The Hockey Writers Nashville Predators staff writer Colin Fitts will evaluate the performance of each player on the 2014-15 Predators roster every weekday in alphabetical order. You can follow Colin on Twitter, @FittsTHW.
Cody Franson
Position: Defense
Age: 27
Height/Weight: 6-foot-5, 213lbs
Stat Line: 23 GP, 1 G, 3 A, 4 PTS, +0 +/-, 2 PIM, 24 hits, 23 blocked shots, 15:25 AVG TOI
Playoffs Stat Line: 5 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 2 PTS, +1 +/-, 0 PIM, 14 hits, 5 blocked shots, 14:36 AVG TOI
*Points at Home vs Away: Home – 1 G, 1 A | Away – 0 G, 2 A
*Giveaway/Takeaway Correlation: 15 giveaways, 11 takeaways
Contract Status: Unrestricted free agent ($3.3 million cap hit in 2014-15)
Highlight of the Year: The only goal Cody Franson scored in his 23-game stint with the Preds was in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Vancouver Canucks on March 31. His one-of-a-kind wrist shot from the point somehow found its way into the net.
Strengths: It may be hard to find strengths in Franson’s game since the Predators rarely played his throughout his short time in Nashville. As a defenseman, Franson is one of the better power play assets in the League with his accurate wrist shots from the point. Despite a struggling power play, head coach Peter Laviolette did not put Franson on either power play unit (when all defensemen were healthy). His 17 points (5 goals, 12 assist) on the power play — 15 (4 g, 11 a) of which were tallied with the Toronto Maple Leafs — ranked him tied for fifteenth among all blueliners. Franson is also known for his physical game with his large figure. His 177 hits placed him eighteenth among all defensemen.
Weaknesses: Franson never looked comfortable in his second try in Nashville, though it was not completely his fault. However, there would be instances of Franson having a brain fart defensively, and Laviolette would react by lowering his ice time.
When your controller dies in NHL 15 https://t.co/klFg1z2B2s
— Tyler Williams (@Tyler52Williams) April 19, 2015
What to Expect Next Season: Once thing is for sure about where Franson will be playing next season. It will not be in Nashville. He is reportedly seeking a return to Toronto.
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