And then what? Pay dion 7 plus mil or he walks too? No thanks.
- aminnes

Phaneuf won't get $7M though. Hard time believing those reports. Sure he will get over $7M the first few years, but the last couple will be less, just like his current deal.

He only makes $5.5M this year. He can be signed for less than his current cap hit and still make substantially more money.

Nobody's giving him $7M x 7yrs on the open market.

Here is what I would like for Franson.

Eric Brewer and a 2nd round pick.

Tampa has Hedman as there shut down D they really dont need Brewer.
Imagine a line of Hedman Franson pretty good deal for tampa I think.

I wouldn't trade Lupul for Shattenkirk straight up.
- Big_Lightnin

Lupul, Bolland, and Liles for Shattenkirk and Berglund?

I wouldn't trade Lupul for Shattenkirk straight up.
- Big_Lightnin

Me to, but I would load the package up for pietrangelo.

Take your pick St. Louis.

Franson would be so busy picking the puck out if his net, that he'd never have the chance to score 50 points.

Face it: Franson was the most sheltered defenseman in the lineup last year. 3rd pairing minutes/opponents for most of the year plus PP time.

You may think Phaneuf was terrible defensively, but he played far and away the most minutes, including short handed minutes.

Over the course of an entire season playing with scrubs against the hardest opponents in the league with the most defensive zone starts on the team, he still landed himself 11th in Norris voting and finished -4.

For comparison, Kronwall, Weber, and Pietrangelo also failed to finish as plus players. That's what happens when you play 25 minutes a night as a top pairing defenseman.
- Leeman4Gilmour

I think people will realize how good Phaneuf is after he is traded

I see what your saying but they would trade Phaneuf also if they cant get him signed for less.
- jake24242

Thats why I'de do it now, it frees up the money they need, they can resign all their guys and add a steady d man as several teams are looking to unload one. At the deadline they would be going backwards because who do they replace then? Teams that are contending won't send a better or even good d man back, they will send prospects and picks.

Phaneuf won't get $7M though. Hard time believing those reports. Sure he will get over $7M the first few years, but the last couple will be less, just like his current deal.

He only makes $5.5M this year. He can be signed for less than his current cap hit and still make substantially more money.

Nobody's giving him $7M x 7yrs on the open market.
- Big_Lightnin

Exactly. I could see him signing almost an identical deal to his previous one: a heavily front-loaded 6.5 million cap hit.

Lupul, Bolland, and Liles for Shattenkirk and Berglund?
- Leeman4Gilmour

Not in 1000 years

Phaneuf won't get $7M though. Hard time believing those reports. Sure he will get over $7M the first few years, but the last couple will be less, just like his current deal.

He only makes $5.5M this year. He can be signed for less than his current cap hit and still make substantially more money.

Nobody's giving him $7M x 7yrs on the open market.
- Big_Lightnin

Non ones winning a Stanley Cup with him as their number 1 either. Some dumb ass Gm will pay him the bucks.

He held out and lost prior to the norris trophy, so you can't use that as a basis for the money he got. If he was RFA after this past year he would have gotten way more money than he did.
- aminnes

but Franson didn't just win the Norris trophy, so not really relevant.

PK was Montreals top pairing dman prior to his bridge deal. Franson is not a top pairing dman for the Leafs.

Nor is he on an ELC, so not a great comparison, but he has no leverage for $5M per.

though I must say I'm shocked he didn't go to arbitration. I think this is as much about term as money. he wants a massive deal.

Should just sign for 2 yrs, $3.75M per and swing for the fences as a UFA.

Franson would be so busy picking the puck out if his net, that he'd never have the chance to score 50 points.

Face it: Franson was the most sheltered defenseman in the lineup last year. 3rd pairing minutes/opponents for most of the year plus PP time.

You may think Phaneuf was terrible defensively, but he played far and away the most minutes, including short handed minutes.

Over the course of an entire season playing with scrubs against the hardest opponents in the league with the most defensive zone starts on the team, he still landed himself 11th in Norris voting and finished -4.

For comparison, Kronwall, Weber, and Pietrangelo also failed to finish as plus players. That's what happens when you play 25 minutes a night as a top pairing defenseman.
- Leeman4Gilmour

Well said

Here is what I would like for Franson.

Eric Brewer and a 2nd round pick.

Tampa has Hedman as there shut down D they really dont need Brewer.
Imagine a line of Hedman Franson pretty good deal for tampa I think.
- jake24242

Pretty sweet deal, if you're a Tampa fan.

May as well ask yzerman if he can spray paint brewer orange before he sends him over, so we can save a few bucks on having to do it.

I think people will realize how good Phaneuf is after he is traded
- PatC80

yup

Franson would be so busy picking the puck out if his net, that he'd never have the chance to score 50 points.

Face it: Franson was the most sheltered defenseman in the lineup last year. 3rd pairing minutes/opponents for most of the year plus PP time.

You may think Phaneuf was terrible defensively, but he played far and away the most minutes, including short handed minutes.

Over the course of an entire season playing with scrubs against the hardest opponents in the league with the most defensive zone starts on the team, he still landed himself 11th in Norris voting and finished -4.

For comparison, Kronwall, Weber, and Pietrangelo also failed to finish as plus players. That's what happens when you play 25 minutes a night as a top pairing defenseman.
- Leeman4Gilmour

Not winnin gjack with Dion as number 1. Never. I'de rather have 4 good guys spreading out the minutes.

Pretty sweet deal, if you're a Tampa fan.

May as well ask yzerman if he can spray paint brewer orange before he sends him over, so we can save a few bucks on having to do it.
- joel878

Pretty sweet deal, if you're a Tampa fan.

May as well ask yzerman if he can spray paint brewer orange before he sends him over, so we can save a few bucks on having to do it.
- joel878

Not following the orange reference there.

Lupul, Bolland, and Liles for Shattenkirk and Berglund?
- Leeman4Gilmour

still no. Lupul's just hitting his prime. I'd consider trading Kessel before Lupul (just cause the return would at least be worth it.)

but Franson didn't just win the Norris trophy, so not really relevant.

PK was Montreals top pairing dman prior to his bridge deal. Franson is not a top pairing dman for the Leafs.

Nor is he on an ELC, so not a great comparison, but he has no leverage for $5M per.

though I must say I'm shocked he didn't go to arbitration. I think this is as much about term as money. he wants a massive deal.

Should just sign for 2 yrs, $3.75M per and swing for the fences as a UFA.
- Big_Lightnin

Well sure, but to lock him long term would cost probly 4-5. I believe in his game, so personally I would give the 4.25 for 5 years if he'de take it.

Phaneuf won't get $7M though. Hard time believing those reports. Sure he will get over $7M the first few years, but the last couple will be less, just like his current deal.

He only makes $5.5M this year. He can be signed for less than his current cap hit and still make substantially more money.

Nobody's giving him $7M x 7yrs on the open market.
- Big_Lightnin

ahem, check J Bo's salary

Not winnin gjack with Dion as number 1. Never. I'de rather have 4 good guys spreading out the minutes.
- aminnes

And you're not getting out of the bottom 5 without him or a suitable replacement.

You think we'll never win a cup with Phaneuf, but put Franson in his slot and the only thing we'll be competing for is last place in the conference.

Not following the orange reference there.
- jake24242

Brewers a pylon.

Not following the orange reference there.
- jake24242

The tan he would get from the red light going off every time he is on the ice

If you're expecting Paul Ranger to cut it as a top 4 defenseman after 3 years of non NHL action, you're placing the bar way too high, and you're going to be very disappointed. This guy is trying to get his career back on track, based on people's expectations of him in Toronto, this may have not been his best spot to do such a thing. The expectations should be a bottom pairing Dman at this point in his career, if he gets the NHL game down again and can regain his top 4 form, we should all be pleasantly surprised...Instead you're expecting that after 3 years of no NHL action, a good showing in the AHL for a 28 year old with 250+ games of NHL experience, of course he's going to play well in the AHL, to be in our top 4. If this guy was a top 4 defenseman off the bat, 1st he would have had more suitors, second, his contract would not be 1 million. He needs to prove himself, allow for it to happen, gradually. Bottom pairing defenseman, with the potential to become a #4 Dman if he regains his form in the NHL.
- ThePresident

Beautifully worded. 100% agree. You plan for him to be bottom pairing and if he turns out to be more than that (which is quite possible), thats great.

Well sure, but to lock him long term would cost probly 4-5. I believe in his game, so personally I would give the 4.25 for 5 years if he'de take it.
- aminnes

Ya that's not bad, but Leafs don't have cap for that right now though. And I think he's thinking higher than that.

They could move Liles, eat some money, and fit that. I honestly think he's looking for something in the $5M range, which is a bit shocking considering he's still RFA.

Brewers a pylon.
- joel878

I had to read it twice