You've been complimentary of Phaneuf during your time in Toronto, what about this trade made you willing to deal him?
Well first of all, you're right Chris [Johnston]. I've been extremely impressed with Dion from day one. As I mentioned consistently, I came in with no preconceived notions so I really didn't know what to expect other than what there was as far as hearsay at different times. He has been impressive in every way whatsoever. The phone call I had with him, I expressed that. I meant it sincerely. He has been a great leader, he has handled every situation that's been asked of him and he is going to be missed, there's no question. But, a transaction like this has to be made for the reasons that they're made. That is staying with the plan that's in place.
What made Lindberg an attractive prospect to you to be included in the deal?
Well we certainly, as I've said repeatedly, have an outstanding scouting staff with Mark Hunter and his group. Mark had him very high on his list and we felt very comfortable that when we had to select players -- whenever you put this type of transaction together -- that he was one individual prospect that we targeted and he became part of the deal. He's a size and strength forward and he'll be given every opportunity. He'll be reporting to the Marlies but we'll look and see exactly how he'll fit into our prospects that we have.
How does this trade get you closer to being a good team two or three years down the line?
First of all I think the length of Dion's contract and the amount of cap space that is there, where that would put us at a given time, certainly not knowing where the cap will go -- and I always have had a feeling that it would level off -- this gives us the opportunity to do things. It also gives us the opportunity when some of our younger players are coming at the end of their entry-level contracts, who we have high expectations for, to be able to sign them. This was a transaction that certainly wasn't for today. Dion is going to leave, certainly, a hole in our lineup, there's no question. I think that what, as I've said continuously what the overall plan is, when you have an opportunity to do this -- and I don't think we're going to sacrifice anything up front. We hope with the players we did acquire who have potential -- one being an established forward who should fit into our top-six next year -- that what our coaching staff can do with them and sometimes a change of scenery bring the most out of someone. This is a transaction that I think we had no choice with.
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Was there interest from another team that made you think of a different transaction?
You really don't want me to talk about that do you?... I have no comment on that.
How difficult is it with the salary cap being flat to pull off a deal like this and how quickly did it come together?
It's an understatement to say how difficult it is these days. Bryan and I have done a big deal -- when I say a big deal, not as many players -- back in the early 2000s. I think the relationship is where, when you get in to a conversation you either know whether you're going to be able to go forward or not. There's not any back and forth. The respect and understanding we have of each other, we've been in the business a while. It was something that came about, we had conversations, we spent the time necessary that had to be done. As far as how long it took, this is something that came off over the last week or so.
