by Gordie Howe
in February 1952, and duplicated in January 1956. (Howe's feat was matched by Franzén's teammate Henrik Zetterberg
in January 2007.) Coincidentally, Franzén broke Howe's record while Howe was attending the game and celebrating his 80th birthday.
Franzén scored his first career hat trick against the Colorado Avalanche
in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
. That was the Wings' first playoff hat trick since Darren McCarty
did it six years prior (18 May 2002) — also against the Avalanche — in 2002
. During Game 4, on 1 May 2008, Franzén had another hat trick, scoring his ninth goal of the series, breaking the Detroit Red Wings franchise record for most goals in a playoff series: Gordie Howe
had scored eight goals in a seven-game series in 1949.
Franzén currently holds the franchise record (tied with Henrik Zetterberg
) for most goals in a playoff year with 13, a record previously held at 10 by Petr Klima
, Sergei Fedorov
and Brett Hull
. Zetterberg tied his mark of 13 goals after scoring the Cup winning goal in Game 6 of the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals
.
On May 24, 2009, in a game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Chicago Blackhawks
, Franzén was involved in a minor scrum behind the net after the whistle. Franzén was exchanging words with Patrick Kane
when Kane began chewing on his mouth guard. Franzén reached down and ripped the mouth guard out of Kane's mouth and threw it down to the ice.
On 11 April, 2009, Franzén signed a contract extension with the Detroit Red Wings for 11 years. The contract runs through the 2019-2020 season, and is worth $43.5 million. The contract has an annual cap hit of $3,954,545, although it is front loaded. The contract by year pays as follows: 2009-10, $5.5 million, 2010-11, $5 million, 2011-13, $5.25 million, 2013-16, $5 million, 2016-17, $3.5 million, 2017-18, $2 million, and finally in 2018-20, $1 million. The length shows the commitment and confidence the Red Wings have in Franzen.
On 8 October, 2009, Franzén suffered a torn ACL
, causing him to miss 55 games before he was able to return to Detroit's lineup against the St. Louis Blues and record an assist. Following Detroit's next game he recorded his first goal since coming back.
On May 6, 2010, Franzen scored three goals in a span of 3:26 (two seconds shy of the NHL record for fastest playoff hat trick) in the first period of a round two playoff game against the San Jose Sharks
. He had been initially credited with another goal, scored moments before the first of his three that he did score, which would have given him the record for fastest hat trick when he scored what was actually his second of the game. He did, later on in the game, score a fourth goal, however.
On February 2, 2011, Franzén became only the second player in fourteen years, joining Marián Gáborík
, to score five goals in one game. He tallied two even strength goals, two power play
goals, and added an empty net goal
in a 7-5 victory over the Ottawa Senators
. He joins Sergei Fedorov
and Syd Howe
as the only Red Wings to do so.
Franzén replaced Tomas Holmström
at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Fans and the teammates alike often refer to Franzén as, "The Mule," a name given to him by Steve Yzerman. As a rookie in 2005, Johan Franzen whizzed past Steve Yzerman on the ice. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Swede showed he’s more than just big when he scored twice and had an assist to lift the Detroit Red Wings to a 4-3 series-opening win over the Colorado Avalanche. “He’s big and strong and he reminded me of a mule that day,” Yzerman had stated. “His offensive game really started to show up last year and now that his confidence has grown, he is holding onto the puck and making plays.”
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
winger
Winger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
currently playing for the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL).
Playing career
Franzén started playing ice hockey in Boro/Vetlanda HC, LandsbroLandsbro
Landsbro is a locality situated in Vetlanda Municipality, Jönköping County, Sweden with 1,454 inhabitants in 2005.Two famous NHL players are from Landsbro: Johan Franzen or "The Mule" and Erik Karlsson....
near Vetlanda
Vetlanda
Vetlanda is a locality and the seat of Vetlanda Municipality, Jönköping County, Sweden with 12,691 inhabitants in 2005.-History:Vetlanda was still nothing more than a village for several centuries. With the 1840s population boom in Småland, and the industrial revolution winning grounds in Sweden,...
in Sweden. He was suspended for a full year after knocking down a referee, but was then moved to play with the Tranås AIF in the Swedish Allsvenskan in 1999. After one season with the club, he moved to Linköping
Linköping
Linköping is a city in southern middle Sweden, with 104 232 inhabitants in 2010. It is the seat of Linköping Municipality with 146 736 inhabitants and the capital of Östergötland County...
where he stayed for five seasons, helping the club win the promotion for play in the Swedish elite league Elitserien
Elitserien
Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden...
in 2001. Recommended by European scout Håkan Andersson
Håkan Andersson (ice hockey)
Håkan Andersson is a Swedish amateur hockey scout who currently serves as the Director of European Scouting for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League ....
, Franzén was drafted by the Red Wings in 2004. For the 2005–06 NHL season, Franzén played in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
, totaling 80 games for 16 points (12 goals, four assists) in his rookie season. His workmanlike service was lauded by former teammate and captain
Captain (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, each team can designate an official captain for each game. The player serving as captain during the game wears a "C" on his or her jersey...
Steve Yzerman
Steve Yzerman
Stephen Gregory "Steve" Yzerman is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player and current general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League...
, who gave Johan the nickname "The Mule
Mule
A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. Horses and donkeys are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes. Of the two F1 hybrids between these two species, a mule is easier to obtain than a hinny...
", because "he carries the load".
In August 2006, Franzén re-signed with the Detroit Red Wings to a three-year contract worth $2.825 million.
On 21 April 2007, during a playoff game versus the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
, backup goaltender Jamie McLennan
Jamie McLennan
Jamie McLennan is a former professional ice hockey goaltender. He retired from playing in 2008 after spending a season with the Nippon Paper Cranes of Asia League Ice Hockey.-Playing career:...
slashed Franzén in the stomach, resulting in a game misconduct for McLennan. In the following game (Game 6), Franzén scored the double-overtime winning goal to advance the Red Wings past the Flames.
On 30 March 2008, Franzén scored his sixth game winning goal for the month of March, against the Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. This goal broke the Red Wings team record for most game winning goals in one month (5) set by Gordie Howe
Gordie Howe
Gordon "Gordie" Howe, OC is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League , and the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association . Howe is often referred to as Mr...
in February 1952, and duplicated in January 1956. (Howe's feat was matched by Franzén's teammate Henrik Zetterberg
Henrik Zetterberg
Henrik “Zäta" Zetterberg is a Swedish professional ice hockey center and alternate captain currently playing for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League...
in January 2007.) Coincidentally, Franzén broke Howe's record while Howe was attending the game and celebrating his 80th birthday.
Franzén scored his first career hat trick against the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 9, 2008, after the 2007–08 regular season. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-7 series for conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and then the conference champions...
. That was the Wings' first playoff hat trick since Darren McCarty
Darren McCarty
Darren McCarty is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward, best known for his years playing with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League...
did it six years prior (18 May 2002) — also against the Avalanche — in 2002
2002 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 2002 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championships of the National Hockey League, was played from April until June. The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Carolina Hurricanes four games to one to clinch the 10th championship in their history. It was the Hurricanes first ever appearance in the...
. During Game 4, on 1 May 2008, Franzén had another hat trick, scoring his ninth goal of the series, breaking the Detroit Red Wings franchise record for most goals in a playoff series: Gordie Howe
Gordie Howe
Gordon "Gordie" Howe, OC is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League , and the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association . Howe is often referred to as Mr...
had scored eight goals in a seven-game series in 1949.
Franzén currently holds the franchise record (tied with Henrik Zetterberg
Henrik Zetterberg
Henrik “Zäta" Zetterberg is a Swedish professional ice hockey center and alternate captain currently playing for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League...
) for most goals in a playoff year with 13, a record previously held at 10 by Petr Klima
Petr Klima
Petr Klíma is a Czech former professional ice hockey forward. He played in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Los Angeles Kings, and the Pittsburgh Penguins...
, Sergei Fedorov
Sergei Fedorov
Sergei Viktorovich Fedorov is a Russian professional ice hockey forward and occasional defenceman...
and Brett Hull
Brett Hull
Brett Andrew Hull is a former Canadian-American NHL player and the former Executive Vice President of the Dallas Stars. He is the son of Bobby Hull and nephew of Dennis Hull, both former NHL players. Hull is also known as "The Golden Brett," which is a play off of his father's nickname, "The...
. Zetterberg tied his mark of 13 goals after scoring the Cup winning goal in Game 6 of the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals
2008 Stanley Cup Finals
The 2008 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven playoff series that determined the National Hockey League champion for the 2007–08 season. As a culmination of the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Western Conference champion Detroit Red Wings defeated the Eastern Conference champion Pittsburgh...
.
On May 24, 2009, in a game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
, Franzén was involved in a minor scrum behind the net after the whistle. Franzén was exchanging words with Patrick Kane
Patrick Kane
Patrick Timothy Kane, Jr. is an American professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League . The Blackhawks selected him with the first overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.-Minor and junior:Kane attended the St...
when Kane began chewing on his mouth guard. Franzén reached down and ripped the mouth guard out of Kane's mouth and threw it down to the ice.
On 11 April, 2009, Franzén signed a contract extension with the Detroit Red Wings for 11 years. The contract runs through the 2019-2020 season, and is worth $43.5 million. The contract has an annual cap hit of $3,954,545, although it is front loaded. The contract by year pays as follows: 2009-10, $5.5 million, 2010-11, $5 million, 2011-13, $5.25 million, 2013-16, $5 million, 2016-17, $3.5 million, 2017-18, $2 million, and finally in 2018-20, $1 million. The length shows the commitment and confidence the Red Wings have in Franzen.
On 8 October, 2009, Franzén suffered a torn ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
, causing him to miss 55 games before he was able to return to Detroit's lineup against the St. Louis Blues and record an assist. Following Detroit's next game he recorded his first goal since coming back.
On May 6, 2010, Franzen scored three goals in a span of 3:26 (two seconds shy of the NHL record for fastest playoff hat trick) in the first period of a round two playoff game against the San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. He had been initially credited with another goal, scored moments before the first of his three that he did score, which would have given him the record for fastest hat trick when he scored what was actually his second of the game. He did, later on in the game, score a fourth goal, however.
On February 2, 2011, Franzén became only the second player in fourteen years, joining Marián Gáborík
Marian Gaborik
Marián Gáborík is a Slovak professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League . He began his career in the Slovak Extraliga with HC Dukla Trenčín for two seasons before being drafted third overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft by the...
, to score five goals in one game. He tallied two even strength goals, two power play
Power play (sport)
"Power play" is a sporting term used in various games.*In ice hockey, a team is said to be on a power play when at least one opposing player is serving a penalty, and the team has a numerical advantage on the ice...
goals, and added an empty net goal
Empty net goal
An empty net goal, or colloquially an empty netter , occurs in ice hockey when a team scores a goal into a net with no goaltender present...
in a 7-5 victory over the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. He joins Sergei Fedorov
Sergei Fedorov
Sergei Viktorovich Fedorov is a Russian professional ice hockey forward and occasional defenceman...
and Syd Howe
Syd Howe
Sydney Harris Howe was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Quakers, Toronto Maple Leafs, St...
as the only Red Wings to do so.
Franzén replaced Tomas Holmström
Tomas Holmström
Tomas Holmström is a Swedish professional ice hockey left winger currently playing for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League , where he has won four Stanley Cup championships...
at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Awards
- Gold medal at the 2006 World Championships.
- In 2006, Franzén was named "Detroit Red Wings Rookie of the Year" by the Detroit Sports Broadcasters' Association for his play during the 2005–06 season.
- Stanley CupStanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
with Detroit Red Wings in 2008.
Records
- Elitserien record for plus/minus, 2004 (+24).
- NHL record for most goals in a 4-game playoff series (9).
- Detroit Red Wings record for most game winning goals in one month, March 2008 (6).
- Detroit Red Wings record for most goals in a single playoff series (9).
- Detroit Red Wings record for consecutive playoff games with a point (12, tied with Gordie Howe)
- Detroit Red Wings record for consecutive playoff games with a goal (5, tied with Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay).
- Detroit Red Wings record for most goals in a single playoff year (13, tied with Henrik ZetterbergHenrik ZetterbergHenrik “Zäta" Zetterberg is a Swedish professional ice hockey center and alternate captain currently playing for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League...
). - Detroit Red Wings record for most game winning goals in one playoff year (5, 2008)
- Detroit Red Wings record for most points in a playoff game (6), May 6, 2010, vs. San Jose Sharks
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1999–00 | Tranås AIF | Swe-4 | 14 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Linköpings HC Linköpings HC Linköpings Hockey Club, often known by its acronym LHC or, colloquially among its fans, Cluben, is an ice hockey team from Linköping, Sweden.... |
Swe-2 | 41 | 12 | 20 | 32 | 26 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2001–02 | Linköpings HC | SEL Elitserien Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden... |
36 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 64 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Linköpings HC | SEL | 37 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Linköpings HC | Swe-2 | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | ||
| 2003–04 | Linköpings HC | SEL | 49 | 12 | 18 | 30 | 26 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | ||
| 2004–05 2004–05 Elitserien season The 2004–05 Elitserien season was the 30th season of Elitserien. It started on September 20, 2004, with the regular season ending March 1, 2005. The playoffs of the 81st Swedish Championship ended on April 11, with Frölunda HC taking the championship.... |
Linköpings HC | SEL | 43 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 45 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 16 | ||
| 2005–06 | Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
80 | 12 | 4 | 16 | 36 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 2006–07 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 69 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 37 | 18 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 10 | ||
| 2007–08 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 72 | 27 | 11 | 38 | 51 | 16 | 13 | 5 | 18 | 14 | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 71 | 34 | 25 | 59 | 44 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 12 | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 27 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 22 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 16 | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 76 | 28 | 27 | 55 | 58 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | ||
| SEL totals | 165 | 23 | 35 | 58 | 149 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 24 | ||||
| NHL totals | 395 | 121 | 98 | 219 | 248 | 83 | 37 | 35 | 72 | 62 | ||||
International play
Franzén has played for Sweden in:- 2005 World Championships2005 Men's World Ice Hockey ChampionshipsThe 2005 Men's Ice Hockey Championships were held March 7 - May 15, 2005, in 7 cities in 6 countries: Vienna and Innsbruck, Austria ; Debrecen, Hungary ; Eindhoven, the Netherlands ; Zagreb, Croatia ; Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro ; Mexico City, Mexico...
- 2006 World Championships2006 Men's World Ice Hockey ChampionshipsThe 2006 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships was the 70th such event hosted by the International Ice Hockey Federation. Teams representing 45 countries participated in four levels of competition. The competition also served as qualifications for the 2007 competition...
(gold medal)
International statistics
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Sweden | WC 2005 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships The 2005 Men's Ice Hockey Championships were held March 7 - May 15, 2005, in 7 cities in 6 countries: Vienna and Innsbruck, Austria ; Debrecen, Hungary ; Eindhoven, the Netherlands ; Zagreb, Croatia ; Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro ; Mexico City, Mexico... |
5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2006 | Sweden | WC 2006 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships The 2006 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships was the 70th such event hosted by the International Ice Hockey Federation. Teams representing 45 countries participated in four levels of competition. The competition also served as qualifications for the 2007 competition... |
8 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 12 | |
| Senior int'l totals | 13 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 12 | |||
Personal Life
Johan Franzén and his long time girlfriend, Cecilia, were married on Saturday, August 2, 2009. The couple welcomed their first child, Eddie Bo Johan Franzén on February 28, 2011. Franzén stated, "[Cecilia] liked Eddie, and Bo is her dad’s name. Usually we have three names back home (in Sweden). It was fun, something else. Pretty special.” Franzén created some confusion with teammates when he emailed a picture of the baby wearing blue while wrapped in a pink blanket — but didn't say whether it was a boy or girl.Fans and the teammates alike often refer to Franzén as, "The Mule," a name given to him by Steve Yzerman. As a rookie in 2005, Johan Franzen whizzed past Steve Yzerman on the ice. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Swede showed he’s more than just big when he scored twice and had an assist to lift the Detroit Red Wings to a 4-3 series-opening win over the Colorado Avalanche. “He’s big and strong and he reminded me of a mule that day,” Yzerman had stated. “His offensive game really started to show up last year and now that his confidence has grown, he is holding onto the puck and making plays.”