After a difficult season with the Chicago Blackhawks, unrestricted free agent Cody Franson has found a new home. He signs a two-year contract with KHL club Avangard Omsk. Franson joins a number of former NHL players who have signed with the club this summer including Alexei Emelin, Ville Pokka, Kris Versteeg, and David Desharnais.
Avangard confirms a 2-year deal with Franson https://t.co/M2BYhSODiC
— Igor Eronko (@IgorEronko) September 5, 2018
Avangard Omsk Signs Free Agent Defenseman Cody Franson
In Franson, the KHL club get an offensively skilled defenseman with a large frame of 6-foot-5. This past season he played just 23 NHL games, scoring a goal and six assists for seven points for the Blackhawks before they waived him and sent him down to the AHL. He also added eight penalty minutes. Franson’s possession numbers were outstanding with a 63.5 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of +14.8.
In the 2016-17 season, he scored three goals and 16 assists for 19 points in 68 games with the Buffalo Sabres. He also added 34 minutes in penalties. His possession numbers were 50.4 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of +4.3. Over his nine-year NHL career, Franson has played for the Nashville Predators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres and Chicago Blackhawks. He has put up 43 goals and 169 assists for 212 career points in 550 career games. He was originally drafted in the 3rd round, 79th overall of the 2005 NHL draft by the Nashville Predators.
Franson signed a one-year, $1 million deal with the Blackhawks during training camp. It was hoped that he would provide Chicago with a veteran puck-moving presence, but things just didn’t work out.
Main Photo Credit: BOSTON, MA – September 25: Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Cody Franson (11) moves the puck as Boston Bruins left wing Matt Beleskey (39) moves in during a preseason game between the Boston Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks on September 25, 2017, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Sport)
