Twenty games until the trade deadline.

[Giuseppe Sallo]

Connor McJesus wants to play for the Maple Leafs. It's time for our elite home grown talent to wear the blue & white.

 

[-DeMo-]

i am done with this core which is why im inclined to move away from the likes of phaneuf and allocate that cap space into a player I think can be intrinsic to the rebuild.

you can't pay 2nd pairing guys 5.5 mill per year and think that's good allocation of funds, because you still need to get at least 2 guys better then him who probably cost even more.

 

[Daisy Jane]

Im interested in knowing how you replace him. Because I dont think its so easily done. And because he fills a pretty important niche, Im inclined to make other assets available (if Franny can be had for 5.5 ish) before unloading him for a 2nd round pick.

What "niche" is he filling?
Powerplay points? (meh)
being right handed? (meh).
being tall? (meh).

if we're truly rebuilding, we can't get into the same habit that we've been in before -paying gobs of money for players who aren't the best - but we're paying them as we are. 5.5 for Franson, makes no sense, especially if we're rebuilding. those "little things" i feel aren't necessary.

for 5.5 i am more inclined to wonder

*is Franson able to make players around him better?
*will he still be 'valuable' in x amount of years when it's time to flip him anyway?
* even if you keep him, can you slide him down, and it financially makes sense?

Franson has talents, and if he was the 2nd pairing defensemen, and we were more so.... Dallas/Minnesota/Columbus ( not injured) etc - ie - we really ready to make the next step, Franson makes sense.

 

[Duke Silver]

It's McCabe all over again. Do not make the same mistake.

 

[080]

Re-signing Franson would be a disaster.

Why hand a player who is 27 or 28 a long-term deal when your team is failing? He`ll be old and even slower by the time the team is slightly competitive.

 

[Stats01]

What kind of niche does Franson fill to warrant giving him 5.5 million a year on a long term contract. I'm serious...thank God some of you aren't GM's. Franson is a top 4 D-man who is a UFA that has been waiting to hit it big, he tried to hit it big with the Leafs and had a little contract dispute with team before settling for a 1 year deal. He's been looking forward to this opportunity, he's put up points so of course he's going to come back and ask for what he is..it doesn't mean the Leafs have to accept it. Get rid of this guy and get a 1st for him. Like it's not even a hard decision at this moment. Good for him for hitting it big, because he will, but it won't be here. He's not part of the game plan going forward.


Franson's value plummets once you give him a long term deal. Right now there is a ton of interest, once he puts pen to paper, his value literally drops 10 fold.

He's going to get 5-6 years at 25-30 million..not even close what you do with him. Adios Cody.

 

[johnny_rudeboy]

Franson is a very good PP guy. He have a tremendous ability to get shots at net and hard to. But it is not as if we can not take our "chances" that some one from our young d-corp can develop into a solid contributor on the PP. And even if none of our guys will develop a NHL calibre slapshot that is something we can find later on when we have a better team. There is always a Franson out there.

 

[Durkin67]

What "niche" is he filling?
Powerplay points? (meh)
being right handed? (meh).
being tall? (meh).

if we're truly rebuilding, we can't get into the same habit that we've been in before -paying gobs of money for players who aren't the best - but we're paying them as we are. 5.5 for Franson, makes no sense, especially if we're rebuilding. those "little things" i feel aren't necessary.

for 5.5 i am more inclined to wonder

*is Franson able to make players around him better?
*will he still be 'valuable' in x amount of years when it's time to flip him anyway?
* even if you keep him, can you slide him down, and it financially makes sense?

Franson has talents, and if he was the 2nd pairing defensemen, and we were more so.... Dallas/Minnesota/Columbus ( not injured) etc - ie - we really ready to make the next step, Franson makes sense.

So, special teams = meh?
Right handed point shot doesn't matter to you? Disagree. It matters. only 30% of all definers are right shots, thus, a number of right side D men are receiving passes on their backhand.
Size also means longer reach, which means he can do a better job of breaking up offensive threats with that active stick. It also means he can tie guys up and occupy real estate in front of the Leafs/ net better than a smaller player.
Have you seen him shoot? Hard, low accurate, and he gets it off quick.
Pretty nifty passer, and he sees the game well.

Again, show me your contingency...

 

[SprDaVE]

We'll see how the Leafs will do long-term without Phaneuf in this last stretch. Perfect time to assess Franson, Gardiner and your depth defenders.

 

[Kingstonian84*]

We'll see how the Leafs will do long-term without Phaneuf in this last stretch. Perfect time to assess Franson, Gardiner and your depth defenders.

I think everyone knows what franson brings and doesn't bring to the table, phaneufs absence means nothing for him. I do agree this is sink or swim time for gardiner, like it or not he will be getting more minutes and phaneufs absence does open a small window for him to skate on the top pairing... It's up to him what he chooses to do Next.

I read somewhere that holzer gets the top pairing role next game which imo is idiotic and also won't last long, guy is nothing more then a depth player. I don't get why horacheck won't just try out rielly out on the top pairing.

 

[Kingstonian84*]

So, special teams = meh?
Right handed point shot doesn't matter to you? Disagree. It matters. only 30% of all definers are right shots, thus, a number of right side D men are receiving passes on their backhand.
Size also means longer reach, which means he can do a better job of breaking up offensive threats with that active stick. It also means he can tie guys up and occupy real estate in front of the Leafs/ net better than a smaller player.
Have you seen him shoot? Hard, low accurate, and he gets it off quick.
Pretty nifty passer, and he sees the game well.

Again, show me your contingency...

I think you are infatuated by him! Yes he has a good shot, and he does have size but there's more to being a defender then having those 2 assets. Fransons problem is he doesn't think the game well at all, whether it be taking an ill timed pinch or making a blind pass to the opposition... Also lets not forget he's very inconsistent at things.

He's not someone that should be getting North of 5 but the type that a bunch of suckers will give him, I just hope the leafs walk away from him while they can, get something for him.

 

[Durkin67]

I think you are infatuated by him! Yes he has a good shot, and he does have size but there's more to being a defender then having those 2 assets. Fransons problem is he doesn't think the game well at all, whether it be taking an ill timed pinch or making a blind pass to the opposition... Also lets not forget he's very inconsistent at things.

He's not someone that should be getting North of 5 but the type that a bunch of suckers will give him, I just hope the leafs walk away from him while they can, get something for him.

I think your assumptions make any subsequent remarks suspect, if not altogether irrelevant.

I view Franson as a player with a specialised set of attributes which are not easily replaced. I think comparables in terms of of overall contribution might be somewhere between Girardi and JBO. Both players earn north of 5 million.

Still waiting for anyone to present a contingency. Bear in mind that there is a VERY REAL POSSIBILITY Dion is is also moved before the start of the 2015-16 season.

 

[Mess]

I hope Phaneuf's injury doesn't prevent Leafs from trading Franson if the right deal is there for the taking.

It would be a shame if Leafs felt and obligation to the players in the present and not thought about the future.

 

[Durkin67]

I hope Phaneuf's injury doesn't prevent Leafs from trading Franson if the right deal is there for the taking.

It would be a shame if Leafs felt and obligation to the players in the present and not thought about the future.

whats the right deal in your opinion Mess?

 

[Mess]

whats the right deal in your opinion Mess?

I think the Leafs should be able to extract a late 1st in 2015 from a Cup contender.

Anaheim apparently has approached the Leafs and their 1st rounder would be an example.

 

[Banana Squid]

whats the right deal in your opinion Mess?

I'm not mess but I'll take a stab at it...

Franson needs to get either a first round pick or a combination of picks like a second and third or two seconds in consecutive drafts.

We literally gave up nothing for him and the return for him could quite honestly dictate the future of the franchise if the picks are used correctly. Anything short of that is a failure IMO.

 

[SprDaVE]

I think everyone knows what franson brings and doesn't bring to the table, phaneufs absence means nothing for him. I do agree this is sink or swim time for gardiner, like it or not he will be getting more minutes and phaneufs absence does open a small window for him to skate on the top pairing... It's up to him what he chooses to do Next.

I read somewhere that holzer gets the top pairing role next game which imo is idiotic and also won't last long, guy is nothing more then a depth player. I don't get why horacheck won't just try out rielly out on the top pairing.

It's a matter of seeing who steps up and who regresses.

Love or hate Phaneuf, he eats a crap ton of minutes for this team. Someone will have to play his minutes, and it isn't going to be easy for whoever does.

This team is hot garbage but at least there's something to look forward to in these games.

 

[Trapper]

I hope Phaneuf's injury doesn't prevent Leafs from trading Franson if the right deal is there for the taking.

It would be a shame if Leafs felt and obligation to the players in the present and not thought about the future.

Not that some of these players are HOF players by any means but with Phaneuf out, subtract Franson (maybe) in a trade and remove players like Santorelli,Winnik etc. (huge on the PK) who really are the only defensive, puck battle type players and how do you think this team fares relying on the likes of our offensive player in a continued Horachek 5-5-5 system? We brought these players in for the supposed help to leadership and 2-way game.

 

[Kingstonian84*]

It's a matter of seeing who steps up and who regresses.

Love or hate Phaneuf, he eats a crap ton of minutes for this team. Someone will have to play his minutes, and it isn't going to be easy for whoever does.

This team is hot garbage but at least there's something to look forward to in these games.

Phanuef injury is a blessing in disguise, I mean last year we got the 5th overall pick... This year were already a game below .5oo and sliding, I could easily see us picking in the top 1-3 if this slide keeps going.

Out of everyone the only one I can see surviving in phaneufs spot is rielly, the guy has the speed and smarts to play that role. Otherise I could see them doing it by committee, some guys holders and other gardimer as well as rielly...

 

[Trapper]

I think the Leafs should be able to extract a late 1st in 2015 from a Cup contender.

Anaheim apparently has approached the Leafs and their 1st rounder would be an example.

I was hoping with Richards waived (and someone claims him, probably not) we would have gotten a deal with LA for Franson along the lines of Adrian Kempe (Nylander's MODO linemate) and the return of our 2nd round pick this year from the Bernier trade. Kempe is a 1st round pick in 2014 with good size and I could see him becoming a Lars Eller type for us.

 

[Kingstonian84*]

Not that some of these players are HOF players by any means but with Phaneuf out, subtract Franson (maybe) in a trade and remove players like Santorelli,Winnik etc. (huge on the PK) who really are the only defensive, puck battle type players and how do you think this team fares relying on the likes of our offensive player in a continued Horachek 5-5-5 system? We brought these players in for the supposed help to leadership and 2-way game.

You act like this "5-5-5" is something new, actually Carlyle preached it all along but the players either never bought into it or couldn't adapt. Actually to be honest I despise the "5-5-5" approach especially In the offensive end because if it goes wrong you have all 5 guys caught up ice and it leads to multiple odd man rushes... Essentially run and gun imo.

 

[Mess]

Not that some of these players are HOF players by any means but with Phaneuf out, subtract Franson (maybe) in a trade and remove players like Santorelli,Winnik etc. (huge on the PK) who really are the only defensive, puck battle type players and how do you think this team fares relying on the likes of our offensive player in a continued Horachek 5-5-5 system? We brought these players in for the supposed help to leadership and 2-way game.

Here is my concern.

Leafs GM Nonis and doing what is best for the team are currently in a conflict of interest position. The worse the team plays the more likely Nonis will be fired for the poor results, however the poor results favour the higher draft pick which benefits the team.

No question dealing UFAs like Franson, Santorelli and Winnik would be in the teams best interest in the future as those losses for futures will most likely see the team drop.. However Nonis might actually be trying to re-sign some of these players hoping to keep them around beyond the trade deadline as that helps protect his own job better.

 

[Trapper]

You act like this "5-5-5" is something new, actually Carlyle preached it all along but the players either never bought into it or couldn't adapt. Actually to be honest I despise the "5-5-5" approach especially In the offensive end because if it goes wrong you have all 5 guys caught up ice and it leads to multiple odd man rushes... Essentially run and gun imo.

Call it whatever you like. It's not cheating, it's being responsible defensively, working hard, retreiving loose pucks and winning battles. Many of our players (the ones we rely on to carry us) can't do what is necessary to play a 200 foot game.

 

[Banana Squid]

Here is my concern.

Leafs GM Nonis and doing what is best for the team are currently in a conflict of interest position. The worse the team plays the more likely Nonis will be fired for the poor results, however the poor results favour the higher draft pick which benefits the team.

No question dealing UFAs like Franson, Santorelli and Winnik would be in the teams best interest in the future as those losses for futures will most likely see the team drop.. However Nonis might actually be trying to re-sign some of these players hoping to keep them around beyond the trade deadline as that helps protect his own job better.

Theoretically though, wouldn't Shanahan have the final say on any deal and, by extension, if his mandate is to draft high, would Nonis be obliged to follow his orders? In my kind it comes down to what Shanahan wants regardless of if Nonis has a conflict interest in his current role. Is this right?

 

[Kingstonian84*]

Here is my concern.

Leafs GM Nonis and doing what is best for the team are currently in a conflict of interest position. The worse the team plays the more likely Nonis will be fired for the poor results, however the poor results favour the higher draft pick which benefits the team.

No question dealing UFAs like Franson, Santorelli and Winnik would be in the teams best interest in the future as those losses for futures will most likely see the team drop.. However Nonis might actually be trying to re-sign some of these players hoping to keep them around beyond the trade deadline as that helps protect his own job better.

I think it all depends where we are in the standings by trade deadline day, if were 1-5 points out of a spot then I see nonis making desperate moves to save his job but I think if we're close to 10 or more points out come deadline day then I can't see him doing anything but selling players, either he's told to or does it of his own merit.