Confirmed with Link: [NSH/TOR] Franson and Santorelli for Leipsic, Jokinen, 2015 1st

[ANDI P IS CUTE]

Franson I think is an upgrade over everyone not named Weber and Josi. I just question whether it was worth it to upgrade a position that didn't need upgrading. I can't see him playing bottom pairing minutes.

leafs fan here.. Franson will be your #3 and second best on your PP. Book it.

 

[NSH615]

Poile's Presser with Coach Laviolette and Weber
[nhl]753754[/nhl]

 

[Peen]

leafs fan here.. Franson will be your #3 and second best on your PP. Book it.

Not on this d core he won't

 

[TNCHL]

Franny had a nagging back injury In toronto I think.

 

[Jarnberg]

I'm going to be really nervous watching Franson pinch in Lavi's system. He may not make it back into the other zone before the game's over.

 

[BigFatCat999]

I'm constantly looking at the depth chart and I'm thinking this team is going to be a friggin bear when the rosters expand.

 

[JamestheSame]

Great trade today. I always liked Franson. Santorelli has a great work ethic.

 

[hoosierpred]

I thought exactly the same thing....

I'm going to be really nervous watching Franson pinch in Lavi's system. He may not make it back into the other zone before the game's over.

The knock on franson has always been about foot speed. My feelings about the trade are going to hinge on whether franson's and santo's games have improved. All reports suggest that they have, but I need to see it for myself. Leipsic was going to be a decent nhl er in my opinion---- a little like Jordan tootoo in disposition but with much more ability to score. I thought he was going to end up as a very high quality 3rd liner.

 

[Privy]

Has anyone mentioned or considered yet that getting Fruit Cup could improve our PP? That would be a huge bonus in the playoffs. Our PP is now anchored by Weber/Josi and Franson/Ellis-Jones? This is a good thing.

I mentioned something similar when the rumors were going around. The 2nd PP unit has a few options now. You can put Ellis with his bomb and Franson with his wrister together or if one or the other isn't working you can replace him with a guy like Jones. Should help the PP in the long run.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Santo has been great this year for us. (was). You will be very happy with him, book it.

As a Leaf fan I agree completely. You could say he has been our best player this year. Maybe a bit of a stretch to say so, but only a bit.

 

[PredsV82]

leafs fan here.. Franson will be your #3 and second best on your PP. Book it.

sorry, he will not be better than either Weber or Josi on the PP.

As long as he's better than Matt Cullen on the PP, and better than Bartley/Volchenkov at ES, I'll take it.

 

[WartracePred]

leafs fan here.. Franson will be your #3 and second best on your PP. Book it.

Don't see it. Watched 2 minutes of a Center Ice replay of the Leafs - Isles game from last week. First shift Franson turns the puck over on a miserable breakout and results in a goal. Can't remember any of our dmen, except Bitetto, with a turnover so awful. That'd have to be his worst turnover in 2 years for him to be considered our 3rd best dman.

 

[jwhouk]

Seconded

Thirded.

 

[jwhouk]

Does Santo PK? Cause it would be great to have a better option than Nystrom out there.

I can't remember if he did any PK'ing in MKE.

 

[WartracePred]

I can't remember if he did any PK'ing in MKE.

Still watching the Isles - Leafs game. He's playing on the PK. Uses his size to clear the crease.

Another turrible pass on a breakout. Very slow in transition. Seems to trail the play.

 

[predfan24]

I feel like I know what we are getting in Franson which should be a more mature and responsible version of the player we had when he was here.

Santorelli on the other hand is the one I really need to see. I remember I didn't think he was ever gonna be an NHLer when we let him go. His career path is interesting. He couldn't hack it here but he was dominant at the AHL level. The year after not hacking it here he is the second leading scorer on a bad Panthers team in 10-11. He regresses back the next season and Florida and is put on waivers and clears. Doesn't put it together during the lockout shortened season either. Last year plays well for Vancouver and continues it this season with Toronto. Perhaps he is just a real late bloomer. I just need to see it with my own two eyes.

On another note I would say even though Franson and Ellis have enough differences to not be looked at as the same player they do have enough similarities to be considered similar type players. If Franson is resigned in the offseason I could see Ellis being trade bait.

 

[Rock Paper Sissons]

I like the trade except for the santorelli/leipsic part. Leips is a very talented 20 year old. Santorelli could be healthy scratch for us some nights.

Is santo better two way now??

 

[BigWilly]

I like the trade except for the santorelli/leipsic part. Leips is a very talented 20 year old. Santorelli could be healthy scratch for us some nights.

Is santo better two way now??

I really doubt that you'll ever scratch Santa, he's a GREAT 3rd liner and a decent 2nd liner.

 

[Infinite Jest]

I like the trade except for the santorelli/leipsic part. Leips is a very talented 20 year old. Santorelli could be healthy scratch for us some nights.

Is santo better two way now??

Santorelli will never be healthy scratched, please watch some Leafs games. I'm getting very tired of repeating this, but... Santorelli faces tougher competition than any other Leafs forward, despite the tough competition and the bad team around him, he is still on pace for 40+ points and sits at a +7. He is now probably the Preds 6th best forward all-around, just ahead of Smith.

 

[pucci2001]

Franny had a nagging back injury In toronto I think.

Bruised hip, at least thats what they called it.

 

[triggrman]

So Bitetto isn't on our second pairing now right?

 

[LCPreds]

Santorelli will never be healthy scratched, please watch some Leafs games. I'm getting very tired of repeating this, but... Santorelli faces tougher competition than any other Leafs forward, despite the tough competition and the bad team around him, he is still on pace for 40+ points and sits at a +7. He is now probably the Preds 6th best forward all-around, just ahead of Smith.

Feeling like a broken record? It's like players never change when they leave Nashville. Odd considering how many of our own players are completely different from one year to the next just due to a coaching change.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

A few things that haven't been mentioned and I'm honestly shocked by it.

1. Franson now gives us 4 guys who are over 6'4" on the blue line. We are always worried about teams taking advantage of us with their size and this allows us to have a big guy on the ice at all times. While they're not huge hitters, Franson has become more physical the last few years and adding that to the back end is a plus.

2. Our worst puck moving defenseman is now Weber. How scary is that? We have 3 guys who are pretty mobile in Josi, Jones and Ekholm, Weber isn't too bad in that area himself but not at those guys level and then you have the slower footed Ellis and Franson but they both are excellent puck movers. We will control the puck from the back end out.

3. Santorelli should thrive in Lavy's system. He's fast, tenacious and has a work ethic that is as high as anyone in the league.

4. I am a big Leipsic fan but if it means bringing a Cup to Nashville, it's a small price to pay. I viewed him as a possible Sullivan meets Marchand type but he may or may not get there. If he does, great for him, if he doesn't, no big deal. We didn't trade away our best prospect and we made our team better today.

I like this post and I'll mention some additional stuff:

5. Once Ellis returns, having Franson pushes Volchenkov, Bartley, and whoever else out. Volchenkov started the season great and looked like an amazing pickup. Since the 15-20 game mark, he has gotten worse with every game. He can't even clear the crease anymore and has almost killed our goalie on several occasions. Bartley is showing why he is #7. Average depth player, but has no business being a regular starter. IMO, adding Franson solidifies us as the BEST D in the entire league. Heading into the playoffs with that?? Yes.

6. As far as the lineup goes, we just traded Olli friggin Jokes for Santorelli. This is huge. For the first time since I became a Thrasher/Preds fan, we have a legit top-9 that runs perfectly with Lavi's system. Nobody understood why Joke's skates were still getting laced every night, and we just traded his spot for a 40 point, two way winger. Huge win.

7. We are the best team in the league, and we just got better without trading anybody from the current lineup that will affect us moving forward. Think about that...we are the same team with two improved positions. Awesome.

8. As far as what we actually gave up...I honestly don't value the first as high as most. It'll be towards the end of the round. Meh. I did like Leipsic, but not giving up Fiala, Saros, Vesey, Sissons, Kamenev, etc. makes it fine.

 

[Gnashville]

Lol at Leafs fans (not here mind you) not realizing that both players were drafted by the Predators. Funny thing is most Predators' fans consider Leipsic a better prospect than we ever thought Santorelli was. Leafs fans think he's some throw in equal to a bag of pucks. Kid has some skills. Plus he can steal a drink and get a goalie riled up.

 

[Armourboy]

Its a good trade for both teams, regardless of what some are saying. Depth is key going into the playoffs, options are as well. Are either of these players some savior that is going to win us the cup? Nope, but they do make us better top to bottom.

Say what you will but Poile learned from the last time he was in this spot. He didn't just take whatever he could get, he got quality players, that are also considered to have good character. They walk in knowing several of the players, and both are liked starting out this run. They know the city and they will be motivated.

You essentially get Franson for a 1st and Jokinen. You get Santorelli for Leipsic. Both of those have different styles but they are basically projected to fill the same spot.

Cups are what its all about, and if you need to sacrifice a guy who is projected to be a 3rd liner, maybe a 2nd then you go for it. A shot at the Cup is definitely worth that.