Toronto Maple Leafs trade Dion Phaneuf to Ottawa

The obvious possibility, however, is to potentially make a run at Stamkos, who is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

And where he was the voice in the Leafs locker room, he can blend in a bit more with Ottawa, adding support to the leadership group that is already in place without being the face of the organization. That would be insane, really, and highly unusual for the historically unlucky Leafs.

It’s clear that if given the chance, the Leafs, who are now without a captain and without a replacement lined up just yet, will come at the 26-year-old with the most money they can. Then you’ve got the outside world, which has totally changed for you as well.

The Leafs have yet to introduce William Nylander, Mitch Marner, Connor Brown, Dmytro Timashov, their four best prospects up front, to their roster. There is no question though that Phaneuf’s presence on the Ottawa blue line is an immediate upgrade as the likes of Cowen, Cody Ceci, and Marc Methot just aren’t getting it done. They are going to want to add to that number too, which would likely mean the moving of newly acquired Milan Michalek, a year from now at deadline time. He had to waive a no-movement clause in order for the deal to go through. Part of that was talking to other general managers around the National Hockey League to see what Lamoriello might be able to attain for whomever he is choosing to make available. He no longer has to average 22-23 minutes a night and hold the responsibility of a No. 1 defenseman.

“You’re at the point in your schedule and in the season where there’s no margin for error here, ” coach Dave Cameron said. “There’s always constant talk”. It will also help take the focus off of him when he goes for a big hit and misses, taking himself out of position.

At the end of the day however, you have to admit that the biggest victor of all… We all know that any hope of success in the 2016 postseason will be more of the 2010 Flyers variety. “That’s the good part”.

“If you let your foot off the pedal and get back on your heels, you put your confidence in jeopardy again because your play will be in jeopardy”, Cameron told the NHL’s official website. The deals of Greening, Cowen and Michalek were a problem in Ottawa, but they don’t especially matter for Toronto – all three contracts expire next year, well before the Leafs will be ready to contend again, and Cowen’s even carries a rare cap credit if the Leafs buy him out.

The Flyers of Paul Holmgren’s era may have been fooled by their strong play of late, thinking that a player like Phaneuf – or Dustin Byfuglien, who was on the trade market until he signed a new deal in Winnipeg yesterday – would be enough to bump them into the postseason and hopefully beyond. For that he was crucified on many occasions by the unforgiving spotlight of the Toronto media.

Phanuef is the first Leaf captain to be traded since Doug Gilmour was sent to New Jersey during in 1997. Is Dion Phaneuf. He finally gets to remove the thorn from his ass, that is, the Toronto media and fans.