The Chicago Blackhawks have signed free agent defenseman Cody Franson to a professional tryout contact, reports Dhiren Mahiban. He says the former Sabres blue liner passed on one-year offers from other teams in favor of the PTO with Chicago.
Franson, 30, was the top defenseman remaining on the unrestricted free agent market. He immediately becomes the favorite to earn the spot as the Hawks’ third right-handed defenseman behind Brent Seabrook and Connor Murphy.
The Blackhawks enter training camp with a defense that looks much different than last season.