Stickytape
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Yeah, it feels like a one-sided rumour: I'm sure Edmonton would like Phaneuf, but I don't see what's in it for the Leafs. I don't see a deal here.
General Leafs Talk
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KadriFan said:
I agree, however they have stockpiled some nice prospects over the last number of years...
I honestly don't think Phaneuf will see another NHL contract like this ever again, but he is an asset to any team. If you're part of the Oilers brass, and need a guy to fill that Mentor role on the ice, why not trade for someone who is co-incidentally born in your city.. and has just gotten married to someone born in Alberta, and played for your arch provincial rival.. why not??
bustaheims
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Green Leaf said:
They have some nice prospects, but, other than the guys who have already made their roster, they don't really have any centrepiece type prospects, and, outside of Yakupov, the roster players they'd likely be willing to move really don't make up for that.
Chev-boyar-sky
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bustaheims said:
If I'm Nonis and I have an idea of what he's looking for term and $ wise on an extension he's either signed or traded before the season starts.
If it looks as if he won't be staying, I'd even consider moving him for Nurse and next years 1st, if they'd be willing to make the deal. That or Yakupov, but he wouldn't be cheap as he means enough to this team and could still be dealt at the deadline.
BlueWhiteBlood
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bustaheims said:
I had a Leaf fan friend yesterday tell me that Nonis will indeed trade Phaneuf, I asked him to explain, but he didn't have time. He said that the Leafs want Franson to be the #1 and that they were actively shopping Dion. He has friends in the league, such as Steve Walkom, but I just can't believe that the Leafs are shopping him, rather than just listening to other teams as stated before.
Why does it keep coming up? I also agree with most, that we wouldn't really get what we should from Edmonton. If the Leafs wanted to trade Dion, they would put it out to the media that the top bid wins.
We'd also have to get a very good young defender back in the deal, preferably one that plays the right side. I don't see it and hope that they negotiate a smaller deal for Phaneuf and continue to let him do what he's been doing, as I think he's a good defender. I seem to be in the minority though sometimes.
bustaheims
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BlueWhiteBlood said:
Well, firstly, you have to remember the the majority of the "Leafs shopping Phaneuf" stuff isn't exactly coming from the most reliable of sources. Even your friend who has connections seems a little fishy to me. I don't believe for a second the team wants Franson to be the #1. Doesn't pass the smell test. Secondly, considering the sources it's coming from, you have to look at why they'd say something like that, and really, it comes down to two things. Firstly, Leafs rumours bring traffic and, secondly, a good chunk of Leafs fans have a negative view towards Phaneuf right now. That, combined with it being Nonis' first offseason with the Leafs, rumours of him being very active on the trade market, etc, and Dion being in the last year of his contract, it's sort of the perfect storm for this kind of stuff to keep popping up from people who want to be heard but really have nothing useful to say.
Just one thing, though - if the Leafs were shopping Phaneuf, they wouldn't put it out to the media. In the early stages of things, that hurts their bargaining position. You don't want teams to believe you're actively looking to move the guy unless you desperately want to be rid of him. What they'd do is they'd contact teams that have significant pieces they're interested in and try to start a dialogue. Things might leak out to the media, but, not until the process has gotten underway or the team has informed the other 29 teams they're looking to move him. The whole "negotiate through the media" stuff is overblown.
BlueWhiteBlood
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bustaheims said:
Well, this is what got me fired up also. I said that Franson is not yet ready to become that kind of defenseman. He may be in the future, but he can't play good enough defensive hockey for that IMO.
And that's why I said that, because Nonis has already stated the generic "we'll listen to all offers and if it helps improve our team, we'll consider it", after already saying that he doesn't see the captain being traded.
If it keeps popping up, you'd think the Leafs really do want to "get rid of" Phaneuf. Either way, I don't think the Leafs are unhappy with Phaneuf and I still think they will try to sign him on a cheaper long term deal.
If Phaneuf leaves Toronto this summer or at the deadline, I believe it will be of Phaneuf's own aspirations. That's just a hunch, but I don't buy all the negativity about Phaneuf's game. He's a top pairing guy!
Boston Leaf
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our D will take a HUGE hit if Dion leaves and is not replaced by a quality guy..
Kin
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If Nonis is about my stealth rebuild there are trades that could jump start that process(although would be of terrible value for Edmonton). If, say, they wanted to deal one of Hall or Eberle or RNH and Justin Schultz or Nurse and then Kessel could be flipped to somewhere like Nashville for something like Seth Jones and Colin Wilson....I mean, none of those deals are fair deals for the non-Maple Leafs but you could talk me into them.
BlueWhiteBlood
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Nik the Trik said:
Well, he kind of killed your theory when he signed Clarkson for 7 years IMO.
BlueWhiteBlood
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princedpw said:
I don't think that is accurate, nor what the Leafs believe either. They gave him more minutes last season and he responded, but that doesn't mean that he's ready or not ready for big defensive minutes. I think he will be closer to playing top pairing minutes this coming season, certainly with the extra PP time he'll get, but he isn't quite their defensively from what I can see.
mr grieves
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Nik the Trik said:
You mean that he'll be productive at the end of the deal when the rebuilt is ready to compete? Or that Nonis is speeding the process by signing UFA busts?
BlueWhiteBlood
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Nik the Trik said:
It was mostly in jest, but Clarkson is what, 29? If you're rebuilding, you'd think he'd sign a core young guy to that kind of term. But, I suppose you could still be right, maybe.
Chev-boyar-sky
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BlueWhiteBlood said:
I can't speak to Nik's point, but IMO guys with Clarkson's type of game aren't on the market all that often.
Trading Phaneuf for 1 of the Oilers young guys (RNH, Yak or Schultz/Nurse) and moving Kessel for Jones + would be amazing. The young players plus the cap space for the UFA/RFA market would be exactly the type of thing this, or any, franchise should be after. Realistically we have too many wingers anyway.
I don't think I could be more excited about an idea, which is why I don't see it happening.
Lupul - Wilson - Clarkson
JVR - Kadri - Yakupov
Kulemin- Bozak - Bolland
Orr - McClement - McLaren
Franson - Gardiner
Liles - Jones
Gunnar - Fraser/Holzer
In the wings: Rielly
Guys who could be moved: Colborne, Liles, Fraser, Holzer, Bozak, Bolland
Not including Jones' salary and assuming generous salaries for Franson (3.5M), Kadri (4M), Gunnar (2.5) and Fraser (1M), that's a team that comes in at 55.5M giving them loads of flexibility moving forward and some pretty high ceiling players.
While not a perfect roster, there's enough money for a #1C or a very good D man. Liles and Bozak are both movable, bigger cap hit players. The 3rd line is the perfect 3rd line IMO.
A man can dream...
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