The Maple Leafs and defenseman Mark Fraser have agreed on a 1 year deal for $1.275 Million, reaching a settlement before the arbitration hearing that was scheduled for later today.
The 26 year old defenseman scored eight assists and compiled 81 penalty minutes in 45 games for the Leafs in 2013.
Toronto now has only forward Nazem Kadri and defenseman Cody Franson unsigned, but the $1.275 Million salary lowers the club's available cap room slightly under $5 Million, but the club has the flexibility to exceed the $64.3 Million cap amount by 10% before the season.
With the signing of Fraser, the Leafs now have eight defenseman under contract, seven of which are one-way deals, which will continue to feed the speculation that Franson, who led the club in defensive scoring with 29 points, will be moved.
Franson was at the Mastercard Center in Etobicoke, ON Tuesday morning, working with Leafs skating consultant Barb Underhill. According to
Kyle Cicerella of Canadian Press , the restricted free agent blueliner is not sure when the contract impasse with the Leafs will be resolved.
“I haven’t talked to my agent in a bit,” Franson said “(Management and my agent) had a brief call a while back and I haven’t heard much since.”
The 25-year-old defenseman is looking for a long-term deal from Toronto after signing a one-year, $1.2 Million deal just before the beginning of the lockout shortened 2013 season. At this point, it looks like the stalemate between the two sides could last until the beginning of training camp.
“I think it’s just the business end of the game. It’s negotiations. They aren’t always a fun time but that’s why you get an agent so you don’t have to deal with that end of the game.”
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