Comments for The Leafs acquire Cody Franson at http://hockey.dobbersports.com , comment 1 to 7 out of 7 comments http://hockey.dobbersports.com Sat, 25 May 2013 06:58:42 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/19-nhl-deals/3799-the-leafs-acquire-cody-franson#comment-15073 Seems like excellent value for the Leafs. Franson could have many, many remaining NHL seasons at a solid level of play. I'm not so sure for any of the elements that Nashville received in return. With Aulie, Gunnarsson, Komisarek, Lashoff, Liles, Phaneuf, Schenn + Franson a solid blueline seems to be taking shape for Toronto. Lots of years remaining, numerous players coming into their most productive windows, quality competition for minutes. Leafs fans have reason for optimism, for the first time in a few years. The next project will be getting their fingers on the next Brad Richards, to create some new offensive dynamics. This year they can cross their fingers, that there is enough maturity that there truly are two solid scoring lines. Clearly they are still short a franchise defining forward. - Jocular Hockey Manager Mon, 04 Jul 2011 03:36:47 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/19-nhl-deals/3799-the-leafs-acquire-cody-franson#comment-15066 With Sullivan and Dumont gone he has the possibility of walking into a top 6 role in Nashville. Of course this depends on what Nashville wants to do with Wilson and Geoffrion. - Karbinkopy Sun, 03 Jul 2011 17:04:44 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/19-nhl-deals/3799-the-leafs-acquire-cody-franson#comment-15064 Thanks, Karbinkopy. Forgot about that exemption, and of course didn't calculate the full savings in the exchange. I stand corrected. And while I am being corrected, guess this was a precursor to a NSH move after all. They signed Bergfors. This year's Sergei Kos? - fzusher Sun, 03 Jul 2011 11:25:51 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/19-nhl-deals/3799-the-leafs-acquire-cody-franson#comment-15063 also the $5.5 million saved is the rounded number of $7.0 million from Matt Lombardi (over the next two years) minus the $1.45 million for Brett Lebda this year. Equals $5.55 Million. - Karbinkopy Sun, 03 Jul 2011 10:50:20 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/19-nhl-deals/3799-the-leafs-acquire-cody-franson#comment-15062 [quote]4. To cloud the Leafs D picture further, here's my little conspiracy theory of the day. Word out of New Hampshire back in April was that Kessel intended to turn pro at season's end. Yet no contract has been signed with the Isles yet. Could he be holding out to join big bro on Leafs? Could he be the price (or part of the price) in a Komisarek trade?[/quote] Blake Kessel has left New Hampshire, [url]http://www.unhwildcats.com/sports/mice/2010-11/releases/20110524c29lo6[/url] and is a free agent by the same rules that Blake Wheeler used to become a free agent, [url]http://www.lighthousehockey.com/2011/5/24/2187946/its-blake-kessels-turn-to-leave-for-pros[/url]. Blake Kessel will be an invite to a training camp and get signed just before the season to a two way contract. Sorry to kill that conspiracy theory. - Karbinkopy Sun, 03 Jul 2011 10:43:23 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/19-nhl-deals/3799-the-leafs-acquire-cody-franson#comment-15061 Don't look here for a precursor to another Preds move. This is likely done with 2 things - two summers - in mind. This summer: They are likely clearing Lombardi's salary in anticipation of RFA signings, especially given they may need to overpay some of them if they are deemed UFA eligible. Especially O'Reilly, now cemented in the top-9. O'Reilly, Kostitsyn, Spaling, Halischuk, under threat of becoming UFAs and given the crazy market we just witnessed, could combine for 7.5M; add Weber at 7.5M and you are at 50M, which I would guess is where they want to be. BTW: according to capgeek Lombardi has 7M left, 3.5 in each year. Next summer: They are in salary hell. Rinne, Souter, Bouillon, Tootoo UFAs; Wilson, Blum, Lindbaeck, and Geoffrion RFAs, as was Franson. And some of the RFAs may get 1-yr deals too. No way they fit all of those renewals under their self-imposed 'as little as we can get away with' salary cap. I'm pretty certain they did their internal deliberations and decided they likely won't be able to retain all of Weber, Suter, Blum and Franson, and that of the four Franson was the most expendable (Blum vs. Franson: Blum may be on 10-15 less goals for per season than Franson, but he'll be on 25-30 less goals against and as an NHL GM you'll take that every time ... ). Final thoughts: 1. A Leafs D whose weakness is mobility and defensive positioning. Sounds familiar. 2. Start the Komisarek to Islanders rumors again. They need a D of his ilk and cap hit. And he's a local boy. 3. I don't see Gardiner hurt by this long term. If this means he gets an extra year of seasoning in the A, all the better for him. He needs it - as do 95% of prospects in their first pro year. Long term, Liles won't be there, and Gardiner is still heir apparent to that vacated spot. 4. To cloud the Leafs D picture further, here's my little conspiracy theory of the day. Word out of New Hampshire back in April was that Kessel intended to turn pro at season's end. Yet no contract has been signed with the Isles yet. Could he be holding out to join big bro on Leafs? Could he be the price (or part of the price) in a Komisarek trade? - fzusher Sun, 03 Jul 2011 10:18:50 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/19-nhl-deals/3799-the-leafs-acquire-cody-franson#comment-15060 I think this salary clearing has more to do with NHLPA grievance against the Predators for not timely informing their RFA that they've been qualified. Queue Chicago all over again. If on July 8th the arbitrator rules in favour of the NHLPA, which by Nashville salary dump looks likely, then we can see some big time salary jumps, a la Kris Versteeg and Cam Barker in Chicago. S. Kostitsyn will definitely see some interest in this weak UFA class. It might take a little more to sign Cal O'Reilly as well. The $5.5 million saved in this deal will go a long way to mitigating these salary increases. Franson is a good young talent, but with Nashville's D pipeline he was expendable and the candy for Toronto to accept the sour taste of Lombardi's contract. - Karbinkopy Sun, 03 Jul 2011 10:04:48 +0100