Maybe Wings' Johan Franzen would be best to retire

Deep into the NHL off-season, HeleneSt. James takes a look at individual Red Wings and assesses expectations for the upcoming season.

Today's focal point: Forward Johan Franzen

Looking at 2014-15 production: Seven goals, 15 assists, 22 points in 33 games.

Looking at money: Signed through 2019-20 with an annual salary-cap hit of $3.95 million.

Looking back: Franzen, 35, was producing at a good clip when he was blindsided during a Jan. 6 game at Edmonton. The hit didn't look that bad initially, but Franzen ended up being sidelined by a concussion so severe he couldn't tolerate daylight for a time. He was unable to play another game, despite late-season attempts at a comeback.

Other Wings: Ericsson |Andersson | Datsyuk | DeKeyser

Looking ahead: To borrow a tune from "The Sound of Music," it's tempting to hum "how do you solve a problem like Johan Franzen?" He has suffered multiple head injuries (by his own estimate, at least four), and has, since the last one, gone through a period that was heartbreaking to hear about (Franzen revealed in April that the hardest part was telling his two young sons that he couldn't play with them because he felt so poorly). Franzen improved enough to go on the ice in April, but then had another setback. That's a cycle typical of post-concussion syndrome.

The plan for 2015-16 is that Franzen plays, but all the Wings really can do is wait and see what happens. For now they have to count Franzen against the roster, and against the salary cap. Maybe Franzen gets through training camp and exhibition season feeling great. Maybe he even plays when the season opens. But given his history, it's hard not to think that he is one hard hit away from another lengthy absence.

Should Franzen be sidelined again, the Wings can, of course, put him on long-term injured reserve, which includes salary-cap relief. Given recent stories about he possibility of devastating and long-lasting effects of head injuries, maybe Franzen would be best to call it a career, just as Chris Pronger did a few years back with Philadelphia. No game is worth risking long-term quality of life.

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.