Very revealing interview with Johan Franzén (translated from Swedish)
Former Detroit Red Wings forward Johan Franzén has given a rare and deeply personal interview to a Swedish newspaper, opening up about life after hockey, PTSD, and the true story behind his famous nickname, “The Mule.”
Now 46, Franzén lives a quiet and largely isolated life in the Swedish countryside. He says he is highly sensitive by nature and prefers to keep a small circle of friends who understand that he may only reach out once a year.
Despite his successful NHL career—which included over 700 games, a Stanley Cup championship, and a World Championship gold medal—Franzén says some of his darkest memories came from his time in the NHL.
For the first time, he revealed that he suffered from PTSD for seven years, largely due to the treatment he received from a coach.
“He woke up one day and decided to hate me. To this day, I don’t understand why.”
Franzén described being publicly humiliated in front of teammates, benched immediately after being sent onto the ice, and singled out during practices.
“The worst was when he stopped practice just to stand there and yell at me for several minutes in front of everyone. I was completely broken. I was shaking and didn’t know where to go.”
He says those experiences stayed with him for years:
“He lived rent-free in my head for far too long.”
Franzén also revealed the truth behind his famous nickname, “The Mule.”
For years, the public story was that Steve Yzerman gave him the nickname because he played hard, put his head down, and worked relentlessly for the team.
According to Franzén, that wasn’t actually the real reason.
“The truth is that he thought I skated like a mule. He was funny, but he was old-school and brutally honest. At the time, I really didn’t want that version of the story getting out, so I made up the other one. And it worked pretty well.”
Despite the concussions, injuries, and mental health struggles, Franzén says he has no regrets about his hockey career.
“It was worth it. If I was still lying on the couch five days a week with crushing headaches, maybe I’d say something different. But in the end, I had so much fun.”
When asked when hockey was at its most enjoyable, he didn’t mention the Stanley Cup or the NHL playoffs.
Instead, he pointed to his childhood club in Sweden and his first years in North America:
“I came over as a country kid. It felt like an entirely new life.”
These days, Franzén spends most of his time landscaping and building around his lakeside home. He says that when the property is finally finished, he’ll invite people over for a housewarming party.
“Then I’ll be ready to bloom again.”
Source: Vetlanda-posten