Proposal: Trading down

[MapleLeaf4ever]

As you can likely see I am a leafs fan and as many leafs fans would believe we need another top 6 centre, more specifically a #1C. Kadri could potentially fill that but many, myself included, see him more of a second line guy due to his inability to step up when needed. That said I am not proposing Kadri, as he is a key piece to the leafs future however I am proposing a similar trade to what was made for Jordan Staal. I do know that defense is a need of yours but aside from that not much else comes to knowledge. So my proposal is based around our Captain.

Phanuef has regained respectability this year and finished 11th in voting. However the leafs have an extremely deep pool of defensive prospects that will likely be NHL ready within the next 2-3 years who are much more mobile and with a core of Gardiner,Rielly, and Franson, Phanuef will be expendable by next season.

That said this is a very good draft and many potential top guys sit in the top 10. And I was wondering what would need to be out in place in order to complete this transaction. I was thinking something around the frame work of this:


To Carolina
Dion Phanuef retain salary
21st Overall
Mid round pick
Mid level prospect (McKegg, Blacker, ect.)

To Toronto
5th Overall
2014/15 2nd/3rd
Toummo Ruuto/ Joni Pitkannin

Obviously the core is Dion Phanuef to swap picks but I think something like this would be a fair deal.

Click to read more...

 

[Jussijuice]

Not worth it for 1 year of phaneuf and he's too expensive. Don't see the Canes dropping down that far, but I would guess they could be interested in Phaneuf if the deal was around Ruutu or Pitkanen ++ going back.

 

[Brock Anton]

Nope. Not even close.

Dion Phaneuf isn't worth dropping down 16 spots.

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

We don't have the 7th. Edmonton does.

 

[MapleLeaf4ever]

Not worth it for 1 year of phaneuf and he's too expensive. Don't see the Canes dropping down that far, but I would guess they could be interested in Phaneuf if the deal was around Ruutu or Pitkanen ++ going back.

Fair enough. I was thinking of doing it with the intentions of him resigning with you guys. Unfortunately there isn't quite anything else that would really standout in T.O other than your pick except maybe Murphey.

A second thought however. If the leafs were to resign him for 7x5 as is expected and salary retained would that change things?

 

[MapleLeaf4ever]

We don't have the 7th. Edmonton does.

Sorry meant to say 5th ill edit that

 

[DaveG]

Nah, we'll pass. A young top 5 pick that we reserve the rights to for 7 years and Pitkanen/Ruutu for the remainder of their contracts are a lot more valuable to us then an impending UFA Phaneuf even with salary retained. There's no guarantee we'd be able to retain him and we'd taking one step forward (boosting the D) while taking two steps back (losing our lone physical top 6 forward/losing a top 4 dman, and losing out on the contract control we'll have on the top 5 pick long term).

7 per for 5 years would have us in a bad situation as well, we need to get Tlusty and Faulk under contract long-term this coming offseason, plus have a key impending UFA in Pitkanen that we need to see about being able to re-sign.

 

[Brock Anton]

Fair enough. I was thinking of doing it with the intentions of him resigning with you guys. Unfortunately there isn't quite anything else that would really standout in T.O other than your pick except maybe Murphey.

A second thought however. If the leafs were to resign him for 7x5 as is expected and salary retained would that change things?

The problem with this deal is while it fills one hole, it creates another.

Phaneuf will help defensively yes, but if we trade Pitkanen, we're still short a top 4 defenseman. If we trade Ruutu, we're short a top six forward and don't have a top 5 pick to replace him.

 

[MapleLeaf4ever]

All good points. Well thanks anyways.

 

[Swag Surf Aho]

So many Canes fans are deadset on Marc inevitabley signing here in Carolina that they're not willing to sacrifice what it would take to make the immediate changes that are needed. Dion is more agressive and meaner than Marc, which is exactly what this team is in dire need for. It'd be smart to acquire our BEST potential defensman sooner rather than later while our BEST franchise goalie is still in his prime. Goalies don't wear out like the other skaters do, but that might not be the case for Cam given the minutes he's been exposed to. Maybe it's the fact that Phaneuf is one of my favorite defensemen or that I see this team as a perrenial contender, but I would absolutely be willing to let go of futures.

Maybe it's his contract, but I don't see why the Leafs let go of their captain right after making the playoffs for the first time in however many years. It's funny, but around this time last year I was comtemplating on a lockout once we had Semin signed for only a year. Would I have rather have a ridiculously high chance of a shot at Barkov and watch Semin tear it up in the KHL just to lose him in FA, or have the NHL season play out and make the playoffs was my question at the time. Strangly, once Ward went down we ended up being the 5th worse team. What I'm saying is now that we have the opportunity to end up with both Barkov and Semin, it doesn't seem as amaxing as one would put it.

Back to the proposal, we would most certainly have to send some salary back the other way and/or have the Leafs retain some of Phaneuf's contract. Ideally, we keep Pitkanen on the 2nd line who's quite suspective of nasty foot injuries, while we replace Gleason with a much meaner Phaneuf. It's almost like compensation for losing out on the Jack Johnson trade because Phaneuf is like JJ 2.0. I'm not even so sure an exchange of picks is necessary.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

So many Canes fans are deadset on Marc inevitabley signing here in Carolina that they're not willing to sacrifice what it would take to make the immediate changes that are needed. Dion is more agressive and meaner than Marc, which is exactly what this team is in dire need for. It'd be smart to acquire our BEST potential defensman sooner rather than later while our BEST franchise goalie is still in his prime.

The issue is Phaneuf is he's a UFA after 1 season and likely to command a lot of money at the same time Faulk and Tlusty will. IMO, this team will continue to be a bubble team at best if it keeps throwing away 1st round picks for "help now".

 

[Unsustainable]

I would love Dion, but not at that price for 1 year.

 

[DaveG]

The issue is Phaneuf is he's a UFA after 1 season and likely to command a lot of money at the same time Faulk and Tlusty will. IMO, this team will continue to be a bubble team at best if it keeps throwing away 1st round picks for "help now".

Right, the debate isn't whether it's worth the #5 pick for Phaneuf. On a long-term contract with good price control it is. It's whether it's worth Phaneuf on either a one year deal that handcuffs when it comes to re-signing Tlusty and Faulk, or as a one-year rental, which neither option is worth.

 

[tarheelhockey]

The problem with this deal is while it fills one hole, it creates another.

Phaneuf will help defensively yes, but if we trade Pitkanen, we're still short a top 4 defenseman. If we trade Ruutu, we're short a top six forward and don't have a top 5 pick to replace him.

This is the biggest issue I have with the trade. I'm not sure it makes strategic sense for us.

I do think that, given an extension for Phaneuf, the original deal is pretty close to fair value. The fact that it still leaves a broken defensive corps says something about the position we're in right now.

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

IIRC, it was only when Skinner went down that Ruutu was sorely missed. Otherwise, we were scoring just fine without him.

We were 14th overall in goals/game with Ruutu only playing a third of the season and contributing 4 goals.

 

[salim919]

how about instead of the 5th pick you get Skinner?

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

how about instead of the 5th pick you get Skinner?

I don't know if I'd do it, but Skinner for Phaneuf would at least make me think