Cody Franson to Sweden (rumour)

[Stebro]

According to Swedish Newspaper Aftonbladet, Cody Franson is expected to sign with swedish champions Bryn?s for the entire season. Bryn?s sportchef (basically like GM) says that he wont comment anything unless it's a done deal. Bryn?s already have a succesful North American pp specialist in Ryan Gunderson.

Link (in swedish)

 

[maplesyrup]

Can he? Isn't he a RFA?

 

[Corn Flake]

Can he? Isn't he a RFA?

Yes, as an RFA, I believe he can.  Not sure if the Leafs wanted to fight it they could, but with no CBA I don't think they can do a single thing, at least not until a new one is in place. 

I honestly doubt he would sign for the full year.  Doesn't make a lot of sense for him to do so unless he's completely given up on the NHL. 

 

[Redleaf]

So now Franson is a former Leaf?  :

 

[Corn Flake]

So now Franson is a former Leaf?  :

Controversy! Dysfunctional management! Team in disarray and so on and so forth!!

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Moved this to the Leafs section. Toronto would still hold his NHL rights if this is accurate.

 

[maplesyrup]

Moved this to the Leafs section. Toronto would still hold his NHL rights if this is accurate.

That's what I thought. Still a RFA next year I suppose.

 

[bustaheims]

Yes, as an RFA, I believe he can.  Not sure if the Leafs wanted to fight it they could, but with no CBA I don't think they can do a single thing, at least not until a new one is in place. 

Yup. There's nothing the Leafs can do to stop him. He's a free agent. He can sign wherever he wants. Even with a CBA in place, the Leafs would have no recourse here, other than to retain his NHL rights.

 

[Kin]

Makes a pretty good deal of sense for a guy like Franson on the backend of a NHL teams roster. It's probably not going to even be that much of a haircut from what he'd earn in the NHL.

 

[Joe S.]

I honestly doubt he would sign for the full year.  Doesn't make a lot of sense for him to do so unless he's completely given up on the NHL.

I thought the Swedish League said they will only sign NHLers for the full year - they won't be releasing any players if a CBA is signed... unless that has changed...

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I honestly doubt he would sign for the full year.  Doesn't make a lot of sense for him to do so unless he's completely given up on the NHL.

I thought the Swedish League said they will only sign NHLers for the full year - they won't be releasing any players if a CBA is signed... unless that has changed...

Yeah I'm sure Stebro can elaborate but some Swedish law forced them to change that policy.

 

[Stebro]

I honestly doubt he would sign for the full year.  Doesn't make a lot of sense for him to do so unless he's completely given up on the NHL.

I thought the Swedish League said they will only sign NHLers for the full year - they won't be releasing any players if a CBA is signed... unless that has changed...

Yeah I'm sure Stebro can elaborate but some Swedish law forced them to change that policy.

It's complicated, but no matter what they don't have to sign any NHL-players if they don't want to. And it seemed as if all teams would follow that desicion, just because they don't want players here on short-term. The problem is that MoDo went out and signed Alexander Steen, so it's a confusing situation now. No one knows whether the swedish teams will keep the cool or start signing players. My guess is that some teams might do what Bryn?s are trying to do, which is signing players that aren't under any NHL-contract, because then they wont count as lockout players.

There has been a lot of discussion about this though, since teams in the 2nd league have signed NHL-players, I mean Kopitar is playing in the 2nd division, and since teams can get demoted from Elitserien this could become weird, because then two of the teams in Elitserien will risk being demoted and playing together with 4 teams from the 2nd divison in a group, and with Kopitar, Berglund etc there it could create a weird competition where teams from Elitserien don't sign NHL'ers, and teams from the 2nd divison do ???

 

[Corn Flake]

I honestly doubt he would sign for the full year.  Doesn't make a lot of sense for him to do so unless he's completely given up on the NHL.

I thought the Swedish League said they will only sign NHLers for the full year - they won't be releasing any players if a CBA is signed... unless that has changed...

Sounds hazy at best. if Kopitar is playing there then I really doubt he isn't coming back once this thing is settled.  Probably not a hard and fast rule.

Still, I don't think Franson is at all obligated to sign anything with Toronto and can keep playing there all year if he feels like it, I guess.

 

[ZBBM]

I honestly doubt he would sign for the full year.  Doesn't make a lot of sense for him to do so unless he's completely given up on the NHL.

I thought the Swedish League said they will only sign NHLers for the full year - they won't be releasing any players if a CBA is signed... unless that has changed...

Sounds hazy at best. if Kopitar is playing there then I really doubt he isn't coming back once this thing is settled.  Probably not a hard and fast rule.

Still, I don't think Franson is at all obligated to sign anything with Toronto and can keep playing there all year if he feels like it, I guess.

And even it is "hard and fast," what are they going to do if he blows off SEL and comes back?  Extradite him to Sweden like Assange? 

 

[maplesyrup]

Sounds like Franson really might not be interested in coming back...

Jonas Siegel Jonas Siegel ‏@jonasTSN1050
Franson's frustration stemmed from the limited role he had last season (57 games). His numbers & subsequent value suffered as a result.
Expand

24m Jonas Siegel Jonas Siegel ‏@jonasTSN1050
From what I understood, Leafs and Franson camp disagreed on his value after last season, much of which saw him relegated to press box.

55m Chris Johnston Chris Johnston ‏@reporterchris
Even if the NHL lockout gets resolved, Cody Franson won't be with the #leafs. The RFA has signed with Brynas for the entire year.
Retweeted by Jonas Siegel

 

[maplesyrup]

OTOH... I guess Mirtle could be right. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out... 

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle
Still don't think Franson is definitely staying overseas this season. Doesn't smell right. Probably all part of negotiations w/ Leafs.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I agree with Mirtle, because every time I heard Franson say something about his training or his contract negotiations, he clearly stated that he was excited to make amends for what he thought wasn't a good season for him.

This is simply him getting work, because there isn't any here... In my opinion of course.

 

[Corn Flake]

OTOH... I guess Mirtle could be right. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out... 

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle
Still don't think Franson is definitely staying overseas this season. Doesn't smell right. Probably all part of negotiations w/ Leafs.

Part of negotiations that can't happen as of right now???

As BWB said, it's part of keeping busy.  Go to Sweden and tear it up.. will make you some bucks here or with another NHL team.

 

[bustaheims]

Part of negotiations that can't happen as of right now???

Well, it's leverage for when the new CBA is signed.

 

[Deebo]

meh.

Was excited to get him when the trade was made, but I found him to be pretty underwhelming.