Nashville Predators sign Cody Franson
The Nashville Predators have announced that they have signed defenseman Cody Franson to a two-year contract worth $1.6 million. Franson was a restricted free agent and would have become a free agent if he were not signed.
Franson was drafted 79th overall by the Predators in the third round of the 2005 National Hockey League entry draft. Franson began his professional hockey career playing with the Vancouver Giants in the Western Hockey League. While with the club he displayed his worth as an offensive defenseman scoring 51 points in 59 games in his final season. Franson joined the Predators organization being placed with the American Hockey League affiliate the Milwaukee Admirals for the 2007-08 season. Franson spent two seasons with the club displaying his talents in his second year, notching 52 points in 76 games. Last year was Franson’s first full NHL season.
With the Franson signing the Predators now look as though they are ready to head into the 2010-11 campaign. Once again the club has done a good job of making strategic signings that suit their specific needs. Without a lot of money to throw around it is important that the Preds get ‘bang for their buck’ and Franson is exactly that. At only 23 years old and already with three professional seasons under his belt Franson should be a solid addition to the Nashville line-up for at least the next two seasons. The youngster has shown that he has the ability to put the puck in the net as well as move the puck out of his own end effectively. Moreover, any questions regarding whether or not he is strong enough defensively to survive in the Predators system were answered last year when he finished with an impressive plus-15 rating.
Last season with the Predators Franson managed six goals and 15 assists for 21 points in 61 games.
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