Jump to content

Maple Leafs trade Cody Franson, Mike Santorelli to Nashville


Recommended Posts

cody-franson.jpg

 

 

 

"Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Sunday that the team has acquired defenceman Cody Franson and forward Mike Santorelli from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Nashville’s first-round selection in the 2015 Draft, and forwards Brendan Leipsic and Olli Jokinen."

 

http://www.tsn.ca/leafs-trade-santorelli-franson-to-predators-1.208088

 

I think we'll start seeing the fire sales begin. The Leafs and Preds just set the market for defenders, so if the Flyers decide to move Coburn, a 1st and a prospect can easily be had (hoping Vancouver comes calling, especially after losing Edler).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My first thought when I saw this was "Poor Olli...goes from SC hopeful to the disaster known as the Toronton Maple Leafs".

 

Then I looked at how Jokinen had been doing this year and realized that Nashville must be laughing all the way to the bank on this trade.

Olli has NOT been doing well at all this year. I always seem to remember him being sort of a half point per game player at least, but he really hasn't been that for a while.

 

And Nashville gets much stronger than what they already were (top point standings getter in a tough Western Conference/Central Division) by acquiring the underrated Mike Santorelli and the serviceable Franson who, with Nashville, can just blend in, play his game without worrying so much about other D-men and/or forwards NOT doing theirs, and best part.....no tons of weight of media scrutiny.

He may see quite a jump in his overall production playing with a winner.

 

As for Toronto....I guess this really is a firesale, as I can see no other reason for them pulling the trigger on this other than to unload salaries and bodies.

Olli Jokinen....well, he is a shell of what he used to be...can't see what help he can be to the Leafs either this year or any other year.....Nashville's 1st round pick?

Ok...that's nice, but the way the Preds are going, that pick will likely be the 28th-30th overall pick.....not anywhere near what the highly sought after top 10 or 15 in this upcoming draft will be.

 

Hopefully, the Leafs can draft well and find a gem with that late a 1st round pick (**snicker....it's the Leafs...cmon now......**snicker).

And I can't speak on the prospect Brendan Leipsic because I don't know anything about him that isn't on a stat sheet, other than to say he seems to have some good scoring prowess....at the junior and seemingly at the AHL level anyways...and that he is small by NHL standards.

 

If the Minnesota Wild sneak into the playoffs, they likely will have to face the top seeded Western Conference team.....and right now that is looking like Nashville.

And they just got that much better with this trade.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@TropicalFruitGirl26

 

Franson and Santorelli are both UFA at the end of the season...as is Jokinen. Leafs pick up a 1st, lose two of the only guys with a heartbeat on their team which will help the tank, will likely flip jokinen for a 7th round pick or he can provide more depth at tanking. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Santorelli and Franson were former Pred prospects who were found wanting and shipped out by No Neck, both are more offensive players than defensive, and as such Trotz had as much use for them as a poo flavored popsicle.

 

Santorelli makes the third line dangerous, and can play any position, Franson makes the second unit of the power play click going forward. Jokinen was wretched this year and will not be missed. The first is the only piece of the pie that has any relevance for the Leafs but will be a late first rounder so it is a crapshoot.

 

  This, IMHO makes the Preds unbelievably dangerous going forward, deep and set for a long postseason run.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  From a Preds perspective, Franson is the bigger name, but I believe Santorelli will make more of an impact. Perfect checking line center for the Preds. Will help kill penalties I would imagine and he should have better linemates to play with, so quite possibly more offense from Mike. I can't figure out for the life of me why the Preds would want Franson. He's a rental due to go UFA next summer, and I really can't see the Preds shelling out 5 or 6 mill for multiple seasons....so essentially, they gave up a 1st rounder for Santorelli????? WTF are they thinking??

 

 

 The Preds are already set with offensive d-men...Weber, Josi, Jones.....with Ryan Ellis due to come back next week.....this is rather odd. You have to wonder if this is a precursor to a bigger trade. Literally, the only thing Cody is good for is his booming shot from the point.....he plays some horrible defense...and is SLLLLOW. The Preds just got weaker in their own end AND gave up their first in a awesome draft....Leafs win this trade IMHO.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  From a Preds perspective, Franson is the bigger name, but I believe Santorelli will make more of an impact. Perfect checking line center for the Preds. Will help kill penalties I would imagine and he should have better linemates to play with, so quite possibly more offense from Mike. I can't figure out for the life of me why the Preds would want Franson. He's a rental due to go UFA next summer, and I really can't see the Preds shelling out 5 or 6 mill for multiple seasons....so essentially, they gave up a 1st rounder for Santorelli????? WTF are they thinking??

 

 

 The Preds are already set with offensive d-men...Weber, Josi, Jones.....with Ryan Ellis due to come back next week.....this is rather odd. You have to wonder if this is a precursor to a bigger trade. Literally, the only thing Cody is good for is his booming shot from the point.....he plays some horrible defense...and is SLLLLOW. The Preds just got weaker in their own end AND gave up their first in a awesome draft....Leafs win this trade IMHO.

 

I'm afraid the Leafs will be a better team now that Franson is gone, and will start winning games. Franson was by far the worst defenceman on the Leafs in his own zone. His offence doesn't make up for his defence.

 

Jokeanen will probably go on a hot streak and Leafs management will sign him to an 8-year deal at 10 mil per season.  LOL.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I'm afraid the Leafs will be a better team now that Franson is gone, and will start winning games.

 

HA...this is a very real danger. Like you said, it was not even close as to who was the weak link in the Leafs defensive zone. I'm still struggling to figure out why the Preds want a leaky d-man to add to their defensively sound team....a real head scratcher. Perhaps the Preds got him to flip him again? Perhaps the Leafs underestimated his value and the Preds figure they can make a killing at the deadline? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm afraid the Leafs will be a better team now that Franson is gone, and will start winning games. Franson was by far the worst defenceman on the Leafs in his own zone. His offence doesn't make up for his defence.

 

Jokeanen will probably go on a hot streak and Leafs management will sign him to an 8-year deal at 10 mil per season.  LOL.

 

 

Worse than Gardiner? Impossible. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Worse than Gardiner? Impossible. 

 

Believe it or not, worse than Gardiner!

 

Franson: 1.041 EPGA

Gardiner: .791 EPGA

 

EPGA = Defensive Errors Per 60 Minute Game Average

 

Gardiner was benched recently because he doesn't contribute offensively. Franson managed to stay in the lineup because he was racking up points. If not for that, he wouldn't be in the lineup.

 

The Preds have the best team in the NHL right now, so they can use Franson as a powerplay specialist guy and/or prevent him from being exposed too badly. They can also pair him with a decent D-man to cover his mistakes. The Leafs couldn't. Really, I don't think the Preds gain anything by having him but thank goodness the Leafs got rid of him. If Franson can be traded, there's hope that Phaneuf can be traded.  :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

HA...this is a very real danger. Like you said, it was not even close as to who was the weak link in the Leafs defensive zone. I'm still struggling to figure out why the Preds want a leaky d-man to add to their defensively sound team....a real head scratcher. Perhaps the Preds got him to flip him again? Perhaps the Leafs underestimated his value and the Preds figure they can make a killing at the deadline? 

 

They see the offensive numbers and get seduced by them, but they aren't looking at his "D".

 

The Leafs were the #1 team in the NHL back in December in GPG, but they were 26th or 28th best in GAA. That's Cody Franson in a nutshell: All offence, no defence. This is why +/- doesn't measure defensive skill.   :o 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Believe it or not, worse than Gardiner!

 

Franson: 1.041 EPGA

Gardiner: .791 EPGA

 

EPGA = Defensive Errors Per 60 Minute Game Average

 

Gardiner was benched recently because he doesn't contribute offensively. Franson managed to stay in the lineup because he was racking up points. If not for that, he wouldn't be in the lineup.

 

The Preds have the best team in the NHL right now, so they can use Franson as a powerplay specialist guy and/or prevent him from being exposed too badly. They can also pair him with a decent D-man to cover his mistakes. The Leafs couldn't. Really, I don't think the Preds gain anything by having him but thank goodness the Leafs got rid of him. If Franson can be traded, there's hope that Phaneuf can be traded.  :)

 

 

I'm surprised. Gardiner has always looked worse to me than Franson.

 

I agree the Preds D can help insulate him from not so great situations.

 

Dions big knock isn't so much his play...its that 7 year $49 million contract.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm surprised. Gardiner has always looked worse to me than Franson.

 

I agree the Preds D can help insulate him from not so great situations.

 

Dions big knock isn't so much his play...its that 7 year $49 million contract.

 

They're both bad, and Gardiner may yet finish the season worse than Franson, but so far it's 20 DE over 55 GP, 1176 TTOI (1 error every 59 minutes) for Franson versus 14 DE over 54 GP, 1099 TTOI (1 error every 78 minutes) for Gardiner.

 

When Franson gaffs, it's usually a give-away or missed coverage in front. When Gardiner gaffs, he just goes for a skate and completely loses his guy, gives up lots of 2 on 1s, etc. It could be that Gardiner's mistakes are more visible while Franson's are subtle or easily glossed over when he makes a good offensive play.

 

I'd be curious to see how they stack up using CORSI and Fenwick as well.

 

(Phaneuf is better than both of them of course, although he had a brutal week prior to his injury.)  :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...