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Rumor: Tampa Bay Lightning Interested in Cody Franson

July 30, 2013, 1:07 AM ET [178 Comments]
Michael Stuart
Ottawa Senators Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Cody Franson has been linked to the Tampa Bay Lightning for what seems like an eternity. In reality, it was 2011 when the ‘Franson to the Lightning’ rumors first started swirling around the blogosphere. Now, with the Toronto Maple Leafs facing a sort of cap crunch thanks to some off-season decisions, Franson is rumored to be on the market once again. As one might expect, the Lightning has been named as a potential suitor.




It’s not hard to see why the Lightning would be interested in the 25-year-old defender. Franson had a brilliant (and grossly underrated) year with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2013, and is only going to improve as he moves into his prime. At 6-foot-5, 213 pounds, he is almost exactly what the Lightning’s blue-line is missing. He’s right-handed, solidly built, offensively gifted, and defensively strong.

From a hockey perspective, acquiring Franson seems like a no-brainer for Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman. Of course, there’s more to the National Hockey League than the game itself; dollars and cents often get in the way. Reports indicate that Franson is looking for $4MM per season on his new deal. For the Lightning, a rich contract like that might be too much to bear.

Given all that Franson brings to the table, Maple Leafs GM Dave Nonis is probably receiving a glut of calls about the defender. As such, a bidding war is likely to exist among pursuers. Since taking over as Lightning GM three years ago, Steve Yzerman has shown a certain disdain for this exact sort of situation. The cost to acquire Franson plus the cost to sign him might be prohibitive for the Lightning’s brain trust.

Combine that with the fact that the Lightning has a plethora of defenders that are developing nicely in Andrej Sustr, Mark Barberio, and Slater Koekkoek, among others, and the need for Franson is minimized. While the Bolts’ defense might struggle for a year or two more, the future looks bright. The question now is whether the team is going to wait for those prospects, or acquire a proven hand like Cody Franson.

Put me in the boat that believes the Lightning should definitely inquire about Franson. While the Lightning does have prospects coming up through the pipeline, the fact that Franson is a proven commodity cannot be discounted. The Lightning’s roster isn’t as bad as its 28th place finish indicates. With the right move or two right now, the team could be in a great position to compete in 2013-14.

As always, thanks for reading.
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