Massive Trade Between Senators and Maple Leafs

Not long after big defenseman Dustin Byfuglien re-upped in Winnipeg for five years and $38 million – ending any potential he could be dealt this year – the Maple Leafs sent rugged blue-liner Dion Phaneuf to Ottawa as the centerpiece of a big deal.

In my opinion, this deal was Lindberg and a 2nd for Phaneuf.

He was named the 18th captain in Maple Leafs history on June 14, 2010.

The Senators get the best player in the trade – heck, by this time next year, he may be the only NHL player in the trade at all – and based on old-time hockey wisdom, that means they win the deal. It is about future salary cap space.

While the Toronto Maple Leafs are playing their first game since trading captain Dion Phaneuf, the Calgary Flames are missing several stars of their own. Moving Phaneuf would be a big step along that path, but finding someone willing to take on his contract or surrender assets in exchange for his services, should Lou be able to pull it off, would be one of Lamoriello’s biggest accomplishments as an National Hockey League personnel man. “But it’s upsetting at the same time to lose the guys we have”.

But what exactly are those…

Really, it is all starting to fit together perfectly. Once you get past the shocking reality that these long-time bitter rivals just made a nine-player blockbuster trade (their first time dealing since 1998), you can start to look at what this trade means. He told Phaneuf as much when the two spoke by phone after the trade was completed.

There also has been plenty of speculation that Stamkos, who is from the Toronto suburb of Markham, could make a return to play for his hometown team. And they nearly always did in Toronto.

The GM raved about Phaneuf, describing him as a supportive presence during the organization’s transition this fall, which included Lamoriello as the new GM and Babcock as the new head coach.

The Sens and Flyers are pretty similar teams right now. That created a lot of problems for the Maple Leafs.

At the most basic level, this doesn’t change too much for the Buffalo Sabres. Teams looking to acquire Phaneuf wanted the Maple Leafs to view this is a “salary dump” situation. At least for now.

Toronto rid itself of the remaining five years on Phaneuf’s contract, which carries a $7 million annual cap hit. Download the FOX 40 News app for free today. And that is assuming they don’t flip any of them before their contracts expire. That quality play probably signed his ticket out of Toronto. And there is always the possibility that the lottery balls go their way for the June draft where Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine and Jesse Puljujarvi are lurking.

This deal was more about ditching the long-term contract of Phaneuf than anything else. He may have slowed in a game increasingly turning toward speed, but he retains a powerful shot from the point and, even diminished, would bolster Ottawa’s weaker left side on defence. “(He) competes, he wants to win”, Murray said.

But just how concerned should fans in Tampa Bay be concerned at the thought, or perhaps the very real possibility, of No. 91 leaving the Sunshine State for his hometown Leafs this summer? Perhaps less attention will allow Phaneuf to play his game out of the spotlight, giving him a chance to focus on being the best player he can be. He isn’t part of the future for the Leafs. That the team is going to make the right decisions when it comes to adding the right pieces.