Silence between Predators and Cody Franson has ended

There appears to be at least some progress being made in negotiations between the Nashville Predators and their restricted free agent defenseman Cody Franson. Friday afternoon, Franson’s agent Steve Kotlowitz said that the two sides have spoken this week.

On Tuesday, Predators President of Hockey Operations and General Manager David Poile painted a not so rosy picture when asked about the status of the negotiations with the 6’5” 215-pound blueliner and his agent.

“We talked about 10 days ago, we haven't talked for a while,” Poile said Tuesday afternoon following his press conference to discuss the signing of then-restricted free agent forward Patric Hornqvist.

In a brief telephone call Friday afternoon, Kotlowitz indicated that the silence between the two sides has ended.

“We have talked this week, and we will continue to talk,” he said before stating he would have no further comment on negotiations.

Asked Tuesday about the potential of not having Franson in training camp, Poile was very direct in his assessment of the situation.

“Having holdouts is just a distraction,” he said. “You want all of your players to be here. Now we are in a position today where everybody is signed other than Cody Franson, and hopefully that will be done before training camp. That would be kind of disappointing if he wasn't signed before training camp. I say disappointing for us, but I think especially disappointing for him because he has got to earn his spot.”

After a rookie season that saw him score six goals and add 15 assists in 61 regular season games played, it would appear that Franson would have a roster spot fairly well locked down for the 2010-11 season. But if Franson does not sign prior to the mid-September start of training camp, the Predators will undoubtedly give several of the organization’s highly touted defensive prospects a longer look at making the team out of camp.

Heading into the season, the Predators already have six defensemen signed to one-way contracts. Shea Weber and Ryan Suter will again be the team’s top defensive duo, while Francis Bouillon, Kevin Klein, Ryan Parent, and Alexander Sulzer comprise the other four players on one-way contracts.

Also in the pipeline are young prospects like Roman Josi, Jon Blum, Teemu Laakso, and Ryan Ellis who all have an outside shot at the one or two blue line slots that would appear to be available entering camp.

One phrase that Predators head coach Barry Trotz likes to use is that it is difficult to catch a moving train. Now that talks between the team and Cody Franson have resumed, it could be a sign that the defenseman will have an opportunity to sign before camp, giving him the opportunity to get on the train along with everyone else.