Maple Leafs sign Cody Franson, avoid arbitration

TORONTO (AP) The Toronto Maple Leafs and Cody Franson have avoided arbitration, with the defenseman signing a $3.3 million, one-year contract. This is the

TORONTO (AP) The Toronto Maple Leafs and Cody Franson have avoided arbitration, with the defenseman signing a $3.3 million, one-year contract.

This is the third straight one-year deal for Franson, who missed most of training camp last season after a contract dispute.

The 26-year-old player is getting a raise from his $2 million contract in 2013-14, when he led all Toronto defensemen with 33 points.

Franson has 28 goals and 105 assists in 333 career NHL games. He was a third-round pick of the Nashville Predators in 2005.