Leafs’ Franson heads to Europe
Blueliner signs contract with Sweden’s Brynas
Defenceman Cody Franson is the latest Maple Leaf to head to Europe to wait out the NHL lockout.
Franson is in a slightly different boat from the likes of Mikhail Grabovski or Nikolai Kulemin, both now in the KHL.
Franson, who will play with Brynas of the Swedish Elite League, is an unrestricted free agent because he does not have an NHL contract.
His deal with Brynas, however, has an out clause that allows him to return to the NHL if the lockout ends and he reaches a new deal with the Leafs, the player’s agent, Gerry Johansson, told the Star.
Franson appeared in 57 games with Toronto last season, scoring five goals and adding 16 assists. If the 25-year-old and the Leafs don’t reach a deal, Franson could remain in Europe. The Leafs declined comment. Johansson said talks on a shortterm deal were progressing before NHL imposed its lockout. “We’ve had cordial conversations with them right up until (Sept. 15) and unfortunately weren’t able to conclude a deal,” he said. The NHL is believed to be just days away from cancelling its first batch of regular-season games, which are scheduled to start Oct. 11. Talks between the league and the NHL Players’ Association were to resume Tuesday in New York. The sides took a day off Monday to digest the three previous days of bargaining. Neither side is expected to make a new proposal on core economic issues, but rather deal with sub-issues like pensions and benefits. Meantime, New Jersey’s senators are urging both sides in the NHL lockout to consider the economic impact on their state if the dispute is not resolved. Senators Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg sent a letter Monday to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr urging them to reach a settlement.