My math must be different from yours?
Currently:
Chara-XXX
Sides-XXX
Krug-McQ
Trotman, C Miller, K Miller, Irwin, Morrow
Even if the B's sign Franson, there is still a hole in the Top 4 that needs to be filled by a rookie or guys that have traditionally been 6-7 D, and TWO holes if they don't sign him. You don't just hand a spot to a rookie because that's all you have, they have to force their way onto the ice and earn it.
I don't want Boston to break the bank for Franson, but if they don't sign him, I would still like to see Sweeney trade for a legit Top 4 on the front 9 of his career (I would actually prefer that). Scouts who I trust have said that Zboril, Lauzon, and Carlo are at least a year or two away, so the B's need to do something in the interim, and I don't think they have the answer internally.
The D line up you proposed would be one of the worst in the East IMO. You sign Franson and then watch the kids closely in Camp. If (and I think this is a huge stretch) you think that C-Mill and Trots are ready, what's to stop the B's from trading Sides, ala JB55? I just don't think it's a wise move to go into camp without Sides, even if Franson is added.
You think Krug is a 3rd pairing D? Isn't the next year his chance to prove his worth and his chance in the top4? Wasn't that the plan. That is a 6.2M 3rd pairing, also there is noway we will sign Krug with 4.5M+ longterm to play in our 3rd pairing. With Franson and Seids we'd be over the cap and with that new D we'd probably be over the cap if we just trade picks/prospects. There is zero chance that I would give up Lou before Seids.
If you have ben here lately you probably have seen my hate posts towards our current D situation for next year
I would see it like this if they would bring in Franson:
Chara-Franson
Krug-Seids
Irwing-McQuaid
Trotman
and I would absolutely hate it, I don't know how I could survive next season. Also I do not want to see Trotman, Seids and Chara in the top4 at the same time, no offensive support, no strong skating, Tampas forward group would kill them for example in our D-zone with their checking.
I have high hopes/expectations for C.Miller in the pre season, I want to see that miracle and see him being ready to step up, bring some energy into our D group.
I had there, at some point trade Seids, meaning he'd be the 1st guy out.
I do not want to lock up 5/6 spots(2/5 for vets past their prime) for 2-3years with these kids we have and
stopping us to spend that cap on top players. , atleast 1 of those kids will be ready after next year, probably 2-3.
So my question to you is who is our if they sign Franson? Some cap needs to be shipped and I don't see Seids in our longterm plans, he can't be.
My thinking is that the D at best will be average, it's now a bottom5-8 D and 1 trade won't make it top10, so clear cap, let the kids step up and develop their game so when this team has a chance to be contenders then those kids could be impact players and not rookies learning their game/NHL.
Trade/sign a player who is in his prime and can/will be a strong player for us in 1-2 years time still when we can be strong enough to contend.
Average, slow D with low scoring forward group with very little cap space is not something I want to see.
(I could be okay with this but just can't see how it's going to happen:
Chara-Franson
Seidenberg-C.Miller
Krug-McQuaid
and at some point during the next 12months sell Seids. That would have meant selling Kelly now which won't happen, saying goodbye to Irwin and K.Miller and let Krug be pp specialist and to play with McQ on normal shifts.
Chara-Trotman
Krug-Seids
Irwin-McQuaid is the crazy nightmare that can very well happen, boy would our pick look good with those
)