Trade Talks: What About Cody Franson?

Should the Arizona Coyotes target Cody Franson?

It’s pretty rare to see a team sitting in 27th in the NHL talking about picking up pieces at the trade deadline — so that’s not necessarily what the Arizona Coyotes need to be considering when it comes to Cody Franson.

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Editor In Leaf

At 27, Cody Franson is likely at the peak of his defensive development; while he can still get marginally better, the Coyotes (and other NHL teams) can easily gauge his talent level and see where he fits into their systems.

Eventually? Should the Coyotes choose to deal Yandle — either before the deadline or around the NHL Draft — Cody Franson should be the defenseman they look at in terms of replacing him. As a long-term, multi-year contract type of solution, this could benefit both parties.

Of course, that’s down the road.

Right now, the best place for him to go is the St. Louis Blues.

This is what I tweeted out earlier this evening:

I immediately got a flurry of responses, both from fans of the St. Louis Blues (crying that yes, they will Absolutely Trade For Him Right Now This Very Second) and from fans of other Western Conference teams (who scolded me for — imagine — suggesting something that makes an already competitive team better).

Kevin Shattenkirk is out with abdominal surgery for the forseeable future, so the Blues need to replace a top-pairing defenseman before the trade deadline if they want to make a deeper playoff run than they did last season. Cody Franson, who has a respectable offensive touch to his game, would make a great addition to that particular team.

With Shattenkirk only out temporarily, though, loaning Franson to the Blues would be just that — a loan. Meaning that come free agency, the defenseman will still be available.

Whether the Coyotes deal Zbynek Michalek or Keith Yandle, Franson would make a good pickup in the summer. Three reasons why:

1. He’s Cheap

Currently under contract for $3.3 million on a one-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs, it’s been reported that Franson turned down a contract extension from Leafs GM Dave Nonis increasing his pay to $4.7 million.

Assuming he wants even $600k more than that, paying a top-pairing defenseman with Cody Franson’s talent level $5.3 million AAV is more than viable for the Arizona Coyotes. Zbynek Michalek currently makes $4 million, and Keith Yandle currently makes $5.25 million AAV. Assuming that Yandle is expecting a raise this season, Franson is a decent player to slot in his place.

2. He’s a Right Shot

I think too much stock is put into maintaining an even split between right and left shooting defensemen — but if Zbynek Michalek is the player the Coyotes need to replace, Franson and Michalek are both right shots.

Even if Yandle is the player who gets replaced, though, adding a right shot won’t hurt the team — Philip Samuelsson adds a left shot for the Coyotes if he makes the roster permanently, and that would give the Coyotes an extra right-handed man to slot in regardless.

3. He Plays an Offensive Game

There’s something to be said for a solid, stay-at-home defenseman — but when a team can pick up a decent offensively minded blue liner, it’s always a good idea. Especially, in the Coyotes’ case, when a player like Keith Yandle is the one you’re potentially replacing in the lineup.

With six goals and twenty-three assists on the season, Franson would potentially add more direct scorepower than Yandle — and as far as secondary scorepower goes, Franson is a close comparable. Yandle is delivering at a fifty-plus-point pace once again this season, and if he goes, that scorepower will need to be replaced for a team that prides itself on developing defensively sound players at all positions.

Make it happen, GMDM.

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