Nik the Trik said:Significantly Insignificant said:Maybe not a boat anchor, but a problem in a sense that the teams that could have offered a pick and prospect wouldn't have been able to fit him under the cap without moving a piece that they potentially wanted to keep. Also there is the fear that the cap is going down or staying the same again next year.
Sure, but moving a piece you potentially want to keep goes hand in hand with acquiring a player of value. Again, I'm ok if this trade is saying that the "You know, Phaneuf would actually make a pretty good #2/great #3" people were if not wrong then at least out of step with NHL GM's but otherwise it's hard to read this trade as being particularly good.
I see your point, but I don't really think of it as being that bad of rip off. I didn't hate Phanuef, and I largely agree with the premise that he was miscast in Toronto. I think the best thing about this deal however is continuation of moving forward. Perhaps they could have squeezed more out of another team, but I think that the Leafs got what they wanted, and most of the core that wasn't built to win is almost gone.