Leafs/Preds Trade

[big pressure]

As per TSN the Leafs acquire Cody Franson and Matthew Lombardi from the Nashville Predators in exchange for Brett Lebda and Robert Slaney.

 

[OT Sports]

Um, wtf is Nashville thinking with this trade?

 

[leafsfan81]

AWESOME trade for the leafs, preds are probly getting some room to sign Rinne

 

[hockeykid87]

Nashville :laugh: tsnresearch on twitter: top 2 lebda moments, 1. Him leaving 2. Being a -3 in a 9-3 win :laugh:

 

[nucks4cup]

AWESOME trade for the leafs, preds are probly getting some room to sign Rinne

its probably so they can resign weber 1st.

 

[numbern9ne]

Way to trick the Preds into taking Lebda, Burkie.

 

[big pressure]

Here's the link:

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=370797

Also includes a 4th rounder depending upon how many games Lombardi plays in the next two seasons.

 

[Hockey-Only]

huge deal for leafs! very excited to see the leafs next season alot of great adds in this off-season

 

[Justcards]

If Lombardi during an interview say's " I am so happy to be back in Calgary " you know we got problems with his concussion

 

[tiger tiger]

Wow...Burke ripped off the Preds from a hockey talent POV.

Preds must have some internal cap so they have to dump players for cheaper and shorter contracts. Probably wouldn't be able to sign Franson next year after they give Weber a big one this year. Plus it's a salary dump for Lombardi's contract.

 

[JTMcCool]

Even if Lombardi doesn't play this is a great trade for the Leafs. Very excited to have Franson on the blue line.

 

[es_19]

good deal for the buds but how about getting rid of komisarek next?

wonder what the pairings will be since we now have (again) a deep blue line

schenn/phaneuf/liles/aulie/gunnarsson/komisarek/franson/lashoff

 

[newfiecomicguy1]

Getting Franson and Liles certainly improves the Leafs D, IMO they are solid on the point. I was disappointed that they didn't get Brad Richards until I saw how much the Rangers paid him....IMO too much.

 

[chakhae1]

This trade is awesome from a Leaf's fans perspective and I strongly believe that Komisarek is going to be bought out or sent to the AHL a la Jeff Finger.

 

[juliangen]

Awesome trade for the leafs
Isn't franson an RFA though?

 

[plubers]

Great trade for the Leafs. Heck it's a head scratcher.

 

[chakhae1]

Franson has 1 year left on his contract and I didn't know Lombardi has concussion issues, but a great trade regardless since Lebda wasn't playing at all at the end of the season and Franson will fit nicely into the top 4.

 

[bto3105]

At the end of the day,Ledba is gone! That itself makes this a winner for Toronto

 

[re-ac-tor]

Basically they wanted to dump the 7 million left on Lombardi's contract, plus while Franson is a solid D-man, he only averaged 15 minutes a game for the Pred during the playoffs, that was 6th out of 6 regular defencemen. Jon blum had passed him on the depth chart too. Also having to sign Weber and that Suter and Rinne are UFA's after this year played a part in the move too.

My best,

Ken

 

[supercec]

I read that Lombardis contract isn't insured, so if he doesn't play this year, the Preds would be on the hook for the value of the salary. Since they are a team that works on an internal budget I can see why they would be wary to have that much money in the press box.

From the Leafs standpoint, if he plays, great. They have 3 skilled centers. If he doesn't, oh well. They get a good young defenceman in Franson and they are not as concerned with actual dollar value.

As mentioned above, the extra 3 - 4 million can now be used by the Preds to sign Weber or Rinne longterm, so if they manage that it is a win for the Preds.