2017 Trades, Questionable Rumours and Free Agency April 2017

[BAM]

I'd welcome Franson back on the bottom pairing. Better than Hunwick or Polak and his size +shot would always be welcome.

 

[phillipmike]

Cody Franson would welcome a return to the Leafs

Cody Franson has spent the past two seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, but with free agency looming, the veteran defenceman said he's open to re-joining the Toronto Maple Leafs this summer.

Franson was asked Monday ahead of his team's matchup with the Maple Leafs whether he'd be open to signing with Toronto this summer.

"Oh yeah, for sure," Franson said, per the Toronto Sun, when asked if he would be open to signing with the Leafs.

http://www.tsn.ca/pending-ufa-frason-open-to-re-joining-leafs-1.713686

 

[LeafsNation149]

Franson is so bad. Would be a nice fit for the 3rd pairing though, leafs need a dman with a shot. Wouldn't mind too much if he signs 1 year under 3 mil.

 

[ShaneFalco]

He'd be a decent pick up

 

[Fogelhund]

No thanks.

 

[SprDaVE]

I'd welcome Franson back on the bottom pairing. Better than Hunwick or Polak and his size +shot would always be welcome.

Agreed. I think this management team would be interested in signing him as well if it makes sense.

 

[ACC1224]

Agreed. I think this management team would be interested in signing him as well if it makes sense.

I don't see him fitting in with the speed game they're trying to promote.

 

[Avilaj07]

I would rather Carrick get third pairing minutes then sign Franson. We'll most likely be aiming for a top 4 defenseman this off season which moves Carrick to our bottom pairing which would be perfect. No thanks to Franson

 

[Maplebeasts]

http://www.tsn.ca/pending-ufa-frason-open-to-re-joining-leafs-1.713686

Do not want. Way too slow. I still have nightmares of when he played for us and got beat wide all the time.

 

[Anthrax442]

I rather have polak back for a year

 

[Budsfan]

So much for veterans not wanting to play for Babcock.

That was my thought too when I was reading it but whether we re-sign him is another, at the time I wanted to re-up him but where would he fit on the blueline?

Here's a couple of Questions...

As third pairing D wouldn't work re: money, could he be a first pairing D?

He still has a great point shot but how much would he want to sign for?

 

[Buds17]

I would rather Carrick get third pairing minutes then sign Franson. We'll most likely be aiming for a top 4 defenseman this off season which moves Carrick to our bottom pairing which would be perfect. No thanks to Franson

Agreed. Ideally, I wouldn't mind two additions to our blueline - a stopgap LHD and a longer term RHD. Don't think Franson would be a bad fit, just not the best one.

 

[SprDaVE]

I don't see him fitting in with the speed game they're trying to promote.

He's good though. It's not really about speed as it is about being good. I'm not sure we'd be declining taking on Shea Weber despite his lackluster speed. That's an exaggeration of course but Franson has been very solid for Buffalo and he's a lot better than people give him credit for. Very underrated.

I would rather Carrick get third pairing minutes then sign Franson. We'll most likely be aiming for a top 4 defenseman this off season which moves Carrick to our bottom pairing which would be perfect. No thanks to Franson

That's probably what will happen. The goal is to get more quality at the top less about depth.

With Marchenko all ready set to be the likely #7th D next year next to Marincin, I think we need to find someone that can play tougher minutes.

 

[Al14]

No thanks.

X2.

Just say NO to BIG and SLOW!

All he has is a shot from the point. As many points for as he'd get with that shot, he'd give up just as many from being too slow.

 

[Leafidelity]

Big pass. Franson isn't very good. He's just too slow - in reaction and footspeed. The Leafs use an offensive system in which the defensemen will at times pressure right down to the hashmarks. Franson would be a disaster trying to play that game.

I rather have polak back for a year

Agreed. Polak gets a bit underrated around here. I say "a bit" because he's still a bottom pairing guy, but he logs a ton of PK minutes.

 

[Cor]

I think we're essentially looking for new top pair guy. Not a Franson type.

Rielly - Addition
Gardiner - Zaitsev
Addition - Carrick
Marincin* - Marchenko

*If not picked by LV.

I think Valiev or Dermott could fight for that third pairing spot in camp, but we'll likely add a veteran in that spot. Just as long as no Hunwick.

The top pairing guy needs to be our big addition of the summer. There's going to be a lot of names available as well I think

 

[DarkKnight]

Other than his "change up" shot from the blue line I can't think of one redeeming quality Franson possesses. Soft, mediocre IQ, pedestrian first pass, slow, etc.... no thanks.

 

[SprDaVE]

Franson is much better all around than Polak. This is a little much. I like Polak but a PK speciliast that struggles 5 on 5 isn't really good. Franson is much better 5 on 5, where most of the game is played.

 

[Fogelhund]

Scoring isn't our issue anymore... it's Defense. Cody isn't good at the D. He's good at shooting.

 

[SprDaVE]

Scoring isn't our issue anymore... it's Defense. Cody isn't good at the D. He's good at shooting.

Franson is pretty good defensively. His footspeed isn't great.

Not sure why people think he's all offense. He hasn't even scored 20 points this season. He's been much better defensively than he has offensively.

He's so much better than Polak it isn't even close. But with that said, I don't think either make much sense. We need players that can play higher in the lineup, less about bottom pairing minutes.

 

[Menzinger]

Franson can be a isef bottom pairing guy, but with his injury history and already lack of skating ability would make it a pass/

Also less he can get 2nd unit PP duty his effectiveness would be pretty limited and I can't see him betting that with this Leafs team

 

[DarkKnight]

Franson is pretty good defensively. His footspeed isn't great.

Not sure why people think he's all offense. He hasn't even scored 20 points this season. He's been much better defensively than he has offensively.

He's so much better than Polak it isn't even close.

I thought he was awful defensively, for a big guy his lack of physicality was maddening. His zone coverage wasn't good, his pass out of our zone wa just okay, he wasn't effectively on the boards or in front of out net. So glad he's gone, and he's done nothing since, a nice shot from the point tended to mask his glaring weakness. Hunwick is an upgrade.

 

[Fogelhund]

I thought he was awful defensively, for a big guy his lack of physicality was maddening. His zone coverage wasn't good, his pass out of our zone wa just okay, he wasn't effectively on the boards or in front of out net. So glad he's gone, Andy he's done nothing since, a nice shot from the point tended to mask his glaring weakness.

..and it seemed like he gave up an odd man rush nearly every game, or every other game, when that point shot got blocked and he was too slow to react.

He was ok at boxing guys out in front of the goalie... I didn't really see much more in him than that.

 

[Al14]

Franson is much better all around than Polak. This is a little much. I like Polak but a PK speciliast that struggles 5 on 5 isn't really good. Franson is much better 5 on 5, where most of the game is played.

If Franson had a backbone, then sure, however, he is as soft as butter on a tropical day!

Polak provides some much needed toughness on D!

Sorry, but Franson IS NOT much better all around IMHO.

 

[SeenSchenn2]

I would not mind a Gardiner-Franson-Rielly-Carrick-Marincin-Zaitsev-Hunwick defense next year.