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Thu Dec 12, 2019 3:56 pm
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TORONTO – In each of the past two offseasons Cody Franson and the Maple Leafs disagreed on the worth of the now 26-year-old defender. 76ers Jerseys 2019 . Contract disputes lingered for days, weeks and months in the winter of 2012 and once more in summer of 2013 before the two sides finally compromised on an unhappy middle with a pair of one-year contracts. Franson, not surprisingly, feels he has something to prove in his third season in Toronto. "Definitely," he said in conversation with the Leaf Report on Tuesday afternoon. "Thats the way my dad raised me was live by proving people wrong, have that motivation and drive to make people that say youre not eat their words." Franson believed that hed established himself as a viable top-4 defender last season, when he broke out with 29 points in 45 games, but Dave Nonis and the Leafs management group wanted to see more. They werent sure what the Sicamous, B.C. native was (the half-season sample size undoubtedly a factor) and balked at committing the sizeable term and dollars he desired in free agency (hence the one-year deal worth $2 million). Soon to be a restricted agent once more in the summer of 2014, Franson is out to prove that hes worthy of such an investment. Entrenched with the significant role and responsibility he always wanted upon landing with the Leafs via trade from Nashville, Franson is only half-satisfied with the season hes had to date. "Its going okay, but I can do more," said Franson, who will assume top pairing duty in the absence of suspended captain Dion Phaneuf. "I feel like I can do more. I feel I can help produce more. I can be a bigger part in our group turning things around." The Leafs have stumbled into December, struggling to generate offence and adequately defend amid a stretch which has seen them win just twice in regulation in 17 games. Now without their captain and leading minute-eater for the next two games – against top teams from Los Angeles and St. Louis no less – theyll need others, Franson most prominently, to step up their game. "The challenges are bountiful as we go forward into the season," said Randy Carlyle of a year thats seen an increasing number of injuries and suspensions, "but somebody else now gets an opportunity to fill those minutes." Be it offensively or defensively, Franson feels his game could stand to rise on a number of different fronts. The scoring leader of the Toronto defence once again this season – he has 14 points – Franson is nonetheless concerned by his inability to find the back of the net. He had four goals on 70 shots in 2013, but has yet score on any of the 40 attempts hes fired so far this year. Directing more pucks on net, thus creating not only goals but rebound opportunities for teammates, will aid in the teams struggling offensive attack – the Leafs have just 23 even-strength goals during this lasting 17-game run. "Obviously not having scored a goal is in my head," he said, noting a desire to increase his overall offensive production. "Its been a tough year to try and get shots through to the net and really help our forwards in that sense. Thats bothering me a bit." Amongst the best at his position in producing offence at even-strength last season – he had 16 points, tied for 12th most among NHL defenders – Franson has just three such points this season, the majority of his production coming on one of the leagues top power-plays. Because the Leafs have struggled to move the puck effectively for the better part of the opening two-plus months theyve been ineffective with a forecheck from which theyd like to initiate offence. One of their better puck-movers, Franson can help in that regard with some measure of improvement. "I havent got enough of those this year," said Franson of even-strength points, 11 of his 14 assists coming with the man advantage. "Thats something Ive been trying to focus on in getting better at and try to help our team win." Already second in ice-time among Leaf defenders – 21 minutes per game –Franson is poised to peg, if not more minutes, than more difficult minutes with Phaneuf suspended for tough tests against the Kings and Blues. He was paired with Carl Gunnarsson on the top pairing of Tuesdays practice. Though hes made strides in the right direction in Toronto, Franson remains a work in progress in the defensive zone. Part of that growth lies in his assertiveness and physicality. The 6-foot-5 defender has always been prodded to employ the requisite physical game his size is said to demand. Under the direction of Carlyle he has improved considerably. Franson actually leads all NHL defenders with 98 hits (entering Tuesdays action), quite a shift for a player who had 55 in his first 61 NHL games with Nashville. "Ive gotten better," said Franson, "but theres always room for improvement. Ive watched the video clips of myself after a lot of games and I see spots where I know I couldve at least bumped a guy there or a guy takes a shot and I was more worried about the rebound than finishing [him] into the wall. Just some things that I need to get back into the habit of doing and itll help me." Habit has also been forced to change with a steady mix of defensive partners. Unlike last season, when he played with Mark Fraser almost exclusively, Franson has shifted from partner to partner amid the teams struggles on the back-end. Gunnarsson will be the fifth partner hes been paired with already this season. The adjustment is as subtle as thinking versus reacting instinctually. "[I]t makes you think a little more and sometimes Im thinking too much and its making me read things a little slower than I should be and in turn making me not quite as aggressive as Id like to be," said Franson. "Ive got to get that down a little quicker and itll help." Such improvements will go a long ways toward proving the "naysayers" wrong while helping the Leafs turn a much-needed corner. Clint Richardson Jersey . The Calgary Stampeders announced both moves on Wednesday. Parker played 17 regular season games with the Stampeders in 2013, setting career-highs in catches (21) and yards (217). Trey Burke Jersey . Louis, MO (SportsNetwork. https://www.cheap76ers.com/986e-shake-milton-jersey-76ers.html .com) - John Wall supplied 24 points and 11 assists in leading the Washington Wizards to a 102-91 win over the New York Knicks on Christmas Day.PHOENIX -- Gerardo Parras bloop single brought Cody Ross home from second in the 11th inning to give the Arizona Diamondbacks a 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Saturday night. One night after he set the Braves franchise record for career saves, Craig Kimbrel blew his third of the season in 19 opportunities. The Diamondbacks were 0 for 12 with runners in scoring position before Aaron Hills pinch-hit double off Kimbrel down the right field line scored Ender Inciarte from second to tie it at 2-2. Jason Heyward homered with two outs in the 10th off Addison Reed to put the Braves up 3-2, but Miguel Montero tied it again with an opposite-field, one-out shot off Anthony Varvaro in Arizonas half of the inning. Ross singled with one out off David Carpenter (4-1), then Didi Gregorius walked to bring up Parra, whose soft fly ball fell in front of centre fielder B.J. Upton. Randall Delgado (1-1) struck out the side after a leadoff walk in the 11th to get the victory. It was just the 18th blown save in 173 career opportunities for Kimbrel, still the third-highest percentage in baseball history for pitchers with at least 150 save tries. Kimbrel, who earned a four-out save in Atlantas 5-2 victory Friday night, got Chris Owings to fly out to start the ninth. But Inciarte walked and stole second. Hill sliced one just inside the right field foul line to bring Inciarte home. Heywards two-out shot to left field off Addison Reed was his second home run in as many nights and extended his hitting streak to 11 games. Moontero was 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position before he hit Varvaros 2-1 pitch just over the wall in left. Philadelphia 76ers Store. Inciarte was called safe on a bunt to start the 11th, but Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez challenged and the call was reversed. It didnt matter as Arizona went on to score the winner. Starters Ervin Santana of Atlanta and Wade Miley of Arizona had strong outings. Santana gave up only an unearned run in seven innings, scattering six hits. Miley allowed two runs, one earned, on six hits in seven innings, fanning six with no walks. The Braves took a 2-1 lead when, with two outs in the sixth, Justin Upton singled to right, then scored from first on Evan Gattis second double of the night. Atlanta second baseman Dan Uggla committed two errors, one leading to a run. Martin Prado led off the second with a single, took second on David Peraltas base hit, then scored when Uggla threw the ball away trying to convert a double play on a fielders choice ground out by Inciarte. Atlanta tied it in the third when Andrelton Simmons doubled, took third on the right fielder Parras errant throw, then scored on Heywards grounder, sliding in barely below the catcher Monteros tag after a high throw from the third baseman Prado. NOTES: Peralta has a hit in each of his first six big league games. ... In Sundays series finale, Arizonas Chase Anderson (4-0, 3.32 ERA), winner of his first four major league starts, tries to make it five, while the Braves counter with Aaron Harang (4-4, 3.24). ... It was Prados bobblehead night. ' ' ' |
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