Detroit Free Press: Red Wings might be interested in acquiring Cody Franson

[hockeywiz542]

http://www.freep.com/article/201301...on-t-pursue-Redden-could-look-Franson-defense

The Red Wings continue to search for help on defense, but it won't include Wade Redden. They could instead take a look at Toronto's Cody Franson.

There had been internal discussions about whether Redden, 35, would help bolster the blue line in the wake of losing Nicklas Lidstrom to retirement and Brad Stuart via trade, but ultimately management decided against pursuing a guy who hasn't played in the NHL two years. Redden became an unrestricted free agent after clearing waivers and then going through a buyout with the New York Rangers.

Another possibility is Franson, who probably can be had for a third or fourth draft pick. Franson, 25, is 6-foot-5, shoots right-handed, and only makes $1.2 million and is in the last year of a deal that will leave him a restricted free agent this summer. He has 71 points in 198 games with the Leafs and Nashville Predators.

Franson can play special teams and is a good deal more physical than Jakub Kindl. Franson could give the Wings a little more comfort with their second and third pairings, giving them options as far as where to play Brendan Smith and Kyle Quincey.

Click to read more...

 

[leafers]

The Red Wings continue to search for help on defense, but it won't include Wade Redden. They could instead take a look at Toronto's Cody Franson.

There had been internal discussions about whether Redden, 35, would help bolster the blue line in the wake of losing Nicklas Lidstrom to retirement and Brad Stuart via trade, but ultimately management decided against pursuing a guy who hasn't played in the NHL two years. Redden became an unrestricted free agent after clearing waivers and then going through a buyout with the New York Rangers.

Another possibility is Franson, who probably can be had for a third or fourth draft pick. Franson, 25, is 6-foot-5, shoots right-handed, and only makes $1.2 million and is in the last year of a deal that will leave him a restricted free agent this summer. He has 71 points in 198 games with the Leafs and Nashville Predators.

Franson can play special teams and is a good deal more physical than Jakub Kindl. Franson could give the Wings a little more comfort with their second and third pairings, giving them options as far as where to play Brendan Smith and Kyle Quincey.

Where do they get these stuff from?

 

[CBinTokyo]

We'll trade him straight up for Jonas Gustavsson

 

[Lansdown]

trade Franson and the Coyotes 3rd/4th for the Wings' 2nd

 

[EucaLEAFtys]

Personally, I'd much rather send Phaneuf to Detriot instead of Franson.

Unfortunately, Detroit probably wouldn't be able to handle Phaneuf's over-blown salary/cap hit.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Personally, I'd much rather send Phaneuf to Detriot instead of Franson.

Unfortunately, Detroit probably wouldn't be able to handle Phaneuf's over-blown salary/cap hit.

are you serious? Dion is is more important to us then franson will likely ever be

 

[johnny_rudeboy]

Personally, I'd much rather send Phaneuf to Detriot instead of Franson.

Unfortunately, Detroit probably wouldn't be able to handle Phaneuf's over-blown salary/cap hit.

I could live with that.

 

[Paris in Flames]

A 3rd or a 4th? Do they just throw draft picks in a hat and pull that out?

If Nonis were to trade Franson for that then he would already have made an awful move in his first week.

 

[leafers]

Personally, I'd much rather send Phaneuf to Detriot instead of Franson.

Unfortunately, Detroit probably wouldn't be able to handle Phaneuf's over-blown salary/cap hit.

I could live with that.

The Leafs would have a hard time living with that though.

 

[4evaBlue]

are you serious? Dion is is more important to us then franson will likely ever be

The sad part is, he probably is.

As for Franson, I don't see the point of moving him at this point, and certainly not for a 4th rounder. If Lombardi was able to get us a 4th rounder in return, Franson should be more valuable. Unless Rielly's made a serious impression in training camp (doesn't appear to be the case), I'm more than content to have Franson on the 3rd pairing with some PP time, or even splitting press box duties with other poorly performing defensemen.

If we did want to get rid of him badly, I'd wait until TDL, when the value of offensive defensemen seems to be at its highest with teams gearing up for the playoffs. Considering the condensed schedule, and the increased likelyhood of injuries on the back end, that could be even more so the case this season.

 

[Leafsman]

No way! Until we see what Franson can do with a proper coach it is not worth risking his potential for a 3rd/4th! It is Detroit which will be a low pick too so I'd think long and hard even if it was a 2nd.

 

[613Leafer]

Im not convinced Franson will fit here longterm, but we're also pretty thin back there this year. Same reason we wont buyout Komi until this summer (unless he actually plays well..).

Granted, he's not particularly strong defensively. Kostka or Fraser could probably fill his spot at a fairly similar level, while also getting us a ~2nd round pick or so.

 

[Joey Hoser]

We'd need to get a warm body back to some play some defence if we trade Franson. Considering he isn't much more than a warm body, I fail to see the point.

 

[ULF_55]

Leafs depth on defense means they're hoping Fraser, Holzer, and Kostka are good enough to play in the NHL.

Hardly a position of strength for Toronto to be moving out defenders.

 

[EucaLEAFtys]

are you serious? Dion is is more important to us then franson will likely ever be

Perfectly serious, actually.

I never liked Phaneuf before he became a Leaf, and I like him even less now that he is a Leaf. And to have him as the Leafs' Captain.. well, that's a bad joke in and of itself.

I don't like his game; it's just too brutally bad to watch on a regular basis. There's a reason why nobody is willing to screen the opposing goalie whenever Phaneuf is on the ice; they don't want to get hit in the head by one of Phaneuf's infamously hard and inaccurate shot. He's also brutal on the penalty kill. Not to mention, his decision-making (and on-ice leadership) skills are highly suspect and are clearly NOT up to the standard befitting a captain of an NHL team.

Add to all of that his absolutely ridiculous salary/cap hit and the picture is complete.

It's my opinion that it's time to move this over-rated, overpaid clown.

He's never going to lead this team anywhere (except into the league basement again), so Nonis might as well trade him while he still has some value. The Leafs need to begin building for the future, and I really don't see Phaneuf as an important part of it.

As for Franson, I see more in him than most people around here will give him credit for. Given the opportunity, I firmly believe that Franson could replace Phaneuf's offence AND be better defensively than Phaneuf. Franson is already a better decision-maker than Phaneuf and should get more ice-time for it as a result and his shot is far more accurate than Phaneuf's ever was.

 

[Duke Silver]

IIRC, Phaneuf plays the third most difficult minutes among dmen in terms of quality of competition and puts up top-15 offensive totals whilst being a highly physical presence.

There are a lot of issues with this roster. Phaneuf ain't one of them.

Onto the next scapegoat, right?

 

[Leafs For Life*]

^^(2 posts up)Hahaha.. Franson becoming better than a #1B defenceman..

 

[SprDaVE]

I could see it if at the deadline we are not in playoff position. Right now though, seems like Cody has a roster spot and should have the minutes to contribute well enough.

He could fetch a decent return, depending on his play obviously.

 

[BlueBaron]

Perfectly serious, actually.

I never liked Phaneuf before he became a Leaf, and I like him even less now that he is a Leaf. And to have him as the Leafs' Captain.. well, that's a bad joke in and of itself.

I don't like his game; it's just too brutally bad to watch on a regular basis. There's a reason why nobody is willing to screen the opposing goalie whenever Phaneuf is on the ice; they don't want to get hit in the head by one of Phaneuf's infamously hard and inaccurate shot. He's also brutal on the penalty kill. Not to mention, his decision-making (and on-ice leadership) skills are highly suspect and are clearly NOT up to the standard befitting a captain of an NHL team.

Add to all of that his absolutely ridiculous salary/cap hit and the picture is complete.

It's my opinion that it's time to move this over-rated, overpaid clown.

He's never going to lead this team anywhere (except into the league basement again), so Nonis might as well trade him while he still has some value. The Leafs need to begin building for the future, and I really don't see Phaneuf as an important part of it.

As for Franson, I see more in him than most people around here will give him credit for. Given the opportunity, I firmly believe that Franson could replace Phaneuf's offence AND be better defensively than Phaneuf. Franson is already a better decision-maker than Phaneuf and should get more ice-time for it as a result and his shot is far more accurate than Phaneuf's ever was.

The problem is Dion is asked to do too much because he is so much better then the rest of the blueline. It has been demonstrated his best years have all been when he played around 18 minutes, but because there is no one better he is forced to play 25+ with a result of diminishing returns. It should be noted he was 12th in scoring among D last year which is pretty respectable. It's pretty hard to take your post seriously. I can't be bothered to point out the numerous other flaws in your post because I don't believe you really thought it out before postiing it, or you simply don't know what you are talking about.

As for Franson, this is mere speculation and in light of Fransons new found willingness to be physical it would be silly to move him before we see what he can do.

 

[67Cup]

Anybody on the team, aside from the key young prospects like Rielly, should be available for the right price. But a 4th rounder doesn't seem like the right price for a still young defender, with a favorable contract. As pointed out above, that's what Lombardi fetched, with his major cap hit and injury history.

Nor does this seem the right time. Gardiner will be out for the start of the season and a replacement is needed. Moreover, Franson's value should be higher at the trade deadline. Only trade him now if the Wings make an offer too good to refuse.

 

[JAMmer124]

To be fair guys, Franson does end up better than Phaneuf in NHL 12 and 13, so it must be true...

 

[Leafsman]

Perfectly serious, actually.

I never liked Phaneuf before he became a Leaf, and I like him even less now that he is a Leaf. And to have him as the Leafs' Captain.. well, that's a bad joke in and of itself.

I don't like his game; it's just too brutally bad to watch on a regular basis. There's a reason why nobody is willing to screen the opposing goalie whenever Phaneuf is on the ice; they don't want to get hit in the head by one of Phaneuf's infamously hard and inaccurate shot. He's also brutal on the penalty kill. Not to mention, his decision-making (and on-ice leadership) skills are highly suspect and are clearly NOT up to the standard befitting a captain of an NHL team.

Add to all of that his absolutely ridiculous salary/cap hit and the picture is complete.

It's my opinion that it's time to move this over-rated, overpaid clown.

He's never going to lead this team anywhere (except into the league basement again), so Nonis might as well trade him while he still has some value. The Leafs need to begin building for the future, and I really don't see Phaneuf as an important part of it.

As for Franson, I see more in him than most people around here will give him credit for. Given the opportunity, I firmly believe that Franson could replace Phaneuf's offence AND be better defensively than Phaneuf. Franson is already a better decision-maker than Phaneuf and should get more ice-time for it as a result and his shot is far more accurate than Phaneuf's ever was.

I think it is crazy to make snap judgements on alot of these players until we can see what they do under Carlyle. Brad May said on Sportsnet he saw first hand how instrumental Ron Wilson was on the lack of success for the team.

 

[Leafsman]

Anybody on the team, aside from the key young prospects like Rielly, should be available for the right price. But a 4th rounder doesn't seem like the right price for a still young defender, with a favorable contract. As pointed out above, that's what Lombardi fetched, with his major cap hit and injury history.

Nor does this seem the right time. Gardiner will be out for the start of the season and a replacement is needed. Moreover, Franson's value should be higher at the trade deadline. Only trade him now if the Wings make an offer too good to refuse.

Good point. I say keep any possible asset until the TD when prices inflate.

 

[NaiveLeafsFan]

Yeah sure, lets get rid of a top defenseman will not even considering fancystats. We would be so ****ed if we traded Dion away.

 

[Myke]

trade Franson and the Coyotes 3rd/4th for the Wings' 2nd

Lets let the Wings make the draft pick and then trade for the player, saves us making the wrong choice. haha.