Meet the Leafs : Cody Franson

Born August 8, 1987 (1987-08-08) (age 23)
Sicamous, BC, CAN
Height 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight 213 lb (97 kg; 15 st 3 lb)
Position Defenceman
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams Toronto Maple Leafs
Nashville Predators
National team Canada
NHL Draft 79th overall, 2005
Nashville Predators
Playing career 2007–present


Franson began his major junior career with the Vancouver Giants in the Western Hockey League (WHL) in 2002–03. After a 13-point campaign in 2004–05, he was drafted in the 3rd round, 79th overall, by the Nashville Predators in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Franson then improved to 55- and 51-point campaigns with the Giants in the next two season after being drafted. In 2006, he helped lead the Giants to a President's Cup as WHL champions, earning a berth in the 2006 Memorial Cup. He recorded the only hat-trick of the tournament[citation needed] and led all defencemen in scoring with 5 points in 5 games. In the subsequent off-season, Franson signed an entry-level contract with the Predators in July 2006.[1] The next year, he was named to the WHL West First All-Star Team[2] and was nominated for the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy as the league's top defenceman (awarded to Kris Russell of the Medicine Hat Tigers).[3] After falling to the Medicine Hat Tigers in the 2007 WHL Final, Franson and the Giants captured the 2007 Memorial Cup as tournament hosts, defeating the Tigers in the final.

In 2007–08, Franson turned pro and was assigned to the Milwaukee Admirals, the Predators' AHL affiliate. He tallied 36 points in his professional rookie season.

On October 17, 2009, Franson played in his first NHL game against the Washington Capitals, notching a single shot on goal.[4] Later that week, on October 22nd, Franson scored his first NHL goal against Pascal Leclaire of the Ottawa Senators.

On July 3, 2011, Franson and Matthew Lombardi were traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Brett Lebda and Robert Slaney.[5]

Source Wikipedia