Dumping Cody Franson will create a 21 minutes a night hole in that lineup. Would that be 90% as huge a hole to fill?

This was the whole argument on giving him the Weberesque 7 year extension - "WHO IS GOING TO FILL THOSE MINUTES?" They could have filled those minutes with whichever moderately effective and much cheaper player they got back in a trade, and added a prospect to the system, and had a whole bunch of extra cap space to work with for the next 7 years.
- 1979AD

Guess I don't think Phaneuf is as bad as some people think.

He needs a good partner more than anything at this point.

Guess I don't think Phaneuf is as bad as some people think.

He needs a good partner more than anything at this point.
- Pecafan Fan

Paul Coffee would do perfectly. In his prime.

This would be a pretty bad ass 4th line.


- Bigzby

can leafs even afford to pay Niskanen with their salary cap situation?

She's not my cup of tea. Too flat.
- bixll

scarlett johansson is my cup of tea

Dumping Cody Franson will create a 21 minutes a night hole in that lineup. Would that be 90% as huge a hole to fill?

This was the whole argument on giving him the Weberesque 7 year extension - "WHO IS GOING TO FILL THOSE MINUTES?" They could have filled those minutes with whichever moderately effective and much cheaper player they got back in a trade, and added a prospect to the system, and had a whole bunch of extra cap space to work with for the next 7 years.
- 1979AD

Franson is a black hole for 21 mins a night. Filling that spot is easy.

can leafs even afford to pay Niskanen with their salary cap situation?
- Jurco_28

The situation isn't as bad as people think.

We have over 22mil available. With at least 3 players on the Marlies ready to make the jump.

Paul Coffee would do perfectly. In his prime.
- bixll

he had the feet of a geisha girl

The situation isn't as bad as people think.

We have over 22mil available. With at least 3 players on the Marlies ready to make the jump.
- Bigzby

Agreed.

Franson is a black hole for 21 mins a night. Filling that spot is easy.
- burn

more then easy to be honest. he really doesn't bring much to the table, consistently out of position, outworked by smaller forwards. he was better when he played 3rd pairing with fraser, not this top 4, 21 minutes a night bullpoop.

it doesn't have to look like the olympic team to be effective.
keep Dion but I dont think we can afford much then... and I dont want to listen to another year of how he is not a good captain or leader and should be driving a beat up ford instead of a Bentley
- senstroll

thats true, not to mention granberg and percy might be ready for call ups next year in case of injuries. we just need guys who are effective at what they do and know their role in the defensive zone.

Guess I don't think Phaneuf is as bad as some people think.

He needs a good partner more than anything at this point.
- Pecafan Fan

He's a good player, solid #2 on a good team. The problem is he's he's too mistake prone and not dynamic enough offensively to be a true #1, no matter who his partner is. He was demanding a #1 contract and they caved instead of moving him. Now they're (frank)ed.

more then easy to be honest. he really doesn't bring much to the table, consistently out of position, outworked by smaller forwards. he was better when he played 3rd pairing with fraser, not this top 4, 21 minutes a night bullpoop.
- matt1337

If Fraser makes you look good. You're a giant a turd.

- Flyfreaky

he had the feet of a geisha girl
- Flyfreaky

Yeah, he could make a rush and be back to cover Dion's mistake in our own end..

If Fraser makes you look good. You're a giant a turd.
- Bigzby

agreed, but it was more that he was playing against 3rd and 4th lines so it wasn't as noticeable then how useless he was to some

agreed, but it was more that he was playing against 3rd and 4th lines so it wasn't as noticeable then how useless he was to some
- matt1337

There are sledge hockey players with better acceleration and top end speed than Franson.

Sadly there would be far too many tripping calls.

Chris Johnston retweeted

Reid Mitchell @ReidmitchellTO
Congrats to @MapleLeafs prospect Andreas Johnson who has won rookie of the year in the Swedish Hockey League.

thats true, not to mention granberg and percy might be ready for call ups next year in case of injuries. we just need guys who are effective at what they do and know their role in the defensive zone.
- matt1337

With a few tweaks, I have no doubt the leafs can be a playoff team (Carlyle free)
while still keeping prospects and flexibility. Moving Dion if you can is needed, he is just not a 7 mil #1.

He's a good player, solid #2 on a good team. The problem is he's he's too mistake prone and not dynamic enough offensively to be a true #1, no matter who his partner is. He was demanding a #1 contract and they caved instead of moving him. Now they're (frank)ed.
- 1979AD

Can't that guy be Rielly in a few years?

#1 D don't grow on trees, you need to have one coming from your system imho.

With a few tweaks, I have no doubt the leafs can be a playoff team (Carlyle free)
while still keeping prospects and flexibility. Moving Dion if you can is needed, he is just not a 7 mil #1.
- senstroll

you're heading into dangerous waters lol

The situation isn't as bad as people think.

We have over 22mil available. With at least 3 players on the Marlies ready to make the jump.
- Bigzby

and how many players to sign?

and how many players to sign?
- DoubleDown

11 LOL

nonis' cap management is horrid

Can't that guy be Rielly in a few years?

#1 D don't grow on trees, you need to have one coming from your system imho.
- Pecafan Fan

It's quite possible - I really hope he does. I think it's better to try and develop or acquire a real one and fill that role by committee in the meantime, instead of investing a #1's cap hit for 7 years on a #2. Unfortunately for the Leafs, players don't tend to get better the more you pay them.

you're heading into dangerous waters lol
- Dozzer

I will just change the discussion to corsi if it goes bad