In their first move since granting team president Brendan Shanahan the nuclear option to blow up the team, the Toronto Maple Leafs began their dismantling by trading defenseman Cody Franson and center Mike Santorelli to the Nashville Predators for veteran forward Olli Jokinen, prospect Brendan Leipsic, and a first-round draft pick for the 2015 draft.
Preds Rentals?
Both Franson and Santorelli are pending unrestricted free agents and would make for potential rental players in Nashville. The Predators have the best record in the NHL and are a legitimate Stanley Cup contender in need of depth down the middle. Franson adds depth to an already outstanding Nashville blue line corps that rates among the best in the NHL. Franson brings good size and the ability to jump into the play on offense.
Quality defensive depth and goaltending are mandatory for Stanley Cup success and the Preds boast a bounty of riches in that area. In fact, Poile now has stockpiled a total of eight solid NHL defenseman for his blue line. The Nashville defensive corps is led by Norris Trophy candidate Shea Weber and includes such stalwarts as Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis and potential future superstar Seth Jones. Goaltender Pekka Rinne is as good as they come.
Preds general manager David Poile has long been a strong believer in building his teams from the goal out which is still the championship formula in the NHL as proven by the defending champion Los Angeles Kings. Poile fulfilled his trade deadline goal of adding a quality defenseman and forward lines depth for what is hoped to be a long playoff push.
Santorelli is expected to be able to move around on different lines for the Preds. Poile is also happy that he is acquiring Franson and Santorelli in what he considers to be the prime of their careers. Santorelli has 11 goals and 18 assists on the season while Franson leaves Toronto with six goals, 26 assists, and a minus-7 on a Leafs team that has no defensive structure or depth. His numbers should improve in Hockeytonk. Santorelli was a sixth round pick for Nashville in 2004 and previously played 32 games for the Preds.
For Nashville, the future is now and all they really want are playoff push contributions from Franson and Santorelli. Anything beyond that would be a bonus.
It has been a remarkable turnaround for the Preds after missing the playoffs the past two seasons. Head coach Peter Laviolette has opened up the offense making it a perfect complement for their defense and goaltending. Laviolette is a Jack Adams candidate for coach of the year.
Stockpile Begins
Shanahan’s vision for Toronto is to stockpile draft choices and young players for the future now that their season is lost and the corps is proven to be finished failures. Toronto has lost 16 out of 20 games and it was only a matter of time before they imploded. The Leafs horrible defensive metrics have long been a ticking time bomb.
When Peter Horachek replaced Randy Carlyle as Toronto head coach, he failed to fit the square peg into a round hole with a call for defensive structure that was just not possible based on how the Leafs roster is built. The Leafs are in a free fall that has seen them lose 16 out of their last 20 games.
Current Leafs General Manger Dave Nonis has the misguided belief that Toronto could potentially flip Jokinen, who leaves Nashville with six points in 48 games. Perhaps the veteran of 1,217 NHL games would fetch a bag of practice pucks. Such delusional thinking is what has put Nonis on the hot seat as he is expected not to be long in his current gig.
More to Come
The Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, and Detroit Red Wings are said to be in talks with the Leafs for much maligned team captain and defenseman Dion Phaneuf, who is currently out with a hand injury. The Leafs will likely have to eat some serious salary to commence any potential deal for the overpaid Phaneuf. Daniel Winnik and David Booth are expected to be dealt next by Toronto and Phil Kessel is also going to garner interest from teams looking for a finishing sniper. Nashville, Florida, and St. Louis would figure to have interest in Kessel. Boston also is in desperate need of scoring and may take a look at bringing Kessel back where he played from 2006-09.
