Injury Report: Cody Franson : Bruised Kneecap

[Leafidelity]

Jonas Siegel ‏@jonasTSN1050 1h
Franson putting no weight on his left leg as he's helped off the ice.

Rob Longley ‏@longleysunsport 28s
Carlyle said it Franson hurt his left kneecap but had no comment beyond that. #Leafs

Not a big Franson fan, but that really doesn't sound good.

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[rdawg1234]

Feel bad for him, but that means Holzer will get a solid shot at a roster spot now.

Percy/Granberg for 7th D

 

[hockeyes]

Hopefully not too bad. He can barely skate on a good day, if he slows down anymore he might be unemployed in a year.

 

[shaner8989]

Blessing. Don't like injuries but he's terrible

 

[Christ]

Arrow in the knee?

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Contrary to popular belief here, if Franson is out, he will be missed. His offensive contributions to the 6th best PP% team in the NHL was a lot to do with Franson. Passing and shooting in particular where he was the best on the team. Hope it isn't serious.

 

[rdawg1234]

Contrary to popular belief here, if Franson is out, he will be missed. His offensive contributions to the 6th best PP% team in the NHL was a lot to do with Franson. Passing and shooting in particular where he was the best on the team. Hope it isn't serious.

It offsets with us removing his goal-against-per-game giveaways

Franson is really nothing special and while we may not be able to replace 30-35 points on the backend, ill take a guy that can put up 25 and actually play defense.

I think Holzer is a better option defensively(hopefully) and if Robidas is out for a couple games give Percy a bit of a stint as he defenitely has an offensive game.

 

[Stephen]

Contrary to popular belief here, if Franson is out, he will be missed. His offensive contributions to the 6th best PP% team in the NHL was a lot to do with Franson. Passing and shooting in particular where he was the best on the team. Hope it isn't serious.

Well, you might be losing on the offense, but you could be gaining in terms of replacing him with someone smarter (Percy) or just more defensively oriented (Granberg).

 

[Nithoniniel]

Contrary to popular belief here, if Franson is out, he will be missed. His offensive contributions to the 6th best PP% team in the NHL was a lot to do with Franson. Passing and shooting in particular where he was the best on the team. Hope it isn't serious.

I'm far from a fan of Franson, but people tend to downplay his strengths and overstate his weaknesses around here. The possession game and the PP production will be missed, and I'm not sure we have any D-men who have anything on him other than better decision-making at the offensive blueline.

Granberg, Holzer or Percy are far from able to have the same value to the team as Franson.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

He got a stinger in his knee. Hurts like hell for about 10-15 minutes and can't walk on it, but he should be fine for the next game.

 

[Moncherry]

This isn't a 'blessing'. The AHLers are just as bad if not worse.

 

[Leafidelity]

He got a stinger in his knee. Hurts like hell for about 10-15 minutes and can't walk on it, but he should be fine for the next game.

If they're talking knee cap, it's not a stinger. I had problems playing from going into the boards knee first a couple times. Swelled up like a balloon full of water.

 

[Median]

Injuries to Clarkson, Franson, Tallinder. I don't wish them any ill but probably one of the best things that could've happened for the development of new players.

A few more forward injuries and we may even be able to fit in Nylander.

 

[Once]

I would prefer to start the season will a healthy team. I am not a fan of franny but this is a blessing in disguise for Holzer..

 

[SeaOfBlue]

This isn't a 'blessing'. The AHLers are just as bad if not worse.

I think this game will be more than enough for everyone to be sent down except for Kozun. He's impressed through all stages and should be a full time reserve with the abilities to play bottom 6 or even top 6 sometimes.

My last 13 cuts:
Leivo
Granberg
Percy
Loov
Bibeau
Carrick
Kontiola
McLaren
Bodie
Gauthier
Tallinder
Nylander

Trade Ashton

Reserves: Orr and Kozun. Both have been good (or at the worst just not looking bad) throughout the entire process. Both have impressed enough to beat out many other guys, and even though there are some guys on the roster who haven't been that great, they will be starting no matter what. Later in the season we may see some other guys replacing them, or even Orr and Kozun replacing them short term, but they'll be on for now. They were brought in to challenge these young guys, and despite the pessimism of guys like Frattin and Booth, I don't yet have confidence in Leivo or Carrick to be overthrowing them right out of camp. Booth and Frattin will be playing full time (for now) and may be rotating with Kozun and Orr often if they struggle.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

If they're talking knee cap, it's not a stinger. I had problems playing from going into the boards knee first a couple times. Swelled up like a balloon full of water.

I've had it too. I actually just had it. It didn't look like he hit the boards hard, it more looks like he just got hit in the sweet spot beside the knee cap that hurts A LOT but doesn't cause much damage. It's unfortunate, but it happens and you can bounce back quite fast. However, if there is swelling, then that's even more unfortunate, but likely still the same thing, except harder.

 

[leafsfuture]

I dont wish any player an injury like that. Hope hes ok and is back to playing hockey soon. I just wouldnt really be sad at all if that was with another team.

Offensively right now he definitely is more refined than Gardiner and Rielly, but in the long term that will change, and defensively he is certainly below both.

I still think the future is in guys like Rielly, Percy, Loov, who can make that first pass and have higher hockey IQ as opposed to more "traditional" defense like a Granberg, or a Franson.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Maybe I'm nieve because I haven't played much hockey but doesn't your shin pads/knee guards take brunt of the damage?

 

[Nithoniniel]

I dont wish any player an injury like that. Hope hes ok and is back to playing hockey soon. I just wouldnt really be sad at all if that was with another team.

Offensively right now he definitely is more refined than Gardiner and Rielly, but in the long term that will change, and defensively he is certainly below both.

I still think the future is in guys like Rielly, Percy, Loov, who can make that first pass and have higher hockey IQ as opposed to more "traditional" defense like a Granberg, or a Franson.

Franson probably have the best outlet pass on the team. What separates him from Rielly in terms of being able to move the puck out is that he only has the pass as an option. He's not really what I'd call a traditional D-man either.

The demise of the shutdown D-man is a bit exaggerated. What is happening is that their role is expanded. A good shutdown D-man nowadays need mobility and being able to make a good first pass. Being defense first is no longer about keeping the puck out of the net, it's all of defense from preventing zone entry to zone exit. If you can't get the puck out of the zone, you are not doing well defensively since you keep giving the opposition more chances to score.

Granberg before he came over to North America was known for being one of the new type of shutdown D-man. He always made a smart, good first pass. He's shown none of that in the camp though.

 

[londonHK]

I was at the game in the 7th row right behind where it happened and based on Franson's expression when he got up, it looked really bad from what I could see. That said, I didn't see how he crashed into the boards very well - it actually looked like he was crashing head first from my angle, and then we only later found out it was an injury to his left kneecap.

 

[wc17]

I'm not a huge fan of Fransons but the Leafs would definitely miss him. The AHLers are just not ready from what I've seen in the preseason. Granberg/Holzer are physical but SLOW and are getting beat wide regularly...Percy is still pretty raw...not to mention that putting young guys like Holzer and Granberg out there with other young guys like Rielly/Gardiner won't help to insulate their games...

If this is a significant injury to Franson the Leafs are in trouble imo.

 

[ConnorTO]

smacked his knee pretty hard into the boards

sucks and am not comfortable with the d depth

 

[seanlinden]

If Franson is out for an extended period of time, the Leafs are going to have a big problem on D. They'll only be left with 3 bonafide top 4 guys, one of which is a bit of an unknown in Stephane Robidas.

Yeah, you could put a guy like Granberg or Holzer out there on a bottom pair if you insulated them with Jake Gardiner, but then that's relying on Morgan Rielly to play some really tough minutes alongside a Polak/Robidas.

 

[Gary Batman]

Contrary to popular belief here, if Franson is out, he will be missed. His offensive contributions to the 6th best PP% team in the NHL was a lot to do with Franson. Passing and shooting in particular where he was the best on the team. Hope it isn't serious.

Offense isn't the problem with this team. This team can't play defense. Neither can Franson.

Only way Franson helps is by helping us outscore our problems.

I don't think we are missing anything here, given his lack of defensive awareness.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

I'll never wish injury on anyone but this team is better without Franson in the lineup. He is what he is, a PP specialist who needs to be sheltered 5-on-5.