lol, Colborne will play for the Leafs next season
- JVR2112

It's going to take an injury to get him in the lineup.

I'd offer a 3rd rounder for Liles and that's it.

Personally, I'd trade Franson. Between Gardiner, Reilly, Gunner, possibly Fraser and/or Phaneuf and (hopefully) at least one of Percy/Blacker, where the (frank) is Franson going to fit long term?

Nonis is doing EXACTLY what he should be doing. He gave Franson a price, he wan'ts more money. Fine, then he get's traded.

He is still a very young NHL defensemen who's finally growing into a solid player. He's excellent offensively and no slouch defensively. However, his stat's last year were insane. Nonis is betting on him not duplicating it over 82 games. Combine that with his current age, size, skill-set.....I would trade him also. You will get a very nice return for him that could help your team now.

I mean, his shooting percentage alone was pretty unreal. I wouldn't wanna pay a guy with numbers like that after half a season either. However, I also understand Franson's side, wanting a long term deal (or at least not another 1-2 year bridge deal).

A very interesting situation that will be intriguing to watch unfold, indeed.

It's going to take an injury to get him in the lineup.
- Lipchitz

There is a 3rd line winger spot open on the Leafs. If Carlyle shifts Mcclement over to Bolland's wing then there is a 4th line centre spot open. Either way Colborne/Ashton/D'amigo will get that spot; Colborne looked ok filling in for Bozak in the playoffs

This is my first comment ever. Long time lurker, but the stupidity in the above response forced me to contribute.

1. If Franson is seeking upwards of 3.34M (he's been reported as looking for close to 4M otherwise the Leafs would have signed him long term for ~3M ages ago), then any offer sheet between 3.35M-5.04M automatically comes with a 1st AND 3rd from the team that creates the offer sheet.

2. Burying him in the minor is an option, but not the best one since it only offers ~900K in savings.

3. What? Lol. You think he DOESN'T want to play in the NHL this year? Worst case scenario, he ends up going through the Subban route. Remember how that turned out?

4. I'm sorry, but you're a complete idiot if you think that Franson isn't worth more than a 3rd round pick. Seriously. Please stop being a fan of hockey because you give the sport a bad name. I mean, please remind me again how many d-men on the Flames put up 29 points in 45 games last year? Here's a link to help you figure that out: http://flames.nhl.com/club/stats.htm

5. Teams are still allowed REGULAR contract buyouts, but they count against the cap. So, YES, the Leafs CAN still buyout Liles' contract and it would actually only count as a 875K hit over the next two years (then it increases in Y3 and drops in Y4-6). Thanks for showing where YOUR knowledge base is.

These are only 5 VERY POSSIBLE options the Leafs have when it comes to Franson.

Seriously, please research and think before you post nonsense.
- vji67

I'm sorry you came out of your hole for this......

1. The offer sheet isn't going to come...even if it did, if Franson is SOOOOOO good as you proclaim (29 points in 45 games last year, YOWZAA) then the Leafs would match it! Hell that would be a bargain contract for them!

2. Agreed

3. Are you proposing that Franson is going to win the Norris next year?

4. Where did this 3rd round pick for Franson argument even come from?

5. Churrrrrch

Oh Flames Fans Still sore about Gilmour.

Try to keep up. WE ARE NOT DESPERATE! We don't have any urgent need to do anything for 2 months! We don't have to keep Franson! we can choose to trade him. Why give up a prospect like Colborne for nothing. I came up with 5 options, and twenty more exist.
- akermack

How'd your cup win work out with him?
The fact your organization gave Nonis 5 years speaks to desperation. Depending on what Kadri finally signs for will dictate the next series of dominoes...

We'll give you liles and Carter Ashton for a mid round pick.

Liles can still play, and help out certain teams that need a puck mover and veteran Dman. He's no komisarek; having said that, his return will be nothing. I'd give him away and I see him going to Colorado again.

As for Colborne, he looked pretty good in the playoffs, I think he is no more than a 3rd liner but I wouldn't give him away to entice a team to take Liles.

I think kulemin is expendable; love his 2 way game but his salary doesn't justify his play. He will not beat any of kessel, jvr, lupul or clarkson out for the top 4 wingers spots and they are all locked up long term. His deal is up this year and i think we have enough defense if we throw bolland and mclemant on the same line where adding colborne in kule's spot won't make a difference.

I do love trading with Calgary though.....

We'll give you liles and Carter Ashton for a mid round pick.
- pbrsimps

Quit being so sensible you jackass

Liles can still play, and help out certain teams that need a puck mover and veteran Dman. He's no komisarek; having said that, his return will be nothing. I'd give him away and I see him going to Colorado again.

As for Colborne, he looked pretty good in the playoffs, I think he is no more than a 3rd liner but I wouldn't give him away to entice a team to take Liles.

I think kulemin is expendable; love his 2 way game but his salary doesn't justify his play. He will not beat any of kessel, jvr, lupul or clarkson out for the top 4 wingers spots and they are all locked up long term. His deal is up this year and i think we have enough defense if we throw bolland and mclemant on the same line where adding colborne in kule's spot won't make a difference.

I do love trading with Calgary though.....
- clark_griswold

Zip it mister...

I'm sorry you came out of your hole for this......

1. The offer sheet isn't going to come...even if it did, if Franson is SOOOOOO good as you proclaim (29 points in 45 games last year, YOWZAA) then the Leafs would match it! Hell that would be a bargain contract for them!

2. Agreed

3. Are you proposing that Franson is going to win the Norris next year?

4. Where did this 3rd round pick for Franson argument even come from?

5. Churrrrrch
- The-O-G

Toronto can't match because they have to sign Kadri, what don't you get? Also, he's not saying Franson will win the Norris, he's implying that if Franson holds out he'll eventually end up signing like Subban did for a more reasonable cap hit.

There is a 3rd line winger spot open on the Leafs. If Carlyle shifts Mcclement over to Bolland's wing then there is a 4th line centre spot open. Either way Colborne/Ashton/D'amigo will get that spot; Colborne looked ok filling in for Bozak in the playoffs
- JVR2112

Why would the Leafs want to use Colborne as a 4th line C? He doesn't help the team playing 8min a night and McClement is perfect in that role. Kessel, JVR, Lupul, Clarkson, and Kulemin will be the Leafs top 5 wingers next year... I'd like them to go with one of Ashton, Ross, Ryan, Leivo, D'Amigo, Broll in that last 3rd line wing spot.

Liles can still play, and help out certain teams that need a puck mover and veteran Dman. He's no komisarek; having said that, his return will be nothing. I'd give him away and I see him going to Colorado again.

As for Colborne, he looked pretty good in the playoffs, I think he is no more than a 3rd liner but I wouldn't give him away to entice a team to take Liles.

I think kulemin is expendable; love his 2 way game but his salary doesn't justify his play. He will not beat any of kessel, jvr, lupul or clarkson out for the top 4 wingers spots and they are all locked up long term. His deal is up this year and i think we have enough defense if we throw bolland and mclemant on the same line where adding colborne in kule's spot won't make a difference.

I do love trading with Calgary though.....
- clark_griswold

Like the blog said...Calgary would also have to throw in some combo of prospects/picks. But Colbourne would get a good shot here in Calgary. Maybe they could offer Hanowski or Agostino as well.

How'd your cup win work out with him?
The fact your organization gave Nonis 5 years speaks to desperation. Depending on what Kadri finally signs for will dictate the next series of dominoes...
- geta02it

Ya, signing a GM to implement a long-term plan reeks of desperation... Seriously, wtf are you talking about?

Why would the Leafs want to use Colborne as a 4th line C? He doesn't help the team playing 8min a night and McClement is perfect in that role. Kessel, JVR, Lupul, Clarkson, and Kulemin will be the Leafs top 5 wingers next year... I'd like them to go with one of Ashton, Ross, Ryan, Leivo, D'Amigo, Broll in that last 3rd line wing spot.
- Lipchitz

They can use him on the wing then. Don't think he will develop into a scoring threat anyway so might as well use him as a grinder.

Leafs plan for Colborne to likely play for the big club this year, or dominate the AHL. Anyone who thinks Liles and Colborne for a 2nd is a deal the Leafs would want or do, must be drinking copious amounts of alcohol and eating oxycodone like skittles. Your team is garbage and it's going to be for several years, don't try and drag Toronto into your mess.

Zip it mister...
- geta02it

I'm a leafs fan, we don't have much to brag about over the last oh, 50 years lol

He was hurt last year and the Leafs didn't have a terrible PP last year. They were 3% off third-place Philly's PP%. Not that they are an elite PP team but, they certainly weren't bad either. The Leafs definitely have some good offensive pieces especially, on the back-end.
- Lipchitz

Gardiner for a full season I'm hoping will help elevate it further. But yeah, 14th isn't bad, considering how little they shot at times.

Toronto can't match because they have to sign Kadri, what don't you get? Also, he's not saying Franson will win the Norris, he's implying that if Franson holds out he'll eventually end up signing like Subban did for a more reasonable cap hit.
- JVR2112

Teams still have time to get under the cap....they could match, sign Kadri, and then make room somewhere else (i.e. trading Liles) which is what this blog was about.

Colin is also saying he is assuming the Leafs want to keep Franson. After what i've heard; young, big, strong, 2-way, yada, yada, yada, why in god's green earth would ANY team want to let a guy like this go???

It's still a mystery to me how Subban agreed to that deal...either way, I dont think Franson will sign something similar.

Leafs plan for Colborne to likely play for the big club this year, or dominate the AHL. Anyone who thinks Liles and Colborne for a 2nd is a deal the Leafs would want or do, must be drinking copious amounts of alcohol and eating oxycodone like skittles. Your team is garbage and it's going to be for several years, don't try and drag Toronto into your mess.
- PotvinFan

dominate the AHL? he's nowhere close to a PPG player in the AHL.

I see a trade with Calgary, but I see Reimer going there IF bernier wins the starting position.

I'm a leafs fan, we don't have much to brag about over the last oh, 50 years lol
- clark_griswold

you know as much as (most) of you guys drive (most other fans) nuts, you stick by your team. Hope springs eternal...

I see a trade with Calgary, but I see Reimer going there IF bernier wins the starting position.
- clark_griswold

We already have 14 goalies...don't need 15

Anyone who thinks Liles and Colborne for a 2nd is a deal the Leafs would want or do, must be drinking copious amounts of alcohol and eating oxycodone like skittles.
- PotvinFan

Actually Potfan, a lot of Leafs fans have already accepted this deal would work for them.

If a team offers a 7th round pick for Liles without taking back salary I think it is a no brainer to do it. Liles hurts the Leafs with his cap hit and his playing style. The Leafs aren't coached by Ron Wilson anymore.

I would also offer up a mid-level prospect with Liles to get some value, a solid third line winger for example, not sure if Calgary has someone who fits that bill that they would want to trade though.

They can use him on the wing then. Don't think he will develop into a scoring threat anyway so might as well use him as a grinder.
- JVR2112

I think Colborne's game is still improving. If his development has plateaued then it would be prudent to give him NHL time now, in any capacity. I still feel +20min a night as a Marlie will help his career. I don't view him as a #1 C long-term either, he's more of a responsible 2/3 in my eyes. IMO give him lots of playing time in the AHL and use him as the first C up when injuries hit.