Cody Franson

[moon111]

I'm wondering what this guy brings to the Leafs.  He doesn't seem like a big hitter.  I've heard rumors that he has a big shot, but I rarely have seen him get a blast off from the point.  Figured this roster would be easy for him to crack.  Now I'm seeing him as a 6th-7th defenseman.  He might be worth more as trade-bait.  Teams looking for defense?

 

[Justin]

I'm wondering what this guy brings to the Leafs.  He doesn't seem like a big hitter.  I've heard rumors that he has a big shot, but I rarely have seen him get a blast off from the point.  Figured this roster would be easy for him to crack.  Now I'm seeing him as a 6th-7th defenseman.  He might be worth more as trade-bait.  Teams looking for defense?

He's yet to carve out a role in Toronto. Last season saw him injured, benched, and bounced around. I think he still has some promise, looking forward to seeing what he can do this year. If it doesn't work out he'll be gone at the end of the year, no big deal.

 

[Rebel_1812]

I'm wondering what this guy brings to the Leafs.  He doesn't seem like a big hitter.  I've heard rumors that he has a big shot, but I rarely have seen him get a blast off from the point.  Figured this roster would be easy for him to crack.  Now I'm seeing him as a 6th-7th defenseman.  He might be worth more as trade-bait.  Teams looking for defense?

I agree, I think Gardiner pushes him back out of the line up when he is healthy.

 

[TML fan]

I doubt Franson lasts the summer here. He's a bottom pairing guy who should get limited minutes and some PP time on the 2nd unit. I don't think it'll be that hard for the Leafs to find a better option.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

The hate on for Franson around here is crazy.

 

[Kin]

The hate on for Franson around here is crazy.

I don't get a lot of hate for him but I do think people are still waiting to see what particular skill it is that Franson has that will keep him in the line-up. He seems to be alright at basically everything but without any particular exceptional talent that should keep his spot.

 

[cw]

I'm wondering what this guy brings to the Leafs.  He doesn't seem like a big hitter.  I've heard rumors that he has a big shot, but I rarely have seen him get a blast off from the point.  Figured this roster would be easy for him to crack.  Now I'm seeing him as a 6th-7th defenseman.  He might be worth more as trade-bait.  Teams looking for defense?

He has a snap shot that he often uses from the point and it's pretty effective at getting through because unlike some if Dion's struggles last season, I think Cody has a pretty good idea where the puck is going.

In Nashville, a number of those shots had eyes and went in. So his stats there might overstate how good his shot is. But the number of times he's been effective with it suggests to me that it is not entirely a fluke.

Ex Leaf Jackman did pretty well with that type of shot for similar reasons - he got it through - not so much to score but to cause scoring chances.

 

[cw]

The hate on for Franson around here is crazy.

I don't get a lot of hate for him but I do think people are still waiting to see what particular skill it is that Franson has that will keep him in the line-up. He seems to be alright at basically everything but without any particular exceptional talent that should keep his spot.

I don't think they'd let him PK going back to junior or something like that. It's a weakness. He simply doesn't PK.

Last season, this season and in Nashville, he was low dman on ES ice time per game. He's not a great skater  in terms of making turns - and we saw Liles bail him out of one of those situations last night.

He did score five goals last year with a 7.7% shooting % - which is pretty good for a point dman. If he's going to stick, that's where he has to excel because so far in his career, he's proven to be rather limited elsewhere.

The trouble he has is when Gardiner gets back. If Phaneuf, Liles, Kostka & Gardiner take the two PP units, then his usefulness on this roster - playing him where he has the best chance of success - would become very limited. Kostka didn't PK much either last night and wasn't the top guy for that on the Marlies. Kostka also plays the RHS shooting right like Franson. In fact, if Kostka keeps it up, my guess would be that Franson is toast on this roster because they'll need to fill out the roster with dmen who are stronger defensively or more physical.

There are some NHL teams who probably lack a second RH dman for the PP or will when injury strikes. If the Leafs D remains healthy and Kostka sticks (as I think is likely), my guess is that Franson will be moved.

 

[Kin]

He did score five goals last year with a 7.7% shooting % - which is pretty good for a point dman. If he's going to stick, that's where he has to excel because so far in his career, he's proven to be rather limited elsewhere.

I agree that his shot from the point is probably his strongest attribute. That said, I'm not sold that it alone generates enough threat on the PP that his presence there is enough to keep him in the line-up. Especially when, as you mention, the Leafs have a lot of options there.

I think you're probably right in that he's the guy who's the odd man out when Gardiner comes back. If that means a trade as opposed to a demotion I think most people would be largely on board.

 

[Rebel_1812]

The hate on for Franson around here is crazy.

I don't get a lot of hate for him but I do think people are still waiting to see what particular skill it is that Franson has that will keep him in the line-up. He seems to be alright at basically everything but without any particular exceptional talent that should keep his spot.

I don't think they'd let him PK going back to junior or something like that. It's a weakness. He simply doesn't PK.

Last season, this season and in Nashville, he was low dman on ES ice time per game. He's not a great skater  in terms of making turns - and we saw Liles bail him out of one of those situations last night.

He did score five goals last year with a 7.7% shooting % - which is pretty good for a point dman. If he's going to stick, that's where he has to excel because so far in his career, he's proven to be rather limited elsewhere.

The trouble he has is when Gardiner gets back. If Phaneuf, Liles, Kostka & Gardiner take the two PP units, then his usefulness on this roster - playing him where he has the best chance of success - would become very limited. Kostka didn't PK much either last night and wasn't the top guy for that on the Marlies. Kostka also plays the RHS shooting right like Franson. In fact, if Kostka keeps it up, my guess would be that Franson is toast on this roster because they'll need to fill out the roster with dmen who are stronger defensively or more physical.

There are some NHL teams who probably lack a second RH dman for the PP or will when injury strikes. If the Leafs D remains healthy and Kostka sticks (as I think is likely), my guess is that Franson will be moved.

I agree,  I think he will be traded.  I didn't like being a healthy scratch last year and he wouldn't clear waivers. 

 

[Tigger]

Fwiw Franson's strength, to me, is producing es offense which takes some of the sting out of a need for PP time to be effective.

That said, with the team having more offense than defense in general, perhaps his skillset would be better suited elsewhere if he can't pick up his defensive game.