[Trade] Sens Acquire Phaneuf in 9 Player Trade

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Wasn't there something to do with Cowen's buyout that was a rare case that would help a team? I'm at work but I remember sureloss talking about it. I wonder if that's what the Leafs have in store for him.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Phaneuf @$4 million is a good player. But getting creative with the math doesn't change the fact that Phaneuf actually costs $7 million. And will continue to do so for five more years.

It's not creative though, it's basic math. It's less creative than using his cap-hit which is closer to an imaginary number when looking at simply salaries.

Phaneuf has ~35M left on his deal. The contracts sent the other way have ~16M. One person was playing in the AHL, one person was often a healthy scratch and the other was playing poorly and injured. To replace those players the money is nearing negligible. EDIT: I suppose I didn't factor in buyouts, so if the Sens actually just wanted to get rid of those 3 players it would have been closer to 10M total salary than 16M.

The difference in salary that the Senators took on was ~20M (maybe 25M when factoring in buyouts). And then the Sens have him for 5 years and some change.

I would argue that creative math is saying that Phaneuf makes 7M in 2021 when he's being paid 5.5M.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Wasn't there something to do with Cowen's buyout that was a rare case that would help a team? I'm at work but I remember sureloss talking about it. I wonder if that's what the Leafs have in store for him.

If Cowen was bought out, costing the team to do so 1.5M, the team would save $650,000 in cap next season and cost them $750,000 in cap the following season. Doesn't look super appealing.

[Split98]

Elliotte talking about how good Lindberg already. That didn't take long...

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Is this a trade where both teams lose?

I don't think Toronto loses in this trade, honestly. This trade is giving them a lot of flexibility and cap space going forward - they've only taken on short-term contracts, while at the same time, they got rid of a 5x7 albatross. This will give them cap space and flexibility once they should have completed their rebuild. Also a 2nd rounder, not bad. Didn't think they could get a 2nd in the deal without retaining salary.

This trade will also have very little impact on their tank job, so they should get a high draft pick again. I think the plan is to get Stamkos as a UFA and build around him, Marner, Nylander, Rielly and their 2016 1st. Whether that's a good idea is to be seen.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

If Cowen was bought out, costing the team to do so 1.5M, the team would save $650,000 in cap next season and cost them $750,000 in cap the following season. Doesn't look super appealing.

Hmmmm yeah that's not great. I thought it was more appealing than that. Thanks.

[Nufy]

Yeesh...

Judging by the Ticket Exchange sub forum...

There are a lot of Phaneuf fans on CP.

He leaves...multiple sets of tickets for sale...

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

This is such a weird trade. How does this make sense for anyone?

How does it not make sense for the Leafs?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Nufy

Yeesh...

Judging by the Ticket Exchange sub forum...

There are a lot of Phaneuf fans on CP.

He leaves...multiple sets of tickets for sale...

He had help.

[bluejays]

I can't believe anyone is giving the Leafs credit for this deal. The Leafs have continuously given away decent players (albeit with bad contracts), for no value in return. Who have they gotten out of any of their big contract dumps? Phaneuf is no #1 dman, but he apparently had decent value even with his contract a year ago, so why didn't they get any value for him in the trade? Kessel's trade was also a dump despite being him an elite scorer. Finding a suitor on a not so great contract isn't too hard, but it's getting value in return. They haven't got value in return for any of this so I have no idea how anyone can credit the Leafs for any of these moves.

[JJ1532]

Originally Posted by fleury

I can't believe anyone is giving the Leafs credit for this deal. The Leafs have continuously given away decent players (albeit with bad contracts), for no value in return. Who have they gotten out of any of their big contract dumps? Phaneuf is no #1 dman, but he apparently had decent value even with his contract a year ago, so why didn't they get any value for him in the trade? Kessel's trade was also a dump despite being him an elite scorer. Finding a suitor on a not so great contract isn't too hard, but it's getting value in return. They haven't got value in return for any of this so I have no idea how anyone can credit the Leafs for any of these moves.

They got a half decent prospect from the Pens in Kapanen and also got a 1st rounder that looks like they'll get with the Pens surging into the play offs.

Ok, they don't get any valuable players in return, but what they do get is cap space. Friedman covered it in his 30 thoughts, stating that the Leafs will have just $25m tied down in the 17-18 season. Thats a heck of a lot of flexibility to grab a couple of prized free agents. Add in the chance to work under Babcock and they are in an interesting position at the moment. Whether this strategy works out for them, who knows, but they are trying a complete tear down rebuild and I don't blame them. Get rid of those with hot stinking failure all over them like Kessel and Phaneuf. Let Babcock remould his own team with players Lamierello picked out especially to work with him. This could pay off big time and I don't blame them for this.

[bluejays]

I guess I'm just of the firm belief that there's almost always a GM out there who'll take a contract off someone's hands in hopes that they think they can turn around the players career (as long as the player still has potential). What separates the good management teams from the great ones are the ones who get value back. With the Pitt deal, Kapanen looks alright, but will likely be a 3rd liner being small and less dominant on the puck. The 1st rounder was conditional so it's hard to give them credit for that one. Sure now they have cap space, but we know time and time again trying to buy a team just won't work. I don't argue against dealing Phaneuf, but it would've been better to get value back rather than just a salary dump.

[Go_Flames4ever]

So the Sens' cap for their top 3 D for the next 3 years is $18.4M, while the Flames are at $17.15M for their top 3 D for the next 4 years. I like where the Flames are at.

[Thor]

So glad we got rid of Phaneuf when we did.

[Chingas]

Did I miss the second "if Gretzky can be traded" interview?

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by fleury

The Leafs have continuously given away decent players (albeit with bad contracts), for no value in return.

A decent player with a bad contract doesn't have much value.

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by codynw

They got rid of the Clarkson contract anything is possible.

They've done an amazing job of dumping contracts.

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by cznTiburon

can both teams lose a trade? I know Toronto frees up some cap space so I guess that is the only positive here. Not like Michalek is any good anymore. This is a mind blowing trade

How is this not a positive for the Leafs. They took no cap after next season. This is exactly what a rebuilding team needs to do. No one thought they could pull this off.

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Getting rid of Phaneuf is the opposite of tanking.

This trade makes getting Stajan look pretty good IMO.

You're actually going to make the argument the Leafs are better without him?

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

I don't believe you can retain salary for fractions of a contract. All our nothing I'm pretty sure

Incorrect. Leafs did it for Kessel.