With little over a week to go before the NHL Draft in Pittsburgh, the expectations from most in the hockey world is that the weak crop of available free agents will instigate general managers who are anxious to improve their clubs to roll the dice in the trade market.
The list of targets available on July 1 got a little smaller yesterday as forwards Chris Kelly and Gregory Campbell re-upped for multi-year deals with Boston, which will only raise the price on what few UFA’s due hit the open market.
The possibility of a brisk trading season over the next month or so should be welcome news to fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs, since GM Brian Burke has excelled at improving his team via trades rather than making questionable signings like Tim Connolly or Mike Komisarek in free agency.
With that in mind, the next few days will be devoted to not only reporting any news out there regarding the Leafs but also to give you a number of possible deals that are based on rumors over the last 6 to 12 months that would make sense for both teams.
Trade #1
Toronto trades defenseman Cody Franson to the Dallas Stars for center/winger Steve Ott.
Rumors of the feisty Ott being available sprang up just before the February trade deadline. The 29-year-old native of Prince Edward Island has played for Dallas since 2002 and signed a four-year contract extension for $11.8 million after scoring a career best 22 goals in 2010. Since the signing, his rough-and-tumble style has not changed but his offensive production has dropped, scoring 12 goals in 2010-11 and 11 goals last season.
Ott ranked in the top 20 in face-off winning percentage last season and would be a perfect fit to provide the size, grit and intangibles up the middle that Burke and Randy Carlyle are be looking for. With two years left on his contract, he would be a more cost-effective acquisition in signing a comparable free agent like Paul Gaustad, who will likely get a multiyear contract in excess of $3 million.
Franson would be an ideal fit for Dallas, as they are in need of defensemen after trading Niklas Grossman to Philadelphia at the deadline and probably moving on from veteran UFA Sheldon Souray.
The 24-year-old BC native is a restricted free agent after making $800,000 last season and after scoring five goals and 16 assists in 57 games with Toronto, is likely not going to be in a great bargaining position to get a substantial pay increase. The Stars are in need of another offensive minded defenseman other than Alex Goligoski and Franson’s booming shot would fit in well on their power play.
Another factor that makes this deal possible is that Burke and Stars’ Joe Nieuwendyk have a good professional relationship, going back to his stint with Toronto in 2008-09. The two made the blockbuster Fabian Brunnstrom – Mikhail Stefanovich deal, so the lines of communication are open.
There is a five year age difference between the players, but Toronto may have a glut on the blueline based on their luck in attracting a certain young college unrestricted free agent in the next couple weeks.
If that happens, a deal like this is very possible.
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