NHL Trade: The Maple Leafs Send Dion Phaneuf To Ottawa
Dion Phaneuf

The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded Dion Phaneuf, Matt Frattin, Casey Bailey, Ryan Rupert and Cody Donaghey to the Ottawa Senators for Jared Cowen, Colin Greening, Milan Michalek, Tobias Lindberg and a 2017 2nd round pick.

There is no salary retained by either team.

Dion Phaneuf: $7 million cap hit through 2021.
Matt Frattin: $800,000 cap hit. In the AHL. A UFA at the end of the season.
Casey Bailey: $912,500 cap hit. In the AHL. A RFA at the end of the season.
Ryan Rupert: $653,333 cap hit through next season, RFA afterwards.
Cody Donaghey: First year of his entry level deal – $600,000.

Jared Cowen: $3.1 million cap hit through next year. He’ll be a RFA after next season.
Colin Greening: $2.65 million cap hit through next year. He’ll be a UFA after next season. Currently in the AHL.
Milan Michalek: $4 million cap hit through next year. He’ll be a UFA after next season. Currently injured.
Tobias Lindberg: First year of his entry level deal – $693,333. Currently in AHL. Drafted 102nd overall in the 4th round of the 2013 draft by the Senators.

Thoughts from the media:

  • Ken Campbell: “Don’t laugh, but the key to this deal might just be Tobias Lindberg. Very good prospect. Helped Oshawa to Mem Cup last year.”
  • James Mirtle: “The other key to this trade for the Leafs is they got something beyond cap space. Lindberg is a decent prospect. And a second-round pick.”
  • Grant McCagg: “I like the deal for Ottawa. Phaneuf on the 2nd pairing with Ceci should work well..they needed another defensive presence on back end IMO.”
  • Ian Mendes: Clarke MacArthur on Dion Phaneuf: “I’ve been asked in the past about what kind of guy he is. But I had no idea anything like this was coming.” … “We need a little more veteran presence on the ice. We needed another veteran guy and we got that in Dion.”
  • Ray Ferraro: “IMO Phaneuf fit is 2nd pair w very good player in Ceci but can’t get mind around contract-love cap availability in future for TML.”
  • Craig Custance: “Heading into season I didn’t think there was any way the Leafs move Dion Phaneuf without retaining salary. TO re-established value there.”
  • Platinum Seat Ghosts: “Dreger: “Babcock did a great job upselling Dion Phaneuf.”
  • Conor McKenna: “Leafs are a smart organization. Feels weird to say it, but it’s definitely true.”
  • Renaud Lavoie: “#senators were looking for a D to play with Cody Ceci for a while. Dion Phaneuf trade will help right away.”
  • Damien Cox: “Weird. It’s almost like Leafs sending out message they now have ability to accommodate a big name UFA this summer. If one’s interested.”
  • Bob McKenzie: “Keys for TOR: Losing long-term $ commit to Phaneuf; get prospect Tobias Lindberg and 2nd rd pick; getting NHL D in Cowen to replace Dion.”
  • Down Goes Brown: “Really interested to see Phaneuf as a clear #2. Didn’t fully deserve the beating his reputation took due to Toronto’s misuse over the years.”
  • Michael Traikos: “Huge for Leafs to unload Phaneuf –and not importantly his contract. Means they can go after Stamkos hard.”
  • Jonathan Willis: “Toronto gave Phaneuf a good partner and lowered his QualComp. A fantastic pump-and-dump by the #Leafs; every team can learn from this.”
  • Rob Longley: “#Leafs management may not admit it but Phaneuf salary dump had to be a huge part of the appeal of this deal. See Kessel.”
  • Damien Cox: “A year ago, would have been thought impossible for Leafs to move contracts of Clarkson, Kessel and Phaneuf. But they somehow did.”
  • Paul Hendrick: “Jared Cowan ranked very high on Leafs’ draft priority in 2009. Greening played his high school hockey at Upper Canada College. “
  • Travis Yost: “I think this is a pretty fair deal. Ottawa gave up ~ nothing. Phaneuf’s contract is poisonous, but he can still play. That’s about it.”
  • Bruce Garrioch: “Milan Michalek had to add Toronto to his 10 team no trade list to accept the deal or would have been done Monday night,. #Sens”
  • Don Brennan: “#Sens biggest loss of all they’re giving up will likely turn out to be Lindberg, a former fourth rounder who looks like he has potential”
  • Dan Rosen: “I bet you Phaneuf is good in Ottawa because he’ll be a (highly paid) second pair D. He’ll fit better that way. Less minutes and pressure.”
  • Scott Wheeler: “Michalek is cash coming back. Cowen and Greening have really struggled. Second round picks are great. Lindberg is a mediocre prospect.”
  • Frank Seravalli: “So many layers to deal. Cap hits worked, but #Leafs traded $33M in future contract commitments in exchange for $11.7M in commitments. Huge.”
  • Nicholas Goss: “Kinda interesting that Ottawa, a budget team, would take on Phaneuf’s contract with Hoffman and Ceci as RFAs this summer.”
  • Dan Rosen: “So the Leafs added some salary for next season, but getting rid of Phaneuf’s cap hit sets them up for a big ticket add this summer or next.”
  • David Pagnotta: “That being said, I suspect the Leafs will aim to flip Michalek at some point. Greening a non-factor as he’s in AHL. Def long-term savings”
  • Damien Cox: “Leafs did a superb job of rebuilding Phaneuf’s rep to the point he could be moved. As second fiddle in OTT he’ll be very good.”
  • Bruce Garrioch: “Possibility the Leafs buy out Cowen and Greening at the end of the season.”
  • Ryan Wagman: “Early thoughts – like the deal for Toronto. Lindberg is the highest end prospect of the bunch. I’m a big fan – so is DJ Smith”

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