Topic: Cody Franson

Cody Franson (born August 8, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the 3rd round, 79th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

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 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. The next year, he was named to the WHL West First All-Star Team and was nominated for the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy as the league's top defenceman (awarded to Kris Russell of the Medicine Hat Tigers). 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.