Franson signs - blueline looks set for this season

Give Dave Nonis credit for signing Cody Franson, Mason Raymond and Nazem Kadri for a total of $5.9M this season.

But you are going to have to wish the Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager luck, in trying to keep the bulk of his defensemen signed next season.

First of all, in signing Franson (1 year/$2M), Raymond (1 year/$1M), and Kadri (2 years/$5.8M) Nonis was able to sign players who will help this Leafs this year and in doing so he did it at a reasonable dollar amount.

Right now the Leafs are over the cap by about $1M (unless Morgan Rielly doesn’t start the year in Toronto). So the team has little to play with this year. They may try and trade (or send to the minors) John-Michael Liles and his contract ($3.875M a year for 3 more years) which will give them even more cap space. (A trade is unlikely at that dollar amount)

Franson was determined to sign only a one-year deal, after he saw the kind of dollars the Leafs were willing to pay. The team wanted at least a 2-year deal because they have many blueliners coming off the books next season.

The defensemen and the club agreed to the deal early this morning.

“It’s a pretty gruelling process and you don’t recommend it to anybody,” said Franson who was hoping for a higher pay out than what the restricted free agent defenseman eventually agreed to. “I’m glad it’s done and happy to move forward here.”

Things are set for this season.

But looking ahead, it gets interesting.  Right now the Leafs have 10 players signed next season.

Forwards: Joffrey Lupul ($5.25M), David Clarkson ($5.25M), James vanRiemsdyk ($4.25M), Tyler Bozak ($4.2M), Nazem Kadri, ($2.9M), Colton Orr ($925,000) and Frazer McLaren ($700,000).

Just 2 defensemen: Liles ($3.875M) and Carl Gunnarsson ($3.15M).

Goalie Jonathan Bernier ($2.9M) is also under contract for next season.

In total, the Maple Leafs have about $36.9M under contract for next season.

Nonis has put himself in a pretty good spot considering the salary cap likely will go up to $70M or so.

But he does have some issues to consider moving forward:

·        Phil Kessel will want a hefty raise from the $5.4M he is making now. What’s he worth? $8M a year? Will the Leafs pay that?

·        Dion Phaneuf - like Kessel- will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. He is making $6.5M this season.

·        In fact the Leafs blueline looks uncertain. Franson and Jake Gardiner are RFA’s, while Phaneuf, Fraser and Ranger are UFA’s. These guys are all playing for contracts next season – either with the Leafs or somewhere else.

·        And if Dave Bolland plays well what kind of money will he – as an Unrestricted Free Agent – get on the market? He is set to make $3.375M this year.

If Nonis can somehow shed the Liles contract (a class guy who just doesn’t seem to fit in with Coach Randy Carlyle) that would open up some money for him.

If reports are true, look for Nonis to try and sign Phil Kessel to a long-term deal before the season starts.

After that, he must determine the future of the Captain, Dion Phaneuf. How much money are the Leafs willing to spend on him?

Then he will likely try to address the blueline. Gardiner, Fraser, Ranger and Franson will be in line for raises (especially if they can impress this season).

The Leafs have youngsters like Rielly, Jesse Blacker, Stuart Percy, Korbinian Holzer and Andrew MacWilliam in the system. Their development this year will go a long way in determining what shape Toronto’s blueline takes next season.

It is an interesting time for the Leafs – and the puck hasn’t even dropped yet to start the season.