The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded defenseman Dion Phaneuf, forwards Matt Frattin, Casey Bailey, Ryan Rupert and defense prospect Cody Donaghey to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for defenseman Jared Cowen, forwards Colin Greening, Milan Michalek and Tobias Lindberg and a second-round draft pick in 2017.
In a stunning move, the Leafs trade Dion Phaneuf to the Senators.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is certainly a blockbuster move, with Phaneuf accepting a trade to one of the Leafs’ biggest rivals. It’s also a shocking move no one saw coming. The Leafs and Senators doing a major trade together? What next, dogs and cats living in harmony? “The Battle of Ontario” just got a lot more interesting.
Essentially, the Leafs traded their captain for a struggling defenseman looking for a fresh start in Cowen, an aging winger with an injury history whose best seasons are behind him in Michalek, and a winger who couldn’t crack the Senators roster the past two seasons in Greening. In return, the Senators get a quality top-four defenseman who can log big minutes and take some of the blueline burden off captain Erik Karlsson. along with a collection of minor leaguers, a defense prospect who might have a chance down the road of making the Senators.
In the short term, this deal certainly favors the Senators, providing immediate help to their blueline whilst shedding a couple of unwanted salaries. Phaneuf’s $7 million annual cap hit will bite deep into the cost-conscious Senators payroll, but at least they’re getting a very good player for their money. He’s also under contract through 2020-21, so there could be long-term advantages here as well for the Senators.
As for the Leafs, this continues part of their ongoing retooling, shaking up their core and making way for younger talent. They shed some long-term cap space by swapping Phaneuf for Michalek and Greening, who are signed through to 2016-17. The key player for the Leafs is Cowen. Given how well Mike Babcock’s worked with his younger players this season, Leafs management obviously believes they’ll have better luck helping the hulking 25-year-old defenseman reach his full potential than the Senators. If so, this deal could work out in the long run for the Leafs.
Actually the Leafs got the added draft pick Lyle.
In my opinion Leafs win this trade.
Ottawa is getting a colossal contract for (let’s face it) a 2nd line D-man.
If Michalek is healthy, he’ll probably get offloaded for a pick either right before the deadline or in the off-season.
Cowen and Linberg are good young players, and Greening could be molded into another grinder like Winnik.
As a Leafs fan, I think the Sens win short term in that they get a really solid 2nd pair offensive Dman who is defensively responsible as long as his minutes are limited to 20-22 per night.
Call the salary short term a wash, beyond those two years the Leafs win with the freed up space (when the Phaneuf contract will start looking worse as he ages) and the B prospect and 2nd rounder being better than the C-D grouping that went to the Sens.
Why do I get the impression that many Leafs fans are sitting back hoping against hope that Phaneuf falls flat on his face in Ottawa and that their WORST nightmare is to see him help push this team well into a play off picture? So many fingers crossed ….
I have no idea why you feel that way. Phaneuf is a classy guy and I suspect most Leaf fans are wishing him well. It’s not as if the Leafs are going to be battling the Senators for the Stanley Cup over the next few years.
I can’t speak for all Leaf fans, but I never really understood the hatred for Phaneuf. Simple fact is that he was asked to play more minutes against better comp than he’s capable of. And so he made mistakes and he ran out of gas at times. Sometimes that looks like a guy with no heart. And of course he was paid too much.
Wish him all the best with the Sens. Honestly, if they make the playoffs, good for them. The Habs are a different story.
Not me, I hope Dion goes on to have a great time in Ottawa. Wins a cup, proves all his critics wrong. Too many people blamed Dion for making 7 mill. per yr. All the flack should have gone to the idiot that offered it to him. I think Ottawa wins the trade. They get Dion for about 4 mill a yr. which makes Dion a good buy. Toronto gets a couple of maybes and cap relief. So no losers here.
Smarter than your average bear…exactly Yogi
Can’t wait to see what Shitcky and Jeff Noel and all the other leaf and Senator fans think.
I like the deal for both today down the road maybe not so much for the Sens but who knows. Dion got a bad rap in TO the same as the last 7 or 8 captains the Leafs have had. Name the last Leaf captain who has finnished his career as a Leaf. He is better than his rep and not quite as good as his contract. Im not a huge fan of Dion but hardly a hater
I replied Caper its just in limbo it appears, and I do apologize for the other day. Just some arguements get old quickly.
all good shticky, i’m no saint. I think we all get caught up in the moment sometimes.
I’m more where Lyle is on this. The Leafs get Cowen who can replace Dion cheaper, a pick and some players to peddle at the trade deadline. They cut salary (could they be setting up for Stamkos being signed?) in the long term and that’s important since Phaneuf isn’t in the long term plan likely. They likely slightly win in the long run if it helps them get prospects and the cap space to sign Stamkos.
Sens get someone who can step in, no pressure anymore and can be slotted on the 2nd line to play a specific role like he did when he was great in Calgary. It helps lower the minutes to key players (Karlsson) and gives experience and an edge to the team. No matter what you say about the guy, he does have a skill set that has value. Frattin is a great pickup as well – works hard, is quick and versatile. Sens do really well to help the team right now. It’s a shocker, but when you reflect, there is the workings of a great deal for both teams based on their current needs and future plans.
I agree that, longer term, Leafs did well here. Phaneuf deserves a fresh start and he will help the Sens. No other player in the deal will play for them….Frattin is the only one with NHL: speed but hands of stone.
Cowen won’t please the Phaneuf haters, since he is slow and inconsistent…the Leafs off-loaded part of their past, got a second round pick and will find a buyer for Michalek at the deadline…this deal works for both teams!
I don’t see Michalek moved at this deadline. Brought in to by time to allow for the continued player development. He gets moved next season at the deadline if not in the off season in an actual hockey trade.
The Leafs have to ice 20 players when Parenteau, Grabner, Spalling, Boyes & Matthias are all moved in the next 20 days.
Their not bringing up a bunch of their stud prospects to play in what will be a brutal environment. Toronto has a plan, a long term plan & that means losing. Losing isn’t a good environment for young players.
This trade helps solidify Toronto’s place in the Austin Matthew’s sweepstakes as well as a few more solid lottery selections in the next few seasons to follow. This trade didn’t make Toronto better today. Losing Phaneuf isn’t going to help them win games & as Polak & the forwards mentioned above are moved out Toronto may be luck to win 5 more games all year & get shelled losing quite regularly.
Which is all good. That’s how I’d do it. Be bad, really bad for several years to pick in the top 5 consistently having a top 3 kick at 1st overall for at least 3 years running.
I think Frattin likely will play for the Sens. I see him as more of an insurance policy as a depth piece with NHL experience that can slot into the 2-4th lines.
Leafs are gearing up for the 2017/18 season already. Ridding themselves of Michalek’s $4M and Greening’s $2.65M ($6.65M). So basically, this was a Phaneuf for Cowan, Lindberg and a 2nd rounder. Ridding ourselves of a $7M cap hit on a single player who doesn’t deserve it. Thumbs up from my end!!!
If you’re thinking Cowen is part of the future, think again. You can’t teach hockey IQ and Cowen got by with his size all the way up. Bottom pairing guy at best and that’s post Babcock rescue.
Yes, I’m a Sens fan who has torched Dion for years. BUT…remember when he had a good set up man feeding him one timers on the power play? McCabe and that other European guy? He might have a new powerplay D partner who’s not bad at setting him up with one timers
Hope he takes his net hitting pills…lol
McCabe and Phaneuf never played together
Just hope its not Stone Turris or Ryan in front of the net when he lets it go.
From the Leafs point of view, this trade is Phaneuf for a prospect and a second round pick with no salary retained and the rest are throw ins who might get flipped at the end of the month. Good for the Leafs in their rebuild plans.
The Leafs are in such free fall. It’s just awful. A 2017 second round pick? That’s it? For a team retooling, I hardly think Greening, Cowen, Linberg or a 2017 pick qualify as retooling.
It wouldn’t surprise me if it comes out that Phanuef asked for the trade. I mean, there’s only so much optimism one can muster from a sinking ship, especially with the water around your knees.
What’s troublesome is the good young talent that has to live through this. Guys like Rielly and Gardiner must be wanting out too. Losing only makes losers and it has to weigh heavily on these guys.
How about at least giving us a preview of things to come. Call up Nylander and Kapanen, give those guys a shake!!!
I think you’re over-valuing Phaneuf.
He had a monster contract, and is no really an elite D-man anymore.
He was badly miscast right from the get-go in TO, first with Wilson naming him captain (with Burke’s blessing), then turning him into a Top D playing 25-28 minutes a game and mostly against the opposition’s top line and D pairing. Nonnis the compounded the errors by giving him that fat contract.
BUT, in Ottawa – Karlsson’s team – he won’t be captain and will play considerably less 5 on 5 minutes as a 3/4 pairing alongside Ceci and will only have to concentrate on doing his defensive job, letting the faster Ceci handle any offensive thrusts from that pairing. Is that worth $7 mil? No. But then again they weren’t getting $9,750,000 worth out of Michalek, Cowen and Greening either (all 3 with 1 more year to go on their deals). Lindberg MAY turn into something positive, but not for at least another 2 seasons, and as for that 2nd round pick in 2017 you’re probably looking at 2020-21 before that turns into anything useful.
George, I was interested to see your reaction. If I remember correctly a few months ago you said Phaneuf could play on your team any day. Well sir, that day has arrived!
I will say Phaneuf should be more comfortable with the offense-first style of play in Ottawa. Unfortunately he was a disaster in that role under Babcock and Wilson. But like you say he was playing a lot of minutes.
No one has mentioned it, but this looks to me like a desperate move by the Sens. Sitting well out of a playoff spot a team wouldn’t typically be taking on an aging guy with a big long-term contract. I don’t think this will end well.
“Lindberg MAY turn into something positive, but not for at least another 2 seasons”
Hence the rebuild mode they’re in. It’ll be a prime time when Marner, Nylander, Timashov, Soshnikov, Brown, Kapanen, and whomever will be drafted in this year’s 1st round…will be either on the team or a year or two away. Some bright spots for our future.
See the thing that would scare the crap out of me is the thought of playing him with Ceci. Him and Rielly looked kinda horrendous together. Id suggest Karlsson phaneuf would be the better pair.
“Is that worth $7 mil? No. But then again they weren’t getting $9,750,000 worth out of Michalek, Cowen and Greening either (all 3 with 1 more year to go on their deals).”
If you’re basing the deal solely on numbers, then the Senators should of just waited on Michalek’s, Greening’s and Cowan’s contracts to expire after next season and they would have saved themselves $2.975M. But now they’ll eat up $7M on a single player who is not a $7M player, for the next 4 years. Oh well, if you see that financial part as your bonus, I guess…as long as you guys are happy.
^ “If you’re basing the deal solely on numbers, then the Senators should of just waited on Michalek’s, Greening’s and Cowan’s contracts to expire after next season and they would have saved themselves $2.975M.”
That was based on Phaneuf’s $7M, but just basing it on Michalek’s, Greening’s and Cowan’s dollar cap hits alone, Ottawa would of relieved $9.75M.
“No one has mentioned it, but this looks to me like a desperate move by the Sens. Sitting well out of a playoff spot a team wouldn’t typically be taking on an aging guy with a big long-term contract. I don’t think this will end well.”
CO, that sounds more like wishful-thinking by someone who would rather have seen Phaneuf traded out west somewhere rather than to a hated eastern rival. Your worst nightmare would be to see this work out well for Ottawa and Phaneuf – which smacks more of petulance than rational analysis.
Just happy to be rid of the later years of that contract. This won’t cure what ails the 12th place Senators. Just saying.
And your fondest hope is that they STAY in 12th place. Come on, admit it, CO – your worst nightmare is to see this work out for both Phaneuf and the Sens. It may – and then again, it may not. Only time will tell, but I for one will delight – IF it happens – in watching those who looked upon him as an albatross in TO squirm if the Sens start to move up the ladder. 12th place with 6 points out of 4th is a damned sight better prospective for the future than 15th and fading fast. The ultimate angst for Leafs fans would be to see their team finish last – and then LOSE the lottery draw. Losing it again to Edmonton would send them into fatal apoplexy.
CO. I disagree. Ottawa didn’t just make this trade for today & a run at the playoffs now, this is a hockey trade. I like Phaneuf. I feel he is a solid #2 Dman who can now anchor Ottawa’s 2nd pairing with Ceci & I can support this with stats & facts. Most of our regulars have heard them repeatedly. Minutes played, points, plus minus, hits, blocked shots, etc.
Ottawa even with Phaneuf is in tough to make the playoffs. Their 4 points back of NYI for the final wildcard spot currently & NYI has 3 games in hand. Their 6 points out of the 3rd division slot. This trade doesn’t guarantee them a playoff spot but it helps.
Phaneuf’s #’s offensively are going to rise significantly. His spot on the Ottawa’s #1 power play is essential a given & he will be feeding players that actually can score in Ottawa. I also see him playing at least the same # of minutes if not slightly more.
Their aren’t enough Phaneuf’s to go around. Phaneuf’s only problem is salary & term. He’s not a 7 million dollar Damn for 5 more years after this year but when his contract was signed facing UFA status that was the market. That market has changed significantly. It started in July of 2014. In that time frame we have watched the Canadian dollar drop from 93 cents to 70 & the cap hit the brick wall.
I like this deal for both teams, I like it for Phaneuf & I like it for me. I have him in 3 pools, acquiring him for a 4th round pick in 1 2 weeks ago. He is in a tie for 45th in points by Dman in my fantasy leagues. All our 20 team leagues, 24 man rosters, dress 14, 3C, 3RW, 3LW, 4D & a G. Protect 12 year to year. That makes him a solid #3 & with the move he probably moves into the top 35 by seasons end.
For this deal to “work out” for the Sens Phaneuf would need to be a serviceable top 4 dman for the next 5 seasons. I don’t see that happening.
I would be happy to see the Sens finish 10th or 9th or make the playoffs for that matter. It doesn’t change the fact that they are not a very good team. I don’t think this is the solution for them but fill your boots!
Also -Toronto’s rebuild is not contingent on winning the draft lottery. They are building for the long term. They’re going to look pretty good in 4-5 years.
hhaha george
are you an ottawa fan?
First, the kessel trade and losing out on seguin + hamilton + him winning a cup was the worst. Lets not forget Larry Murphy (cup) and Andreychuck (cup) for peanuts…
Second the salary cap era sucks just as bad.
Third would be the leafs finishing 1-3 and being pushed back to 5-7th this year
If phaneuf won a cup id think its deserving.
Lindberg could very well be top 6 material if not, offensive 3rd line so leafs will like this kid. By asking for this kid I think they actually did their homework in looking for one of the sens prospects.
It’s absolutely true that phaneuf will likely be a lot better on the second pairing than on a depleted team like the leafs. The only thing I hope is that he tones down his game and starts being more of a reliable back end Dman as opposed to from offence. If it’s to work with Ceci that’s how it’s gotta be.
I’m not sure how I feel about phaneuf but it has the chance to be good for the sens long term. This isn’t a desperate move at all by the sens. They could of gone after a rental if it was about making the playoffs. This has BM signature all over it in trying to make this team competitive for the next few years. Guy under contract.
Is he worth 7? No. Closer to 5. But that’s the price you pay sometimes to get a guy and so be it.
I expect him to probably be just as good now than in 4-5 years from now.
And man, with Chabot coming up how sick is the sens going to be on the back end! Stupid good!
Striker, Phaneuf might be a solid #2 in your fantasy league but from watching him play the last 7 years I’d say he’s barely a top 4 on a good team. With nhl dmen getting younger and more mobile it’s hard to imagine a 33-, 34- or 35- year old Phaneuf being better than a 5-6 guy.
You just contradicted yourself. I agree losing breeds losers. You said this is bad for Gardiner & Reilly & then said bring up Nylander or Kapanen. That’s last thing you want to do this season is introduce more youth to a losing culture.
Neither player will have any of his 9 games wasted this season & depending upon how the remainder of trades play out the deadline, this summer & what UFA’s maybe signed they may not play more than the 9 games before their NHL ELC’s kick in next season.
Proper player development takes time. The best model in the NHL is Detroit. Nylander is 19, Kapanen 18. They may spend another full season in the minors or maybe they get a cup of coffee next season. I don’t know to be honest but exposing them to this environment isn’t a positive in the short term, the next year or 2.
Toronto has said this is going to be done properly & that generally means players play out their junior eligibility, spend a year & a 1/2 to 2 years in the minors & then get slowly worked into the line up as 3rd or 4th liners, then over the next 3 to 5 years work their way into top 6 roles if able.
There is always room at the top though. Just ask Dylan Larkin the 1st player in 25 years to make the Detroit Red Wings at this young an age. He was drafted in 2014.
The Leafs dump long term salary for short term salary that they may be able to move for prospects or draft picks.
Is Toronto clearing the decks financially for a run at Stamkos? maybe, in the short term the real winners are anyone who frequents this site as we won’t have to listen to an of those Phaneuf and any number of stiffs for Crosby or anyone else who has real value rumors that people spin.
ahhh…they’ll have a hard time moving any of the Sens garbage…Murray tried to get Cowan and Greening out for awhile, and nothing…Michalek IF he’s healthy might get you a 3rd…
I think it is a good trade for both..both teams move their garbage and allow some players a fresh start. A little expensive for Sens in couple of years down the road…but, if Phaneuf plays well for a couple of years, maybe his contract once it winds down turns into something moveable for the sens…fingers crossed.
Well Phaneuf haters, you got your wish (except for the bag of pucks you were so hoping would be going back your way).
If you told me The Leafs would shed Clarkson’s 6mill, Kessel’s 8mill and Phaneuf’s 7mill and only have to eat 1.25 of it to get out from under all 3 contract’s I would have called you a dreamer.
Good job on The Leaf’s new regime moving those contracts at all, let alone eating only just over a mill a year to do it.
This proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that MLSE is committed to a long term rebuild… Hope Babs signed off on this one too…
You forgot they took back Horton’s contract 5.8 mill/tr
That will never see the light of day…. I think something in the next CBA will need to address the LTIR loop hole that a rich team like the Leafs seem set on exploiting with currently nearly 22 million bucks on LTIR or nearly half of the cap floor….rich teams can still flex financial might.
Shticky – you sound like a russian communist – why don’t we just pay all the players the same salary, same for coaches, same for ticket prices for fans? Teams like The Leafs gave up lots in agreeing to a salary cap they didn’t need to help the league as a whole but they chose to by agreeing to a hard cap – you can’t govern the fact that they can afford to pay guys outside of the cap…
I also believe that short term the Sens win this deal. They get a solid player, when used correctly, who can step in and be effective. Yes Phaneuf’s tenure has been tumultuous to say the least and he isn’t “the” guy in terms of leadership.
As for this clearing salary for Stamkos I don’t know. Dion was a hold over, and at the time a necessary one, from the “country club” and the opportunity came along for the team to cut that albatross contract loose allowing them more freedom in their plans. If this is a true rebuild then adding Stamkos would be great for the short term, it contradicts the image of what they are trying to do. As a Leafs fan, I have accepted a 5 year rebuild and would rather see it through than to do a repeat of the last “rebuild” after they made the playoffs unexpectedly then scrapped the plan.
I never understand why people think Stamkos is too old to be part of a young team? Just cause the guy started playing when he was 18 and he’s been in the league for 7-8 years doesn’t make him old…lol
My issue with Stamkos isn’t his age… it’s his decline in production. TSN did a really in depth article about how well Stamkos has produced both when playing with Martin St. Louis and after him. The contrast was striking. The same article broke down Lecavalier’s production and the results were identical. When St. Louis was at his wing he was a 50-60 goal scorer and a 90+ point producer. Since then he’s had a 40 goal year and looks like he’s going to have a 30 goal year… and not reach a point per game. He’ll want top dollar but signs are pointing to him declining.
Stamkos hasn’t played his natural position at Centre most of the season. Also factor in that Stamkos has been replaced on Tampa’s top power play line has also effect his numbers.
To think a guy like Stamkos is somehow washed up or declining than you don’t understand the situation for him in Tampa and you have little to no ability to comment on talent.
Give Stamkos his top line centre role back, with some decent wingers watch how quickly his number climb.
Hmmm… throwing insults because I have a different opinion than you, quite mature… and that doesn’t change the fact he has shown signs of decline. Other star players have managed to produce at consistently high levels regardless of linemates and sometimes being put in an off-position. Others have burned out after doing very well in the first so many seasons of their careers.
If the team is truly considering going after him (assuming he leaves, which I think is most likely) than they really need to look at what he will most likely bring to the team and offer a fair price for that… otherwise walk away.
I’m not saying he is too old. I’m looking at what will have to be paid long term and the effects that will have on the rebuild. He’s going to demand term and high dollar (rightfully so) which puts the Leafs right back in the same boat as they were in with Phaneuf’s contract. Yes they will have more potential scoring and better leadership, but, why not develop that in Marner et al like the Wings have successfully done in the past?
I don’t understand why ppl thnk Stankos would want to rot on a rebuilding team.
I really hope he doesnt lol
Very similar to what the Flames got for Dion, Shocked Ottawa was the team to step up and take that contract but from all accounts they had been trying to shed Greening for sometime.
Hope this helps the Sens into the playoffs and helps Toronto signing Stamkos …
Was pretty suprised when I heard this being a Hockey fan and a Sens fan.
Sens win this trade in my opinion.
For the exact reasons brought out in the Article
Lou can sell a ketchup popsicle to a man in white gloves. Leafs win this trade in 2 years good game
Leafs are now in full tank mode….
Ya this could get rather ugly rather quickly. Lol
Interesting perspective Lyle… You have a much brighter view of Phaneuf’s future than I do. IMO he was the third best dman on a very weak TOR roster. On a decent team I would picture him as a borderline 4th defenseman. In 3-4 years from now he’s going to be a 5-6 making $7M. The Leafs “shed some long term cap space” is a slight understatement IMO. They gained $28M in cap space over 4 seasons (16-17 to 19-20).
I doubt Cowen has a long term future in TOR. If he does that’s just a bonus. The deal for me was ridding an ugly contract for a 2nd rd pick and B prospect. I wish Dion well but I’m happy to see him out the door. There will be many better uses for that cap space moving forward.
Phew. And for a second I thought the Sharks were interested in Phaneuf. What a relief.
Fun for me to see today I got it right about Phaneufs situation. I’ve said for over a year that Leafs didn’t want to retain salary on Phaneuf and any trade involving Phaneuf will probably be more of a salary dump situation. That’s also what transpired in the end. For Leafs to have gotten value for Phaneuf, they’d have had to retain $1.5-2M annually.
I agree denne they really didn’t get much value in return just a couple of maybes. I really hope we start focusing on defense and goaltending this draft really not much coming up
I need more time to process it but I see 11 million going out in Cowen, Michalek & Greening for 1 more year after this year & 7 million coming in. Phaneuf will have 4 years left on his deal when these other 3 players will have come off the books.
I think Cowen may still be an asset in trade for Toronto due to his potential 650K cap recapture option available on his contract should he be bought out this summer. Again being under 26 only a 1/3 of 4.5 million so 750K spread over 2 years but allowing a 650K credit next season to whoever buys him out. Time will tell.
I like the deal for both teams. Toronto gets at least 1 player to play next season in Michalek & can look at moving him approaching the 2017 trade deadline. They needed some NHL bodies to dress this year as the current crop of UFA’s are moved out as well as next season as Shticky & I were discussing the other day. No 1’s taking Greening so maybe he’s 1 of those bodies to help flush out a 23 man NHL roster to complete the season.
Yep that was a thing we did agree on the team is going to have to have some bodies coming back in theses deals because neither one of us sees more than a couple to a few young guys on this team to start next year, this is among the reasons I could see moving Komarov aswell. There will be other vets to take his place with some of these moves, Id rathersell an asset at a high before the team (and his value) bottom out too bad.
We agree to disagree on Komorov. All good. I want to know exactly what Komorov is before I consider moving that asset & with 2 more years after this season with his contributions not to mention cap friendly contract I wait until closer to his contract expiring to make that determination.
By the end of next season we will know exactly what Komorov is going to be. At only 155 games of NHL experience I want to see at least another 100 NHL games minimum. Ideally 200 to 300 games of NHL experience for him to reach his full potential & be what he’s going to be for many years to come. I don’t see his value dropping in that time frame as there is no 1 to take his minutes until then baring several significant player acquisitions.
As always unless the offer is simply to goods to refuse. If someone wants to significantly over pay me for 1 of my assets I’m all in.
Both teams win this deal. The Sens can’t afford another bad season and as hood as Karlsson is, he can’t do it all by himself on the blueline.
They gave up nobody that can’t be replaced.
Toronto gets tons of flexibility, a potential replacement for Cody Franson at best..at worst a guy who will only demand a 6-7 pair salary next time. There is room now to offer a big free-agent a long-term deal without worrying so much about Riley, Marner, Nyalander, etc and their first BIG contracts.
Lou now has more options than before and the Leafs are more likely to get a good lottery pick this year.
Karlsson is “good”…not “hood”…though he may be “hood” as well. (LOL)
With Buffy & Phaneuf off the board the cost for Polak, Hamhuis, etc, is getting significantly more expense. It all comes down to supply & demand eventually.
1. Kudos to leafs owners for giving shannahan and lou full reins to manage a hockey team not a business
2. Phaneuf is good and best player in deal
3. I think leafs have 20 – 30 million cap space next year
4. Karlsson + Phaneuf are pretty good defensemen
5. Does this make leafs better or worse this year lol
6. Does this make Ottawa better or worse this year lol
7. Curious move for ottawa considering their standing (out of playoffs) they must really believe in phaneuf (now & near future) or why make the trade?.
Pretty risky gamble (contract) if they don’t really believe in him.
They just beat leafs 6-1 and phaneuf turned over 1st goal (i think)
If they make playoffs consistently then its a good trade for them, if not then ouch (same as pitts with kessel)
8. Leafs get a 2nd + 3rd liner prospect + Cowen + Cap Relief
Win / Win
On the Team 1200 yesterday, they had the Bryan Murray press conference where he specifically mentioned that when Lou called him to talk trade, Murray was the one who specifically brought up Phaneuf right off the bat. I think Murray sees something in Phaneuf that he can work with and would be a good fit (I agree myself on this) and I think that removes any question of Ottawa thinking this will be a gamble.
cool thx for the info.
Ottawa would’ve had to include a pick or a prospect just to get rid of those contracts in any deal, even if they only got a bag of pucks coming back. Phaneuf didn’t get a second and a prospect. Rupert and Lindberg have about the same chance of making te NHL, which makes this deal more like Phaneuf for free. I understand why we did it, but make no mistake Ottawa won this deal. We got long term cap space which isn’t nothing, but in the end Ottawa became a better team and we became worse. Dion will thrive in Ottawa.
Gino Reda just sent out a great tweet. “Finishing dead last in the NHL,;30th, guarantees you an 80% chance of NOT picking 1st & a 55% chance of NOT even selecting in the top 3.” Welcome to the NHL’s new weighted lottery that kicked in last season to helpm eliminate tanking. Just ask Edmonton, Buffalo or Arizona their opinions of the new weighting. Their opinions will vary significantly. Edmonton loves them, Buffalo thinks their OK & Arizona thinks they blow although Dylan Strome is a nice consolation prize & in most years is the #1.
We all know Edmonton’s already been preordained to pick 1st again this season right?
with the new acquisitions I believe in 2 seasons Michalek, Cowen, Greening…along with Robidas & Lupul will be off the books in 2 seasons. Can this be a play for Stamkos this off season and Tavares in 2 seasons? along with their young prospects they could be poised to do well.
Being a Sens fan I didn’t like the deal just because of the name I saw that they acquired in the update. But once I got over it and realized that they dropped 2.4 mil to get a top 4 DMan, I couldn’t be so upset. Short term it’s great because I think he can be and is a good second pairing guy. His actual money owed declines from now on so that make Melnyk happy. Just the long term might be tricky but the Sens have never been a cap team so that’s not a big deal. I just hope it doesn’t force them to move guys up for raises.
It makes the battle of Ontario a lot more fun haha. My Leaf fan friends are already starting the shenanigans so the beginning of march with be very fun. The only thing is I’m getting tired of moves to just get in the playoffs rather than making deals to get them deep. I hope there are a few more moves up Murray’s sleeve
Ive been quite about this whole deal. Reading insults on this and the other thread. I know it is difficult for some to comprehend that others do have a POV and it can be different then your own. But thats what makes this game great . We can all agree to disagree and have a beer at then end of the day.
That being said I believe it is a good deal for both teams. A lot of ifs for both, but its good to see guys like Lou and BM take chances.
QUIET ! lol
I think the Sens probably win this one.
I also believe that this hurts the chances at Stamkos going there, although if he does I would be surprised that he would really want to throw his career and chances at a cup away.
I have 10 million reasons why he would go there 🙂