Franson, Santorelli to NSH for 1st round pick, Brendan Leipsic, Olli Jokinen

[LuncheonMeat]

Poile, by all accounts, is a pretty clever GM. A late round first a 3rd rounder and a salary dump isn't a great return fro two sought after players come deadline time. I think he knew Franson and Santo's value would have only gone up in the coming weeks. Smart move and good deal for Nashville.

Did the Leafs get what they wanted? Probably not, but we'll see how the picks they got turn out before we know for sure.

I'm giving the trade a C for the Leafs and a B+ for Nashville.

I'd be somewhat surprised if any other team moved a 1st round pick at the deadline. I absolutely thought Franson deserved a 1st but a lot of teams are reportedly very hesitant to move one this year. So getting a pick like that back is a success no matter how you look at it.

We also have a team to cheer for in the playoffs now! 

This from Leaf's Notebook on the MLHS site - recent trades and what they fetched  Not really spectacular returns for anyone:

Lee Stempniak             3rd
Marcel Goc                     3rd+5th
Dustin Penner             4th
Ales Hemsky             3rd+5th
Matt Moulson, Cody McCormick 2nd, 2nd, Torrey Mitchell
Tuomo Ruutu             Cond. 3rd, Andrei Loktionov
Derek Roy                     Kevin Connauton 2nd
Raffi Torres             3rd

 

[lamajama]

I'm sure the man ultimately responsible for this disaster cannot make any deals at all without Shanahan, Hunter et al approving it.

I would hope not. He's currently employed by the Calgary Flames.

Good one. He started it with his decision to not tear it down probably due to his ego but Nonis certainly has applied the ribbon and bow. Baffling buyouts, incredulous Cap Management and Clarkson. Not so much for the player as for the structure of the contract.

 

[moon111]

Hopefully this helps the team get worst/better draft pick.  Convinces others that it's time to pack their bags and leave the club for greener pastures.  Starts an arm's race in the Western.  If Nashville gets Franson, who gets Phaneuf?  With a salary cap, Leafs can replaces players with UFAs. 

1st used for Jesper Lindgren, right-handed D-man who played with Nylander?

 

[herman]

So Franson is open to coming back. If we move Phaneuf (or other salary anchors), would you bring him back to anchor a developing blue line (Rielly, Gardiner, Percy, Granberg, Loov), or would you just let Robidas player-coach the next year+?

Sounds like Olli doesn't want to play here either. Do you think we can flip him in a package to a borderline contender in need of centre depth (Calgary? NYI?) for a 2nd/3rd + salary dump?

 

[Tigger]

Olli!

 

[Kin]

So Franson is open to coming back. If we move Phaneuf (or other salary anchors), would you bring him back to anchor a developing blue line (Rielly, Gardiner, Percy, Granberg, Loov), or would you just let Robidas player-coach the next year+?

Nah.

Sounds like Olli doesn't want to play here either. Do you think we can flip him in a package to a borderline contender in need of centre depth (Calgary? NYI?) for a 2nd/3rd + salary dump?

He's got 6 points in 48 games. We'd be lucky to get anything, let alone a second.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

So Franson is open to coming back. If we move Phaneuf (or other salary anchors), would you bring him back to anchor a developing blue line (Rielly, Gardiner, Percy, Granberg, Loov), or would you just let Robidas player-coach the next year+?

Nah.

Sounds like Olli doesn't want to play here either. Do you think we can flip him in a package to a borderline contender in need of centre depth (Calgary? NYI?) for a 2nd/3rd + salary dump?

He's got 6 points in 48 games. We'd be lucky to get anything, let alone a second.

Wow, I was hoping maybe a team might be interested in having a veteran guy with playoff experience, and give us a conditional 4th or 5th.  But looking at his career stats:  1217 NHL games played, and 6 total NHL playoff games.  That's a little depressing.

 

[Kin]

Wow, I was hoping maybe a team might be interested in having a veteran guy with playoff experience, and give us a conditional 4th or 5th.  But looking at his career stats:  1217 NHL games played, and 6 total NHL playoff games.  That's a little depressing.

Sure. I mentioned a fifth or something earlier in the thread. But a second or a third? Those are real assets.

 

[L K]

So Franson is open to coming back. If we move Phaneuf (or other salary anchors), would you bring him back to anchor a developing blue line (Rielly, Gardiner, Percy, Granberg, Loov), or would you just let Robidas player-coach the next year+?

Nah.

Sounds like Olli doesn't want to play here either. Do you think we can flip him in a package to a borderline contender in need of centre depth (Calgary? NYI?) for a 2nd/3rd + salary dump?

He's got 6 points in 48 games. We'd be lucky to get anything, let alone a second.

I wouldn't be against bringing him back but the reality is that he's the #1 defenseman and arguably the #1 free agent in the offseason.  He's going to get a long-term, high value contract and the question isn't so much what Franson brings over the next 2-3 seasons, but what he brings 3-5 years from now when the Leafs are hopefully starting to climb back up the standings.

He's not likely to be our #1 guy and Rielly is going to get paid down the road so Rielly + Gardiner + Franson all in high salary spots isn't likely a good approach to the blueline.

As for Jokinen.  They might be able to trade him for a late round draft pick, especially if they were aggressive and retained 50% of his salary but 6 points in 48 games is going to trump his 43 points last year. 

 

[LuncheonMeat]

So Franson is open to coming back. If we move Phaneuf (or other salary anchors), would you bring him back to anchor a developing blue line (Rielly, Gardiner, Percy, Granberg, Loov), or would you just let Robidas player-coach the next year+?

Nah.

Sounds like Olli doesn't want to play here either. Do you think we can flip him in a package to a borderline contender in need of centre depth (Calgary? NYI?) for a 2nd/3rd + salary dump?

He's got 6 points in 48 games. We'd be lucky to get anything, let alone a second.

I wouldn't be against bringing him back but the reality is that he's the #1 defenseman and arguably the #1 free agent in the offseason.  He's going to get a long-term, high value contract and the question isn't so much what Franson brings over the next 2-3 seasons, but what he brings 3-5 years from now when the Leafs are hopefully starting to climb back up the standings.

He's not likely to be our #1 guy and Rielly is going to get paid down the road so Rielly + Gardiner + Franson all in high salary spots isn't likely a good approach to the blueline.

As for Jokinen.  They might be able to trade him for a late round draft pick, especially if they were aggressive and retained 50% of his salary but 6 points in 48 games is going to trump his 43 points last year.

Yeah, there's no way Franson is back in Toronto.  They couldn't come to terms now, and you can probably tack another $2 million/per on to his contract once he gets to free agency.

 

[Jolly good show chaps]

So Franson is open to coming back. If we move Phaneuf (or other salary anchors), would you bring him back to anchor a developing blue line (Rielly, Gardiner, Percy, Granberg, Loov), or would you just let Robidas player-coach the next year+

Speaking of Robidas are we likely to get anything useful back for him? I guess at this point every little helps.

 

[Kin]

Speaking of Robidas are we likely to get anything useful back for him? I guess at this point every little helps.

It's unlikely and I'd keep him around anyway. He's exactly the sort of well regarded dressing room presence/over paid cap floor ballast that makes sense in a rebuild.

 

[Highlander]

Redleaf?the tank force is strong?but the circle is not yet complete!

I like the trade, Franson for all his strenghts did cough up the an awful lot, we are strong in offensive defensemen, what we need are a few defensive beasts and we seem to have a few on the way.  Santorelli is a hard working guy but it seems at his age that Leipsic is  younger perhaps a Darcy kind of agitator, the kind of discription they used to give Komorav years ago before he showed up. Now two agitators are better than one and Kadri pulls the penalties as well. Just the abrasiveness that a Shanaplan would want in place.
Olli, man I love Ollie, didnt someone post a flying waffle video with him in it a few years back. Hilarious.  Now if we can just turn Phanuef and Bozak/Winnek into two more first rounders.

 

[L K]

Redleaf?the tank force is strong?but the circle is not yet complete!

I like the trade, Franson for all his strenghts did cough up the an awful lot, we are strong in offensive defensemen, what we need are a few defensive beasts and we seem to have a few on the way.  Santorelli is a hard working guy but it seems at his age that Leipsic is  younger perhaps a Darcy kind of agitator, the kind of discription they used to give Komorav years ago before he showed up. Now two agitators are better than one and Kadri pulls the penalties as well. Just the abrasiveness that a Shanaplan would want in place.
Olli, man I love Ollie, didnt someone post a flying waffle video with him in it a few years back. Hilarious.  Now if we can just turn Phanuef and Bozak/Winnek into two more first rounders.

 

[Kin]

I wouldn't be against bringing him back but the reality is that he's the #1 defenseman and arguably the #1 free agent in the offseason.  He's going to get a long-term, high value contract and the question isn't so much what Franson brings over the next 2-3 seasons, but what he brings 3-5 years from now when the Leafs are hopefully starting to climb back up the standings.

But along those lines, did Franson ever really make a lot of sense? Is he a five million dollar a year defenseman? Is he worth more?

He's racked up decent point totals the last few years but he's also sort of been stapled to a power play that, for all it's ineffectiveness, has some pretty talented offensive players. He's got 20 goals in 230+ games with the Leafs. Maybe it's just me but I don't watch too many games and think "Man, Franson really is generating some good chances". I think he's a good offensive defenseman but I'll be really interested to see how his point totals develop with Nashville.

 

[Highlander]

thanks LK for the Waffle, it really makes me laugh.  Maybe when Bozak is gone, (in 5 parsecs) Olli can centre for Kessel. and cook him some waffles at the same time.  Man this tank is better than getting beaten in the first round. LOL

 

[Chris]

But along those lines, did Franson ever really make a lot of sense? Is he a five million dollar a year defenseman? Is he worth more?

He's racked up decent point totals the last few years but he's also sort of been stapled to a power play that, for all it's ineffectiveness, has some pretty talented offensive players. He's got 20 goals in 230+ games with the Leafs. Maybe it's just me but I don't watch too many games and think "Man, Franson really is generating some good chances". I think he's a good offensive defenseman but I'll be really interested to see how his point totals develop with Nashville.

Well, some team was dumb enough to give Clarkson a $5 million deal. So Franson should get that easily!

 

[Chris]

That video is hilarious, by the way!

 

[Kin]

Well, some team was dumb enough to give Clarkson a $5 million deal. So Franson should get that easily!

Sure but let's say Franson ends up signing for something pretty reasonable like 4 years and 20 million. Would that be good? Is he worth that? Would we be really jazzed about having Franson on the blue line for the next four years?

Maybe I just never warmed to the guy but I never really saw Franson as a guy who could be a big part of a contending team.

 

[Highlander]

forgot Ollie is Finish, I hope they team him up with Komrade Komorav for a bit