from Adam Vingan of The Tennessean,

When the Predators acquired defenseman Cody Franson as part of a trade with the Maple Leafs on Feb. 15, it was viewed as the rich getting richer.

Franson was among the most coveted rental players available. His return to Nashville, which drafted him in 2005, strengthened what was already considered one of the best defenses in the NHL,

Yet Franson wasn't impactful in 28 regular-season and playoff games for Nashville, largely because he wasn't utilized nearly as much as he was in Toronto.

He averaged 21:23 per game for the Maple Leafs, which included 3:05 on the power play and 2:00 shorthanded. With the Predators, his ice time plunged to 15:25 per game, barely contributing to Nashville's special-teams units.

"It was definitely an adjustment," Franson said. "You go from playing over 20 minutes a night on any given night in a bunch of different situations, special teams and things like that, to more of a depth guy and trying to play more of a shutdown role and just not really allow much. I tried to adjust to it as best I could and contribute as much as I could."

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