Who would you Trade?? [Gardiner or Franson]

[Duffman955]

I'm surprised the Gardiner honeymoon has lasted so long. I'd much rather keep Franson.

Why so his ill-advised pinches give the opponents 1+ goals per game?

Or is it because of his nonchalant d-zone coverage.

 

[The_Chosen_One]

Franson did seem to have top pairing ( or at least #3) upside during the playoffs. He didn't look too bad despite being given heavy minutes. On the other hand, Gardiner, was used in a more offensive-oriented manner ( ala Letang, Karlsson) and succeeded.

Gardiner does seem to be a better fit for Phaneuf than Franson IMO. He can skate around the ice effortlessly and is very creative. We're going to be retaining Phaneuf so it would make a lot more sense to build around him. Gards has that slight edge despite having much lower production and, arguably, upside.

Regardless, I'd keep both for now. I don't think their values are at the high point right now. Franson is just getting into the game due to missing the camp. Gardiner, on the other hand, is starting to play a puck rushing game. To make things worse, we've lost 3C, and therefore the environment they're in is quite compromised. To expect higher production from either may be too much.

 

[FlareKnight]

I'd honestly have to go with Franson. Sure you have the fact that really he's a rare guy on that defence having the different shot, but that alone shouldn't secure him on the blueline. Really has bad pinching habits out there.

Overall I just like what Gardiner has room to become. The speed is really handy to have especially if you are going to make mistakes out there. I do think on some level you have to make some choices about what you can afford to have in the lineup and I just don't feel that Franson is as crucial to keep long term as Gardiner.

 

[Celly Hard]

I'd rather move Gards.

He can get us the RHD we need to pair with Rielly (or Dion).

Franson can stay on our 3rd pairing with Fraser and will play better with less ES minutes. Less ES minutes will lead to more palatable contract demands from Franson.

Dion will never play with Right handed partner since he plays the off side himself.

 

[veedubn1]

Dion will never play with Right handed partner since he plays the off side himself.

He plays on the right side out of necessity. We have 6 LHD and one RHD.

A lot of unnecessary turnovers happen when defensemen playing on their wrong/off side are forced to play the puck off their backhand to get the puck out of danger. Phaneuf is not immune to this.

 

[HEAVY DUTY]

this is why we keep gardiner and trade franson.


(found on FB)

 

[Revolt]

Franson for sure

 

[Kingstonian84*]

I'd trade whoever has the most value, and IMO it's Gardiner:

Gardiner is 23 years old and still improving, he has alot of intangibles such as skating, vision and playmaking albeit some weaknesses to but he has room to fix those. The other big thing is he's still an RFA, meaning he's signed regardless so a team would be more confident to give up assets knowing he's not going to bolt on them

Franson on the other hand is 27, he's pathetic defensively and he's not going to improve that much more, remember you can't teach stupid. He does bring some assets such as a booming shot and he has a decent first pass out of the end, but like I said he's horrific defensively and he's in his prime so basically what you see is what you get out of him which is a glorified powerplay specialist. The other big problem is he's a UFA this off-season if we trade him between now and deadline day we won't be getting didly squat back for him in return, it's better to just hang onto him for a bit longer.

 

[ponder]

I'd rather keep both, but if we have to play favourites, I think Gardiner will be a significantly better player in his prime. Not sure Franson will ever be any better than average in his own end, while I can see Gardiner being a really great 2 way dman.

 

[ponder]

He plays on the right side out of necessity. We have 6 LHD and one RHD.

A lot of unnecessary turnovers happen when defensemen playing on their wrong/off side are forced to play the puck off their backhand to get the puck out of danger. Phaneuf is not immune to this.

He's spent easily half of his career on the right side, probably more than half, and has played a lot on the right side for the Flames and the Leafs. He seems pretty equally comfortable and effective on either side.

With that being said, Phaneuf and Franson are pretty much our only d that can play the right side well, so that makes Franson extra valuable. I definitely would like to keep both Franson and Gardiner, but if I really had to pick one, I'd take Gards. When both Gards and Franson are in their primes, I see Gards being significantly better.

 

[William Nylander*]

Sign Gardiner to 3.2 mill for 6 years, trade Franson. He'll demand a lot more once his contract is up

 

[The_Chosen_One]

He plays on the right side out of necessity. We have 6 LHD and one RHD.

A lot of unnecessary turnovers happen when defensemen playing on their wrong/off side are forced to play the puck off their backhand to get the puck out of danger. Phaneuf is not immune to this.

Dion plays his best offside, though. It would be counter-productive to force him to change sides so late in his career.

 

[Jer416]

I'd trade whoever has the most value, and IMO it's Gardiner:

Gardiner is 23 years old and still improving, he has alot of intangibles such as skating, vision and playmaking albeit some weaknesses to but he has room to fix those. The other big thing is he's still an RFA, meaning he's signed regardless so a team would be more confident to give up assets knowing he's not going to bolt on them

Franson on the other hand is 27, he's pathetic defensively and he's not going to improve that much more, remember you can't teach stupid. He does bring some assets such as a booming shot and he has a decent first pass out of the end, but like I said he's horrific defensively and he's in his prime so basically what you see is what you get out of him which is a glorified powerplay specialist. The other big problem is he's a UFA this off-season if we trade him between now and deadline day we won't be getting didly squat back for him in return, it's better to just hang onto him for a bit longer.

Again...people need to remember Franson is NOT A UFA next year... So you can't take that into account.

 

[Rare Jewel]

Franson.

I like my defensemen to be good skaters. I can't get past that, No matter how many PP points he gets.

Plus his contractual situation is less controllable and demanding.

 

[34]

Neither. Both players are key pieces to the future of the team!

 

[StringsAttached]

With a little fine tuning Gards could be a Dan Boyle lite type player. So I voted Franson.

 

[Jer416]

Neither. Both players are key pieces to the future of the team!

Sadly Franson won't be if he wants 3.5-4 mil But we could keep them until trade deadline next year.

 

[TheKule]

Just to correct some misconceptions in this thread

*Franson is 26, not 27
*Franson is an RFA at the end of this year, not UFA.

If it had to be either of these guys, I'd go with Franson, especially if we can get Gardiner signed long term. Franson's value is probably fairly good what with his counting stats, PP output. And the contract situation is a guaranteed headache this off season.

I'd like to move Carlyle before either of them though. To the wastebin.

 

[DD03]

Gardiner.

He's worth more, Franson plays more of our team's style.

Gardiner makes a lot of dumb plays too and doesn't shoot it enough and when he does shoot it, it's usually terrible angles.

 

[dballislife2]

franson is by far our worst defensive D, and its not close

 

[rdawg1234]

Franson.

Package Franson+Reimer+Bozak(or prospect or pick etc.) for a better centre and or #2-3 d-man around the draft.

Both Franson and Reimer will want big raises, yet neither are our main pieces on this team(Bernier is just as good if not better than reimer, Franson could easily be replaced at least on the defensive side of things.)

 

[Jer416]

Franson.

Package Franson+Reimer+Bozak(or prospect or pick etc.) for a better centre and or #2-3 d-man around the draft.

Both Franson and Reimer will want big raises, yet neither are our main pieces on this team(Bernier is just as good if not better than reimer, Franson could easily be replaced at least on the defensive side of things.)

Reimer might be able to stay with us for another year (hopefully). It all depends on if he's willing to split time with Bernier and what his salary demands are. If they are reasonable and we are able to keep them for another year, this 1-2 punch would be great. I'm unsure whether Reimer will be a UFA the year after though.

Franson always wanted a raise, but he does want to play in Toronto, and after this season...he might lower his demands which may make him affordable....

If both don't work, then yep, I'm in for trading them haha.

 

[agropop]

I like both of them but I don't think we can afford Franson's next contract.

 

[Mapleleafs Fan*]

Franson is just ****ing idiot. I don't want him on Leafs nor on the Marlies. If nothing else just qualify him next year and pick up some draft picks and use those to move up.

 

[bobbyflex]

Gardiner. He annoys me. Plus will fetch more in a trade