WELCOME TO OTTAWA, DION PHANEUF
OSHAWA – Dion Phaneuf played his first game as a Senator yesterday at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa. Phaneuf says he enjoyed every minute of it, despite the end result.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded 30-year-old Dion Phaneuf to the Ottawa Senators. After playing with Toronto for six seasons, Phaneuf laced up his skates and tried on a new uniform.
The deal involved nine players between the two teams. The Senators were on the hunt for an A-class defenceman. Apparently Dion Phaneuf fit the description.
We all know about the Maple Leafs struggles making the playoffs over the past ten years. It is time for change. Maple Leafs management believes this will help guide the organization towards long-term success.
This trade allows the Maple Leafs organization to free-up valuable salary cap space. Dion Phaneuf is a talented hockey player; but he’s not worth $7 million.
Dion Phaneuf’s NHL career statistics
Games played: 802
Goals: 120
Assists: 304
Penalty Minutes: 598
Hits: 1,112
This year, Dion Phaneuf has racked up three goals, and 21 assists in 52 games. Since the 2005-2006 season, Phaneuf ranks sixth for most points tallied among defensemen.
All this does is provide hockey fans with proof that the National Hockey League lacks talented defensemen in the modern era.
Rank NHL Defenceman Points Since 05-06 Season
1 Duncan Keith 447 points
2 Dan Boyle 446 points
3 Brian Campbell 435 points
4 Zdeno Chara 433 points
5 Shea Weber 427 points
6 Dion Phaneuf 424 points
In the end, this blockbuster trade will benefit the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs may have lost their best defencemen, but the organization acquired some key players from the Senators.
To The Leafs NHL Statistics To The Senators NHL Statistics
Milan Michalek 729 GP 206 G 232 A Dion Phaneuf 802 GP 120 G 304 A
Colin Greening 256 GP 38 G 49 A Cody Donaghey 15 GP 1 G 10 A
Tobias Lindberg *No NHL Experience Casey Bailey *No NHL Experience
Jared Cowen 249 GP 15 G 31 A Matt Frattin 135 GP 17 G 18 A
2017 2nd round pick Ryan Rupert *No NHL Experience
Dion Phaneuf says he appreciates everything the Toronto organization did for him, but he’s looking forward to starting a new chapter in his career with the Senators.
Erik Karlsson thinks Dion Phaneuf will help push the Sens into a playoff spot this season. The Ottawa Senators are only four points behind a playoff spot.
The plan for the Toronto Maple Leafs is to free up salary cap space, and the “captain” spot, for a top-level goal scorer in the near future. Many hockey experts think Steven Stamkos is the one the Leafs are keeping their eye on.
There will be no “captain” for the Maple Leafs for the remainder of the season.
The 2016 NHL Draft will be an event for all Maple Leafs fans to watch. Toronto has eleven draft picks lined up. It’s time to fill the roster with some young blood.
It is probable the Leafs will struggle more without the presence of Dion Phaneuf. However, this is the first big step the Maple Leafs organization has taken to establish a dominant team in the long run.
Patience is the key.
Sources of information:
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/senators-dion-phaneuf-opens-up-about-being-traded-by-leafs/
http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2016/02/09/maple-leafs-trade-dion-phaneuf-to-senators-in-9-player-swap.html
