A lot of what has already been said in this thread reflects my views. I'll try my best to sort out the little things.
We essentially got Franson for free. He was the cost of us taking the Lombardi contract. He has a unique size and skill-set. His peak trade time is fast approaching, especially because of how packed we are for defensive prospects. Edmonton could probably offer for both Franson and Reimer, something i wouldn't argue much with, so long as the return is not Sam Gagner.
The O'Rielly/Kadri idea should talk itself right off the table. It would represent the Leafs giving up on a prospect, to immediately assume the contract that he is likely to command in 2015, if his progress---which has been stunted significantly when compared to his peers, except maybe Brayden Schenn, who i remember a lot of people being particularly sweet on around here---continues at anything like the pace it has been moving. Yes, he was asking for too much money in the summer, but every kid thinks they can put the cart before the horse. He got his bridge deal because both parties had to agree that the sample size for his "success" was infinitesimal, compared to what he was asking for.
The same might be true for the other bridge deal, in Franson.
All in all, there are few arguments that can be made to suggest that all of, if not just one of Kadri, Franson, and Reimer will be Leafs, come trade deadline. Personally, i think Franson and Reimer deserve a chance elsewhere. Franson doesn't seem to like Carlyle, but neither do i. Reimer has done very little to deserve the ride he has had this year. Kadri is not something to give up on, and while i'm dancing around the subject of terrible coaches being unfair to kids, Tyler Seguin.
If Edmonton would admit that 15,000 1st-round picks doesn't guarantee clout on the market, i think there is a very approachable, very realistic trade to be made between the two clubs.
