Leafs Trade Cody Franson To Predators for First Rounder

Dobber

2015-02-15

CodyFranson

Fantasy Impact: The Toronto Maples Leafs have traded defenseman Cody Franson and forward Mike Santorelli back to their original franchise. The Nashville Predators give up a 2015 first-round draft pick, prospect Brendon Leipsic and a money dump (also known as “Olli Jokinen”)

The Leafs get: great return on both players who would be unrestricted free agents on July 1. We’re all familiar with the value of a first rounder, and Leipsic is a solid prospect who reminds me of Kris Versteeg in that he has similar scoring upside – but could also be an effective and gritty checker. Right now, given his production in the AHL (second on Milwaukee in scoring) as well as the likely available opportunities with the Leafs over the next couple of seasons, you can pencil him in as a possible scoring-line candidate.

This won’t affect Ekholm because he’s not seeing much in the way of PP time anyway. This will affect Franson the most, as he was seeing 3:05 per game with Toronto. This may hurt Josi, but I doubt it – Josi shoots left and has great chemistry with Weber. So PP time could actually be taken from the young Jones here, as Ellis has been enjoying a breakthrough season in more ways than one. To me, the loss in PP time for Jones is made up for the ES gain. So for him, it’s a wash.

Meanwhile, Santorelli’s arrival will cut into the ice time of youngsters Taylor Beck and/or Calle Jarnkrok. But at the same time – Santorelli will no longer see consistent ice time with a quality center like Nazem Kadri. Instead, he’ll be bounced up and down the lineup as needed. Which, come to think of it, he was doing with Toronto anyway.

With Franson departing, that opens up a wad of ice time on the power play. Youngsters Morgan Rielly and Jake Gardiner will fill that void in an awful hurry. And potentially, they could make an impact right away. Rielly, especially, seems to be heating up and this move will really set him free.

Fantasy Players this hurts, in order:

1. Cody Franson

2. Ryan Ellis

3. Calle Jarnkrok/Taylor Beck

Fantasy Players this helps, in order:

1. Nashville forwards as a group

2. Morgan Rielly

3. Jake Gardiner

Full stats, analysis, PP and line combo information on Cody Franson here.

Full stats, analysis, PP and line combo information on Mike Santorelli here.

Full stats, analysis, PP and line combo information on Olli Jokinen here.