"It's the kind of deal the Toronto Maple Leafs have been hoping to get by being smart on the salary cap.

As first reported by the Star, sources confirm the Leafs have acquired 6-foot-5 defenceman Cody Franson and injured centre Matthew Lombardi today from the Nashville Predators for defenceman Brett Lebda and minor-leaguer Robert Slaney.

Franson was a regular on the very strong Nashville blueline last season and will immediately move into the top six on the Leaf defence. Lombardi was concussed last season and the money-conscious Predators were so desperate to get rid of his $3.5 million-a-year contract they were willing to move Franson, who is in the final year of his entry level contract at $800,000. The Leafs were able to make the deal because they still had about $14 million worth of salary cap room after signing centre Tim Connolly on Saturday."