TOMapleLaughs Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 I have a feeling that Benning will have to look at Franson or other physical elements when Bieksa indeed waives. He'll need some sort of pushback to keep regular season games respectable. At this point we could have a blowout sale with all our vets, replace them with stopgaps, and be further ahead in the long-term than going with this pretend phase we're in. We should not be married to one-and-done playoffs in which fans won't even sellout home games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejazz97 Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Can we sign him as a forward? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvis15 Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Purely speculation off a question asking if Franson would even consider coming here. It's a moot point though considering Benning has said he isn't going to be looking for expensive D free agents ("we won’t be in the high end of the market, the $5 million or $6 million guys") and Franson clearly ("I want to play in roles that make me earn the money we are going to be asking for...") isn't going to come cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aGENT Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Green is overrated and will be overpaid for more so than Franson. McQuaid would be a nice pickup for our top 6. Rather give Clendening a chance then pay 6-7M for an overrated Green. He'll be paid more because he's worth more. Green's got size, can skate, move the puck (skate and pass), QB a PP from the blue line and put up points while being a career +58 and positive corsi player. That's not over rated, that's a good player. He's also EXACTLY what our D-core needs fitting an actual MUCH needed role as opposed to being redundant. You can argue he'll be expensive but you can not in the same breath try and sell a redundant (with Edler) and slower Franson at $5m+ as good/better value. It simply does not add up. We just got rid of a good but redundant Garrion last summer for that exact reason. The same GM is not going to go spend $5m+ on Garrison 2.0 If Green's too expensive for a role we actually desperately need filling, then Franson's also too expensive for a role we don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baer. Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Clendening, Weber and Corrado would object. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkyard Dog Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 He'll be paid more because he's worth more. Green's got size, can skate, move the puck (skate and pass), QB a PP from the blue line and put up points while being a career +58 and positive corsi player. That's not over rated, that's a good player. He's also EXACTLY what our D-core needs fitting an actual MUCH needed role as opposed to being redundant. You can argue he'll be expensive but you can not in the same breath try and sell a redundant (with Edler) and slower Franson at $5m+ as good/better value. It simply does not add up. We just got rid of a good but redundant Garrion last summer for that exact reason. The same GM is not going to go spend $5m+ on Garrison 2.0 You're looking at his career numbers. He isn't the defenseman he was before. Far from it. Green needs sheltered minutes. Green had the 5th most TOA of all the caps defenseman this season. Not a defenseman you want out against top players at all, wasn't in Washington. Why do you think Washington went after two defenseman? He is a liability in his own zone gets a lot of his points from the best goalscorer and one of the best passers in the league. He is not a complete player. Only good for offense which is why we should not pay 6-7M for solely an offensive defenseman. Rather sign Ehrhoff if we want a offensive defenseman. He can be had at a cheaper cap hit and for shorter term. Pretty much a stop gap. Or develop one with Clendening, who will have to be on our roster come next year. I want Franson because he can put up points and play in all 3 zones and in all special teams. He is a complete player i'd want for a top 4 role. Green is somebody we should definitely stay away from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimberWolf Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 worth kicking the tires on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AriGold Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 One thing is certain. There is never an uninteresting moment around the Toronto Maple Leafs. On Febuary 15, the Maple Leafs traded Cody Franson, along with Mike Santorelli, to theNashville Predators in exchange for the Predators’ 2015 first-round pick, Brendan Leipsic and Olli Jokinen. Franson made it no mistake that he wanted to stay in Toronto. In an interview with TSN 1050 (via nhl.com), he thinks that the Leafs hiring Mike Babcock might make a few other free agents think about coming to Toronto. “I definitely think it makes [Toronto] more interesting… Definitely, with Mr. Babcock going there, it’s an exciting time for people in that organization and I think it makes it more intriguing to free agents for sure.” Of course, when asked about whether or not he would come back to Toronto, the answer was easy to predict. “One hundred percent; I’ve always said that I loved it in Toronto… I’m hopeful that Toronto’s in the mix come July 1 and my phone will definitely be on and hoping that they’re one of the teams that calls.” Now, Franson might want to come back to Toronto, but I really don’t see the Leafs being interested in bringing him back. The Leafs are going to be a rebuilding team. Franson really doesn’t have a place on a rebuilding team, at least not with the Leafs. Toronto will probably be giving young defensemen like Stuart Percy, Petter Granberg and Andrew MacWilliam a chance to stick around for the full season next year. If Dion Phaneuf is traded, the Leafs will still have Morgan Rielly, Jake Gardiner, Stephane Robidas and Roman Polak under contract, to go along with Tim Erixon, a restricted free agent on July 1. Not that much room for Franson to come back. As for his claim that other free agents will want to come to Toronto in order to be coached by Babcock, it’s really the same situation. If the Leafs go after anyone in free agency, they will probably be veterans that come cheaply and can mentor young players. If the Leafs are serious about rebuilding, and all the signs point to that being the case, then the top free agents should not even interest them. A few seasons from now though, that will not be the case. As the Leafs get closer to contention, the Leafs will be looking for the finishing touches on their work. If the Leafs are a wanted destination then, it would be great for them. For now though, it’s just implausible. http://thehockeywriters.com/cody-franson-wants-to-come-back-to-toronto-maple-leafs/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aGENT Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 You're looking at his career numbers. He isn't the defenseman he was before. Far from it. Green needs sheltered minutes. Green had the 5th most TOA of all the caps defenseman this season. Not a defenseman you want out against top players at all, wasn't in Washington. Why do you think Washington went after two defenseman? He is a liability in his own zone gets a lot of his points from the best goalscorer and one of the best passers in the league. He is not a complete player. Only good for offense which is why we should not pay 6-7M for solely an offensive defenseman. Rather sign Ehrhoff if we want a offensive defenseman. He can be had at a cheaper cap hit and for shorter term. Pretty much a stop gap. Or develop one with Clendening, who will have to be on our roster come next year. I want Franson because he can put up points and play in all 3 zones and in all special teams. He is a complete player i'd want for a top 4 role. Green is somebody we should definitely stay away from. Lol...ok. Guy had 45 points and +15 this season with 19:06 TOI/G average and a 53% CF% THIS SEASON. He's better than Ehrhoff and miles better than Clendening. You're also not paying a guy like him to clear the crease in your D zone. You're paying him to get the puck to the Sedins and other forwards/out of the D zone and be a threat to score or set up a scoring chance from the offensive blue line. EXACTLY what our D and team needs. He isn't expected to be a "complete player". If he was, he'd be commanding $7m+ instead of $6m+ Franson is not a complete player. He doesn't have the speed or top level offense to be considered "complete". Just like Edler, while a very good D, is not "complete". There's a reason they're considered good #2 D's, not #1's. None of these three guys are "complete" Green just so happens to be the only one with the skill set we require/lack. Again, Franson's a good player, my view of him is not negative, simply that he's redundant on our team. It's like having a car that needs new tires but buying a new performance exhaust manifold instead because it's a bit cheaper than the tires even though the one you have is already working fine. If we don't have money for Green (which we probably won't), we don't have money for Franson. AKA - Franson's a non-starter IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Putgolzin Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 i've lived in toronto for about the last ten years. i don't hate the leafs (like i did when i lived in bc), i just simply do not care about them at all one way or the other. on the other hand, some of my friends (who are extremely knowledgeable hockey fans and loyal, rabid (and self-deprecating) leaf fans) can talk very clearly about which leafs are actually good hockey players and which ones suck. they all LOOOOVE franson. they've got no questions that he's been their best defenseman over the past couple of seasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-Money Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Green > Franson However, Green will probably be more expensive. Franson's disappearing act in Nashville probably cost him significantly. But really, spending big dough on a top FA is not really where this team should be aiming right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boudrias Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Nashville went to the trouble of getting him and then don't play him? What is Franson doing calling all the NHL cities himself? Who is his agent? Sounds like he is trying to get a bidding war going. Nothing wrong with that. Benning has to do something on the d-core. I sure don't see Corrado or Clendening being the short term solution. That said the 5 & 6 d-men do need TOI to develop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zuongo Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 better than bieksa and sbisa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felixthecat_potvin Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Don't need 'em, we've got Norris candidate Sbisa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knucklehead85 Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Rather wait on Brent seabrook Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-AJ- Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 I'd like him, but I feel like he might demand $5.5M+, possibly even $6M, which is a hefty price that we can't really afford. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HC20.0 Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 I like Franson, and I love how he's a righty, but it would almost be like getting Garrison all over again. Didn't work out the first time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desiboynux4lifee******* Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 People need to watch the playoffs at the moment to see what is needed to be successful in this league. First you need a top 6 that can give you reliable minutes. Okay let's see what happens if we sign Franson. Franson gives us offense, and will provide a decent number 4 guy. We will have Tanev -Edler Hamuis (1 year) Franson Bieksa (1 year) Sbisa However, Sedins are getting older and in two years we still don't have a solid stud d-man or a solid 1st liner stud. The problem? Well wouldn't it be smarter to insert Clendenning and Corrado into the line up and trade away Hamuis who has the best stock at the moment. Again, we need to build for the future and we should definitely stick to the plan by not signing Franson but giving a guy like Corrado a chance. DO NOT DEVIATE FROM THE PLAN MR BENNING WE NEED MORE YOUNG PLAYERS, ESPECIALLY YOUNG DEFENCE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRussianRocket. Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 "We'll start with eight defencemen, but we want to have 11 D capable of playing in the NHL," Benning told Jim Jamieson of the Vancouver Province. "That's something I learned this year from being in the West. The travel wears the team down a bit and it seems to take a toll on your defence." "The season doesn't start for four months," Benning told the Province. "If we want to add a certain type of player by trade, it's something we'd look at. Like, say, a better transition defenseman.""If there's a player out there who could benefit our team and be a good fit," Benning said of being a player in free agency. "But we won't be in the high end of the market, the $5 million or $6 million guys." Franson is a RH shot. He can put up points, hit, and block shots but plays an average defensive game in his own zone. If paired with the right partner, he can excel in all aspects of the game and not be a liability. Looking at what JB says, he definitely wants to add to the defense but not at the expense of $5m+. If Franson can be signed in the $4-$4.75m range, then there's a chance and I think he'd eventually be the Bieksa replacement when he's traded or his contract expires. He's just 27 years old and that's very welcoming considering our core defenders are nearing their mid 30's. I see it as 1 of 2 ways this ends up IF Franson signs here - 1.) it ends up being a great deal and he earns his bucks like Hamhuis did when he signed or 2.) it turns out bad like Garrison's deal. I'd personally roll the rice and give it a chance. Not many better options out there and despite Franson's not so great defense, he makes up with it offensively and blocking $&!# and dishing out hits. And again, with a right partner, he could really turn it around, like how Edler did with Tanev this past year. Edler - Tanev Hamhuis - Franson Sbisa - Bieksa Corrado, Weber, Clendening, etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRussianRocket. Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 He's one smart guy. Knows TO is a desperate team that will throw him money and with Babcock, would love to play for him and become an even better playa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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