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Cody Franson signs Buffalo for two years, $3.3 million AAV, the Leafs add two invitees to the rookie tourney roster, Curtis Glencross and Brad Boyes are coming to Leafs camp on PTOs, and more in the links.
Remember the report from Elliotte Friedman that the Leafs offered Franson upward of $4.6 million:
Speaking during Saturday’s “Headlines” segment on Hockey Night in Canada, Friedman was hesitant to say Franson ‘rejected’ an offer, but noted that $4.6 million per year does not appear to be a number that’s going to get it done for the Maple Leafs.
Someone needs a new agent.
Thursday Links:
- Staff: Brad Boyes invited to Toronto Maple Leafs camp (MLHS)
He’s far removed from his pair of 30-40 goal seasons with the Blues (he shot 20% in his 43-goal 2007-08 season, playing with Paul Kariya), but, like Glencross, Boyes has been a reasonably productive early-30s middle-six forward in recent seasons.
I - Staff: Curtis Glencross signs PTO with Toronto Maple Leafs (MLHS)
A look at the variety of veteran options available to the team on either short-term contracts or PTOs suggests the game plan is to keep the youth largely down and off the big club roster barring something unforeseen in training camp and preseason.
I - Josh Cooper: Sabres and Cody Franson near two-year contract: Report (Yahoo)
First off, if it indeed happens, great, great deal for Buffalo. Franson made $3.3 million last season. He was expected to get more than two years on the unrestricted free agent market. But teams seemed scared of the defenseman after a trade to Nashville last season saw him notch just four points in 23 games.
I - clrkaitken: Maple Leafs’ Top 25 Under 25 – #2 William Nylander (PPP)
Given a choice between two flashy skilled wingers (both Europeans, no less) and a crash-and-bang power forward (from Ontario, no less), the Maple Leafs bucked what would have certainly been the prevailing wisdom at the time and opted for the son of a former veteran NHLer, William Nylander.
I - Staff: Toronto Maple Leafs announce final Rookie Tournament roster (mapleleafs.nhl.com)
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced their finalized Rookie Tournament roster on Tuesday. Joining the tournament are forwards Scott Eansor (Seattle-WHL) and Nikolai Skladnichenko (Mettalurg–KHL). They replace forwards Zach Hyman and J.J. Piccinich.
I - Scott Cullen: A new beginning for Maple Leafs (TSN)
Defenceman Morgan Rielly and prospects William Nylander, Mitch Marner and Kasperi Kapanen should be part of the long-term future, but there is a lot to be determined about which other current players will be sticking around. Some of that will depend on how they fit with head coach Mike Babcock because when a coach is in the first year of an eight-year contract, the players are going to have to fit his plan and not the other way around.
I - Kevin McGran: Leafs players won’t settle for being part of a rebuild (Toronto Star)
“We don’t want to go through this thing . . . with the impression it’s okay to lose a few games because there are people who think we’re in a long-term rebuild,” Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly said. “That’s not how we’re approaching it. We have high expectations for ourselves.”
