Franson would be a #5 on almost any team. Possibly even the Oilers TBH.

He was practically given away by Nashville.

Edit: I see it's been discussed
- gretzky

On the Oilers? Thanks for the laugh buddy.

And given away? You do know he was only traded because Lombardi's contract wasn't insured and Nashville was broke, right?

No. Franson is a huge soft Dman and Liles had a great first two months, 23 pts in 24 games, after that? 23 points in the last 52, it stands to reason his start was a fluke
- FirstClass

Liles is at least as good as Kaberle at this stage. And Aulie alone is better than Beauchemin, so yes, Franson is better.

Second dmsn behind whitney.
- prock

maybe.

Admittedly I haven't seen him play much, but he seems pretty Gilbert-esque statistically. Fewer points, slightly more physical.

maybe.

Admittedly I haven't seen him play much, but he seems pretty Gilbert-esque statistically. Fewer points, slightly more physical.
- Morris

Except Gilbert is mobile and can play decent in his own one.

Honestly Franson=Barker IMO and I wouldn't be surprised to see Barker start the year as our #5.

Except Gilbert is mobile and can play decent in his own one.

Honestly Franson=Barker IMO and I wouldn't be surprised to see Barker start the year as our #5.
- gretzky

It wouldn't surprise me to see him top pairing either. After Whitney, we don't really have anyone else who's talent "demands" they be a top pairing guy. Albeit if Barker did play with Whitney, it would be more to depend on him and less cause he's earned it.

Except Gilbert is mobile and can play decent in his own one.

Honestly Franson=Barker IMO and I wouldn't be surprised to see Barker start the year as our #5.
- gretzky

All evidence to the contrary.

It wouldn't surprise me to see him top pairing either. After Whitney, we don't really have anyone else who's talent "demands" they be a top pairing guy. Albeit if Barker did play with Whitney, it would be more to depend on him and less cause he's earned it.
- Morris

agreed. but it isn't a stretch to say he could easily be a 5/6 guy for us too.

Except Gilbert is mobile and can play decent in his own one.

Honestly Franson=Barker IMO and I wouldn't be surprised to see Barker start the year as our #5.
- gretzky

I've never seen anyone say Franson is bad defensively.

Franson was 20th in even strength points last season by D-Men. The guy has a terrific shot, and can reach higher than that in point totals.

I've never seen anyone say Franson is bad defensively.

Franson was 20th in even strength points last season by D-Men. The guy has a terrific shot, and can reach higher than that in point totals.
- RogerRoeper

he has poor mobility which leads to a ton of mistakes. I think the "smarts" are there though..

do you not wonder why Nashville gave him away?

you're forgetting who they are being compared to.... Liles scores the same as Kaberle, but is better in his own zone. Franson is young, played 5mins/game less than Beachemin and still outscored him. Beauchemin was terrible defensively for the Leafs.

So yeah, based on who they are compared to it was true.
- burn

Almost all leafs dmen have been bad defensively in recent yrs, the system is garbage, Beauchemin is great with us

Almost all leafs dmen have been bad defensively in recent yrs, the system is garbage, Beauchemin is great with us
- FirstClass

Anaheim sure as hell paid the price of a good dman so all the power to you.

he has poor mobility which leads to a ton of mistakes. I think the "smarts" are there though..

do you not wonder why Nashville gave him away?
- gretzky

No. We know why. They needed someone to take a $4m salary that the made the mistake of not insuring for a player they didn't think will play. Its not like edmonton can afford it. Anybody that knows hockey knows this. By asking the question you did you've only confirmed to everyone that you are totally clueless.

You might be better off posting less and reading more.

No. We know why. They needed someone to take a $4m salary that the made the mistake of not insuring for a player they didn't think will play. Its not like edmonton can afford it. Anybody that knows hockey knows this. By asking the question you did you've only confirmed to everyone that you are totally clueless.

You might be better off posting less and reading more.
- prock

Wait. Why couldn't many other teams take on a 4m player? I'm not trolling here, I just didn't understand the bit about Edmonton affording it.

Wait. Why couldn't many other teams take on a 4m player? I'm not trolling here, I just didn't understand the bit about Edmonton affording it.
- Morris

How many teams can and are willing to pay a guy NOT to play. Not very many.

Wait. Why couldn't many other teams take on a 4m player? I'm not trolling here, I just didn't understand the bit about Edmonton affording it.
- Morris

The list of teams that would spend $4m over and above what they are now on a player not expected to play is pretty short.

Look at the pre-lockout payrolls of teams, and tell me how many were spending more than they are now.

Nashville can't afford the salary, that's why they did the trade. Not many teams CAN afford that kind of money for nothing.

The list of teams that would spend $4m over and above what they are now on a player not expected to play is pretty short.

Look at the pre-lockout payrolls of teams, and tell me how many were spending more than they are now.

Nashville can't afford the salary, that's why they did the trade. Not many teams CAN afford that kind of money for nothing.
- prock

As you've stated in this thread, the oilers would kill for a player like Franson. Add in the chance that Lombardi plays again, and the Oilers would kill to give up nothing for Franson and Lombardi. And yes, they'd take on that extra 4m.

I'm not saying Nashville didn't have reason to make the trade, or that the leafs didn't do very well in the trade, I'm disputing the fact that Toronto were in some way better than any other suitor. I don't know why Nashville couldn't get more out of some other team like Edmonton, desperate for any kind of defence whatsoever.

As you've stated in this thread, the oilers would kill for a player like Franson. Add in the chance that Lombardi plays again, and the Oilers would kill to give up nothing for Franson and Lombardi. And yes, they'd take on that extra 4m.

I'm not saying Nashville didn't have reason to make the trade, or that the leafs didn't do very well in the trade, I'm disputing the fact that Toronto were in some way better than any other suitor. I don't know why Nashville couldn't get more out of some other team like Edmonton, desperate for any kind of defence whatsoever.
- Morris

Do I think it was a boneheaded move by nashville? Yep. I think Nahsville easily could have gotten a return. But I doubt Edmonton would have taken $4m on for a player not expected to play. I think there are only a handful of teams that would.

As I said, it might not be true across the board, but look at how many teams are spending under what they were pre-lockout to get an idea of how many teams are spending under their budget and can afford it. Not too many.

Do I think it was a boneheaded move by nashville? Yep. I think Nahsville easily could have gotten a return. But I doubt Edmonton would have taken $4m on for a player not expected to play. I think there are only a handful of teams that would.

As I said, it might not be true across the board, but look at how many teams are spending under what they were pre-lockout to get an idea of how many teams are spending under their budget and can afford it. Not too many.
- prock

I drank absinthe at poker night a few nights ago. I completely lost track of about 6 hours and woke up in my garage on the couch missing a shoe and my belt.

I drank absinthe at poker night a few nights ago. I completely lost track of about 6 hours and woke up in my garage on the couch missing a shoe and my belt.
- sanfordnson

I bought a 26er of smirnoff cocnut vodka and drank the whole thing last night. My girlfriend found me passed out on the patio table when she got home.

No joke. She's pissed off today. Fortunately I have my hockey pool draft today and am nowhere near her.

I told her if she didn't shut up I would trade her in for a new girlfriend. It didn't go over well.

I bought a 26er of smirnoff cocnut vodka and drank the whole thing last night. My girlfriend found me passed out on the patio table when she got home.

No joke. She's pissed off today. Fortunately I have my hockey pool draft today and am nowhere near her.

I told her if she didn't shut up I would trade her in for a new girlfriend. It didn't go over well.
- prock

Tell her you'll meet her halfway and instead of trading her in you'll just sleep with other women sometimes.

Tell her you'll meet her halfway and instead of trading her in you'll just sleep with other women sometimes.
- sanfordnson

I like the way you think.

I like the way you think.
- prock

My genius is not only subtle and sneaky, but also heartless and chauvanistic.

My genius is not only subtle and sneaky, but also heartless and chauvanistic.
- sanfordnson

She just called. I don't think she's pissed anymore.

She just called. I don't think she's pissed anymore.
- prock

Cool. See if she'll do anal, since she's probably feeling all insecure now.

Cool. See if she'll do anal, since she's probably feeling all insecure now.
- sanfordnson

I really like the way you think.