Right-handed defensemen are a hot commodity on the NHL trade market, making Cody Franson a top target as the March 2 deadline approaches.

The Toronto Maple Leafs appear likely to make their impending unrestricted free agent available in a trade as the two sides remain far apart in the quest to agree on a contract extension.

The Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings and Nashville Predators - who drafted Franson in 2005 - are among a host of teams interested in acquiring his services, according to Pierre Lebrun of ESPN.

Lebrun writes:

The Leafs and Franson’s agent Gerry Johansson chatted last week. Toronto expressed willingness to do something in the neighborhood of three years and around $4.4 million to $4.5 million a year. That’s just not going to cut it for a defenseman of his ilk who knows he can get six to seven years on the July 1 market at easily north of $5 million ... So really, Franson and the Leafs both have it right here: A divorce serves both sides best. And who knows, the Leafs could always try to sign him come the offseason. In the meantime, Toronto should get a nice return on a top-end right-handed rental defenseman before March 2 (second-round pick plus either a young NHLer or a solid prospect), and they are assets this team needs to start piling up.

Franson leads Maple Leafs defensemen with 29 points (six goals, 23 assists), including a position-high 14 on the power play.

He ranks second in average ice time behind captain Dion Phaneuf, and his handedness will only serve to create more demand as the deadline approaches.