Confirmed with Link: Franson 1 year $3.3 mil (sides avoid arbitration)

[Tyler Biggs*]

I don't get the hate. Yeah, Franson had a rough year defensively, but look at how awful the entire team played in its own end. Making him a scapegoat makes zero sense.

What I also don't understand is how the Leafs have treated him pretty much since they traded for him. I understand why they might not want to sign Franson long-term. But this nickel-and-diming every year just doesn't build a good atmosphere in the room, given that Franson almost certainly has some good friends in there. There's an almost adversarial relationship built up between management and Franson, which can't be good in the room. Not blaming anyone here, but if the Leafs think this poorly of Franson, and they clearly do based on the ridiculous $2 mil offer going into arbitration, then Nonis needs to get rid of him ASAP.

Saying "eh, you're okay, we'll keep you around as long as we can pay you crap for a year" does nothing to develop any player's loyalty to a hockey club. Someone will say that $3.3 million should buy that loyalty, but realistically, that's not how human nature works. Franson might never let it show, but how can he be anything but disappointed at how he's being treated by the Leafs?

Typical Toronto fans, giving this guy such a hard time. Bottom line is this, he's young, offensive upside, big body, well spoken with lot's of potential...stop trying to run him out of town. He's a PP specialist with bottom pairing defensive skill. He'd make most teams starting line ups even with all his faults.

With the way salaries have gone, I'd be hard pressed to say this is an overpay, but the fact he couldn't get a longer deal done again, leads me to think this is his last year in Toronto. Obviously a big disconnect between what mgmt and his agent believe he is worth.

 

[Teeder9]

Typical Toronto fans, giving this guy such a hard time. Bottom line is this, he's young, offensive upside, big body, well spoken with lot's of potential...stop trying to run him out of town. He's a PP specialist with bottom pairing defensive skill. He'd make most teams starting line ups even with all his faults.

With the way salaries have gone, I'd be hard pressed to say this is an overpay, but the fact he couldn't get a longer deal done again, leads me to think this is his last year in Toronto. Obviously a big disconnect between what mgmt and his agent believe he is worth.

What this is, is another fan having a love affair with a player. Can we replace his PP points in house? Yes. Can we upgrade his defense in house? Yes. Does this make him redundant while also lowering the costs? Yes. Is he a nice guy? Who cares

 

[Tyler Biggs*]

I should put a conditional. This only makes sense if the Leafs plan to trade him.

But if they don't, which means they want to keep him (or lose him for nothing), then allowing a player to have upside going into a final year of a deal is terrible asset management.

As much as people hate on the guy, losing any asset for nothing is a clear display of inept management.

Another 1 year deal, this time I think fair market value for his services. It's too bad, I'd like to see Franson become one of the staple Defensemen in Toronto. Leafs brass have a weird way of showing interest in a guy... I think this sets up Franson to become a UFA after this contract. If it does, it was nice knowing you, you'll be on the trade block come trade deadline.

 

[johnny_rudeboy]

Maybe he will surprise everyone and play really good next season. He was good 2 seasons ago.

He have basically been the same player since he first came to Leafs. Good to great offensively with the puck, bad to terrible defensively without the puck.

 

[Tyler Biggs*]

http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/r...-staal-join-his-brothers-with-the-hurricanes/

FRANSON A LEAF, BUT FOR HOW LONG?
The Toronto Maple Leafs avoided salary arbitration with defenseman Cody Franson, re-signing him on Monday to a one-year, $3.3 million contract. As the Toronto Sun’s Lance Hornby points out, it remains to be seen if he has a future with the Leafs beyond this season.

Hornby notes the Maple Leafs reportedly almost had a deal in place that would’ve shipped Franson to the Montreal Canadiens for blueliner Josh Gorges, but Gorges rejected the deal and subsequently accepted a trade to the Buffalo Sabres.

Franson acknowledged hearing the rumors but stated his intent to remain with the Maple Leafs. Given his UFA status next summer, however, it’s possible the Leafs will try to trade him if they feel he doesn’t fit into their long-term plans. If they struggle again this season, don’t be surprised if Franson’s name appears more frequently in the rumor mill close to the trade deadline.