Predators Re-Sign Franson

From the draftable free agents list on the weekend, we can now strike off Cody Franson, as the restricted free agent has signed a new 2-year deal worth $1.6 million, according to the Predators website on Wednesday.  Franson will have a cap hit of $800,000 for the next two seasons, which is a good number for a kid that is finally cementing himself onto the Predators blueline and keeping his team on budget.

Franson is expected to have an increase in production from his 21 points (6 goals and 15 assists) in 61 games and that shouldn't just be on the basis of more games to be played. Franson's maturity level at age 23 should be a big selling point and possibly a good number three defenseman behind both Shea Weber and Ryan Suter in 2011.  Most projections from the main publications have him around the 30-point plateau for the coming season, but if he can earn himself some extra minutes, he could hit the 35-to-40 point mark, in my opinion.