FRANS- IFUL THINKING
FREE AGENT: Addition would be expensive and take some blue-line surgery, but player like that is worth it
Free-agent defenceman Cody Franson hypothetically looks pretty good in Canucks colours, and Vancouver would do well in pursuing the Sicamous native and former WHL Giant, writes Jason Botchford
Lost in that final playoff game as the Canucks blew a three-goal lead was their defence. Literally. Fitting, because Vancouver’s 2014-15 blue-line was average when at its best, and pretty bad at its worst.
There were bright spots. The Chris Tanev-Alex Edler pairing for one.
But when it was over, the Canucks gave up nearly 30 shots a game (29.8) which ranked 17.
More troubling, the 158 times they were beaten for even-strength goals was eighth worst.
Too often, they weren’t good enough defensively while lacking enough offensive playmaking to make up for it. They were missing something, or someone.
Let’s say, someone like Cody Franson.
The 27-year-old, right-handed, big-shot defenceman promises to be the most intriguing free agent this summer.
And the kid from Sicamous who spent his junior years playing for the Vancouver Giants would be intrigued and open to it if the Canucks were to show some interest in signing him.
He is not only worth the blue-line surgery which would need to be performed to get him to Vancouver, he’d be worth the money.
Not everyone will agree. On Franson, opinions vary wildly.
Some will point to his disappointing turn in Nashville after the trade from Toronto this year. Some don’t think he’s a top-pairing, $5-milliona-year player, which is a solid starting point for his next contract.
But smart people see a defenceman still in his prime, who put up big points for bad teams in Toronto and did it for years.
They see a blue-liner who has been remarkably consistent in making his pairing partners better.
Great offensively, he has proven to be a positive possession player and done it against some of the league’s toughest matchups over a long period of time.
He did that even in Nashville, where he had just four points in 23 games. He averaged just 15:25 a game in ice time with the Predators, and was rarely used on special teams.
Still, he was one of their better possession players during his run.
When it was over, Preds GM David Poile said Franson wasn’t a perfect fit. Though, this was the team which got themselves a power play difference maker and then was reluctant to use him on the power play. Go figure. All of this could be good news for the Franson suitors if it scares off the ridiculous offers, because he is a legit top-four defenceman with offensive punch.
He does have the ability, in the right situation, to be a top-pairing player. He wouldn’t have to be that in Vancouver, where the Edler-Tanev duo is going to take on the top lines (unless a top line has Micheal Ferland on it).
It would not be easy for Vancouver to pull this off.
The Canucks would have to deal Dan Hamhuis, or more likely Kevin Bieksa, to get the cap room.
That’s not such a bad idea considering both are on expiring contracts. If the team feels Eddie Lack has to be either re-signed or traded, why wouldn’t the same logic apply to Bieksa and Hamhuis, who are in similar contractual situations where the team risks losing assets for nothing?
It would probably require one more move to make room for two younger waiver-eligible defencemen, possibly dealing restricted free agent Yannick Weber. Both Weber and Bieksa are right-shot defencemen.
If Franson is signed for anything about $5 million a year, he will give his team something free agents hardly ever give their teams in early July — value.
You pay for points and Franson can deliver. He would also buy the Canucks time to try and remedy a looming crisis on their back end.
Having used just one first-round pick on a defenceman in 17 years, it probably isn’t surprising the Canucks’ depth outside of the NHL is bleak.
Both Adam Clendening and Frankie Corrado are young, rightside defencemen who will be available on waivers if they don’t make the team. They are ready for long NHL auditions.
But there is no difference maker coming any time soon.
This is alarming for a team where Hamhuis is beginning a decline and Bieksa’s production is in full crashand-burn mode.
And all of it in a division loaded with good young centres.
To counter the Connor McDavid years, GM Jim Benning is going to need to hit some home runs at the draft. Until he does, a top four of Edler, Tanev, Hamhuis and Franson would look pretty good.