Franson at the deadline

[mc]

Dreger:

Veteran defenceman Cody Franson is a late addition to the 'Trade Bait' list in the likelihood he embraces unrestricted free agency. The Leafs aren't willing to pay him what he will lure on the open market and based on the demand for blueliners with a right-handed shot, Franson will fetch a decent trade return once it's been determined he intends to walk. And that decision should be soon. Forwards Daniel Winnik and Mike Santorelli (also pending UFAs) are drawing interest from trade circles as well and given Toronto's play of late, the list of available Leaf players is starting to grow. 

http://www.tsn.ca/dreger-report-countdown-to-deadline-day-begins-1.189968

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Franson is obviously the the most important decision the team will probably have to make in the next few weeks. If he's not signed they absolutely have to trade him, and they need to get a really good deal back in return. Minimum 1st rounder or something of equivalent value.

 

[bustaheims]

Franson could very well be the most appeal rental available at the deadline. Teams always seem to be on the lookout for right handed D - especially the kind that is pretty good with the puck. I imagine a lot of teams will be in on the bidding when the Leafs start to get serious about moving him. They absolutely cannot go past the deadline without trading him or re-signing him - and, being that re-signing him probably requires moving out at least one significant contract to make things work in terms of the team's salary structure, a trade is much more likely. Probably the smarter move, too. I like Franson and all, but I don't think he's going to be worth what the contract he'll end up with long-term.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Franson could very well be the most appeal rental available at the deadline. Teams always seem to be on the lookout for right handed D - especially the kind that is pretty good with the puck. I imagine a lot of teams will be in on the bidding when the Leafs start to get serious about moving him. They absolutely cannot go past the deadline without trading him or re-signing him - and, being that re-signing him probably requires moving out at least one significant contract to make things work in terms of the team's salary structure, a trade is much more likely. Probably the smarter move, too. I like Franson and all, but I don't think he's going to be worth what the contract he'll end up with long-term.

Soon to be 28 year old having career season - move him when his value is highest.

 

[bustaheims]

Soon to be 28 year old having career season - move him when his value is highest.

Yup, and, while his skating has improved a little from last season (largely due to not dealing with suspected lingering injury issues), it's still not good and it's not going to get better as he gets older. It's been suggested by Dreger that he may be looking for a 7 year deal, and that's just not something the Leafs should even be contemplating.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Soon to be 28 year old having career season - move him when his value is highest.

Yup, and, while his skating has improved a little from last season (largely due to not dealing with suspected lingering injury issues), it's still not good and it's not going to get better as he gets older. It's been suggested by Dreger that he may be looking for a 7 year deal, and that's just not something the Leafs should even be contemplating.

To add to that further, Leafs need to be recouping picks that have either been traded in the past or were not acquired for assets let go for nothing like Grabovski, Kulemin, MacArthur, Raymond, etc.  Focus needs to be on stockpiling picks and prospects.

 

[bustaheims]

To add to that further, Leafs need to be recouping picks that have either been traded in the past or were not acquired for assets let go for nothing like Grabovski, Kulemin, MacArthur, Raymond, etc.  Focus needs to be on stockpiling picks and prospects.

Absolutely. If there's going to be anything resembling a rebuild, there has to be a lot of quality pieces in the pipeline to fill all sorts of roles in the lineup.

 

[L K]

Not to mention that most contenders probably wouldn't be able to give him a contract he would like anyway so you recoup some assets and if he'll bent on bringing him back you can always take a crack at him in the offseason.

 

[Peter D.]

I wouldn't mind if the Leafs re-signed Franson, but there is no way do I want to see a 1st pairing of Phaneuf/Franson taking up $12 to $13 million of the team's cap.

Phaneuf isn't going to be traded, so the best thing is to try and get something reasonably good for Franson to start re-stocking the cupboard.

 

[Redleaf]

What can we reasonably expect in return in a trade for Franson. A first rounder?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

What can we reasonably expect in return in a trade for Franson. A first rounder?

On pace for 50 points. Right handed shot. Big. Can play in all situations. In a good age bracket. He's the top pending UFA defencemen I think, and will be the best defenceman available at the deadline unless Arizona looks to move Yandle at that point. You could pretty easily put together a list of half a dozen teams that should be very interested in him. A 1st round pick or a prospect/young player equivalent of that should be attainable.

 

[Boston Leaf]

Id say if someone offers a 2nd round pick.. take it and run..someone will pay him crazy money being the right handed shot and not much out there for UFA's (yes boychuck will be big too)..so better than losing him

 

[Redleaf]

What can we reasonably expect in return in a trade for Franson. A first rounder?

On pace for 50 points. Right handed shot. Big. Can play in all situations. In a good age bracket. He's the top pending UFA defencemen I think, and will be the best defenceman available at the deadline unless Arizona looks to move Yandle at that point. You could pretty easily put together a list of half a dozen teams that should be very interested in him. A 1st round pick or a prospect/young player equivalent of that should be attainable.

You almost make him sound good enough to keep.

So, if he snags us a low end 1st rounder, we may be able to select another Biggs, Gauthier or Colbourne. It's such a crapshoot picking outside the top 10 or even top 5 for that matter.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

You almost make him sound good enough to keep.

So, if he snags us a low end 1st rounder, we may be able to select another Biggs, Gautier or Colbourne. It's such a crapshoot picking outside the top 10 or even top 5 for that matter.

If we had the cap space I would definitely keep him. There are good players to be had with a late 1st, especially since this is seen as a pretty good draft.

 

[Redleaf]

Id say if someone offers a 2nd round pick.. take it and run..someone will pay him crazy money being the right handed shot and not much out there for UFA's (yes boychuck will be big too)..so better than losing him

Even harder to find a good player in the second round. Your basically tossing away a real good defenseman, that a lot of teams will want, for a one in 10 shot of someone just as good or better.

 

[ZBBM]

Soon to be 28 year old having career season - move him when his value is highest.

Yup, and, while his skating has improved a little from last season (largely due to not dealing with suspected lingering injury issues), it's still not good and it's not going to get better as he gets older. It's been suggested by Dreger that he may be looking for a 7 year deal, and that's just not something the Leafs should even be contemplating again.

Addendum.

 

[Boston Leaf]

Id say if someone offers a 2nd round pick.. take it and run..someone will pay him crazy money being the right handed shot and not much out there for UFA's (yes boychuck will be big too)..so better than losing him

Even harder to find a good player in the second round. Your basically tossing away a real good defenseman, that a lot of teams will want, for a one in 10 shot of someone just as good or better.

so if a team wants to pay him 5.5 a year for 6 or 7 years would you want to match that or up it? We cannot afford what he will be looking for.. Unless I am missing something. He is a UFA so it makes his trade value a little lower since he is basically a rental

 

[ZBBM]

Let's see here....

Phaneuf (is unfairly criticized but) good.
Franson (is suddenly now) good.
Rielly (will be) good.
Gardiner (has all the tools to be) good.
Polak (is tough as a boot, which is) good.

So, why is our defense (not) good?

 

[bustaheims]

Let's see here....

Phaneuf (is unfairly criticized but) good.
Franson (is suddenly now) good.
Rielly (will be) good.
Gardiner (has all the tools to be) good.
Polak (is tough as a boot, which is) good.

So, why is our defense (not) good?

Because, outside of the systemic/strategic issues, defence is a team game, and the Leafs' forwards haven't been particularly helpful.

 

[Redleaf]

Id say if someone offers a 2nd round pick.. take it and run..someone will pay him crazy money being the right handed shot and not much out there for UFA's (yes boychuck will be big too)..so better than losing him

Even harder to find a good player in the second round. Your basically tossing away a real good defenseman, that a lot of teams will want, for a one in 10 shot of someone just as good or better.

so if a team wants to pay him 5.5 a year for 6 or 7 years would you want to match that or up it? We cannot afford what he will be looking for.. Unless I am missing something. He is a UFA so it makes his trade value a little lower since he is basically a rental

I'm not criticizing you. I'm just saying I don't trust they can get a decent return through the draft. Which makes me think that they'll go the prospect route instead. Still a pretty big gamble to trade away a sure thing for an unknown commodity, but it may take a little of the guess work out of the equation I suppose.