Way too early to confirm that.
So much time.
- Fakepartofme

Great skater, that's where it ends

Nah, I like Franson. And hope he does well. For multiple reasons. I want the Leafs to succeed, and I want him to have a higher value when we flip him at the deadline. Hes a swell 3rd pairing D with second pairing potential, but he isnt needed long term. That's all.
- UsernameUnknown

He's a top 4 dman on most teams in the league. EASILY!!!
I dont care what f'n RC used him as.

If and only if Franson and Gardiner continue to improve this season....perhaps one of them.
If they resign Phaneuf next year....they simply will have to let go of some of their forwards (Bolland, Kulemin).
Wont be enough cash or space.
They need to clear some room for the some kids to play
- Fakepartofme

I think we'll have enough room if we let some guys go. Fraser, Franson, Kulie if necessary.
Nonis will make it fit with the cap going up
But I think you're nuts of you think a guy who hasn't even played top 4d will be ready for top pairing in a year. He's simply not that good defensively.

seeing that our top 6 is pretty much locked up for a while, maybe packaging Colbourne with Liles ain't a bad idea, he ain't cut up for a Carlyle type 3rd/4th line role
- allaboutsportz

Big Time! Colborne deserves a trade to Calgary tout de suite.

Lundqvist is a great goalie, if they do well this season it will be solely because of him, as that usually is the case. The Rangers are not even close to being a playoff team if they don't have Lundqvist bailing them out every night over the last few seasons.
- ThePresident

He has to win 37 to 42 games and 6 to 7 shutouts for me to pick him. Does he do it?

Great skater, that's where it ends
- Garnie

HArdly.
Great hockey vision, great passer, patient, smart and sees the ice well.
So much potential

Not to sound like HH but he's not going to be a #1 pairing in the NHL
- Garnie

I haven't seen enough to make that call. He definitely has #1 pairing potential.

He's a top 4 dman on most teams in the league. EASILY!!!
I dont care what f'n RC used him as.
- Fakepartofme

That's bs.
Sorry. But it is. We have a poopty overall D crew, but if he can't crack our top 4, he wont on most other teams. He's good, but highly overrated by a lot of Leafers

We should bring Biggs back up, I'd say he's the closest player we have in the system to Clarkson.
- ThePresident

Oh gawd no.

I don't think they are close at all.
- burn

As far as a RW that can contribute offensively and isn't afraid to drop his gloves, pretty similar. Obviously not as good as Clarkson yet, but still developing.

Jan Levine suggests Rangers finish 30th.
- Woderwick

another armchair DB....30th with Lundquist is just (frank)ing harsh and ridiculous

That's bs.
Sorry. But it is. We have a poopty overall D crew, but if he can't crack our top 4, he wont on most other teams. He's good, but highly overrated by a lot of Leafers
- UsernameUnknown

He could easily crack our top 4 and was one of our better dmen last season and in the playoffs.
RC simply didnt play him there.

I haven't seen enough to make that call. He definitely has #1 pairing potential.
- 1979AD

Not defensively, maybe if we get Marc Methot

I think we'll have enough room if we let some guys go. Fraser, Franson, Kulie if necessary.
Nonis will make it fit with the cap going up
But I think you're nuts of you think a guy who hasn't even played top 4d will be ready for top pairing in a year. He's simply not that good defensively.
- UsernameUnknown

Neither is Phaneuf. He's horrible..but here he is.

That's bs.
Sorry. But it is. We have a poopty overall D crew, but if he can't crack our top 4, he wont on most other teams. He's good, but highly overrated by a lot of Leafers
- UsernameUnknown

According to Eric Francis (HNIC/Calgary Sun), he's a top 3 on most teams in the league.

He has to win 37 to 42 games and 6 to 7 shutouts for me to pick him. Does he do it?
- Woderwick

No, they just miss the playoffs this year.

If and only if Franson and Gardiner continue to improve this season....perhaps one of them.
If they resign Phaneuf next year....they simply will have to let go of some of their forwards (Bolland, Kulemin).
Wont be enough cash or space.
They need to clear some room for the some kids to play
- Fakepartofme

i imagine the plan is to re-sign Bolland. you don't give up 3 picks for a third liner with the intention of letting him walk one year later.

That's bs.
Sorry. But it is. We have a poopty overall D crew, but if he can't crack our top 4, he wont on most other teams. He's good, but highly overrated by a lot of Leafers
- UsernameUnknown

Not only leafers - but we no your opinion and it's fine for an Avs fan

So we don't sign him and that hurts us for 82 games?

How does that help?

Ever make a mistake before?
- Garnie

i mean he is overpaid and has a bad contract. don't get me wrong, the Leafs are on a good upward trajectory, and i like their chances this year but that deal will haunt them. he's just not that good for that money and that term compared to what a jagr or iggy could have done on a 1 or 2 year deal for the young players without making it difficult to resign kessel, phaneuf and now franson next year.

He has to win 37 to 42 games and 6 to 7 shutouts for me to pick him. Does he do it?
- Woderwick

hell yes. Rangers will be a very solid team this year IMO. will make the playoffs easily.

According to Eric Francis (HNIC/Calgary Sun), he's a top 3 on most teams in the league.
- 1979AD

Well there you go.
Validation!


Ah dammit!

another armchair DB....30th with Lundquist is just (frank)ing harsh and ridiculous
- jimi james

So Lundqvist is a good pick - I can pick any goalie in the league. Wins are 2 points. Shut outs another 5 points.

i think your time machine would be more useful to go back and not sign clarkson to that horrible deal. having kadri and franson locked up in the summer and go through a full camp would have helped more than a 3rd liner will. his stupidy may have cost the leafs critical points from those first 10 games plus the extra time it will take him to get into game shape once he's back. selfish play. dumb play. what kind of leader is that?
- therealagent

3rd liner

Too sweet.
- bixll

anything sweeter than straight espresso is too sweet for you

Not defensively, maybe if we get Marc Methot
- Garnie

He would never be the defensive anchor of a top pairing by any means. The potential to be the offensive anchor on a top pairing is there though.

If Carl Gunnarson can be a top pairing defenseman on a playoff team, I don't know how you could say Gardiner will never be.