Leafs major move today

[sh00n]

The Calgary Flames have traded defenceman Dion Phaneuf, forward Fredrik Sjostrom, and defenceman Keith Aulie to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for forwards Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman, Jamal Mayers and defenceman Ian White.

what's the source?? that's a robbery

TSN.

EDIT: And unless this ends up being Phaneuf being flipped for Kovalchuk, you guys are gonna be Calgary East, just worse.

[Celtics_Champs]

It's been announced by Burke in the presser, it's legit.

Steal for you guys. Grats.

[bryant08]

Giguere is getting done soon, huge day.

[Raptor/LakerFan]

how good is giguere? is he a huge upgrade and if so how come it's being reported that the deal is toskala for giguere + 1st rounder.

[Avenger]

I flat out loved Ian White, Burke clearly thought he couldn't resign the kid at a fair price. You had to give up something good to get something good but White was my favourite player on the roster.

[Relentless88]

how good is giguere? is he a huge upgrade and if so how come it's being reported that the deal is toskala for giguere + 1st rounder.

Used to be one of the best, aged pretty bad I think. Still anything is an upgrade over Toskala. And he's only got a year left.

I love this deal, huge fan of Phaneuf, and we didn't have to give up Kadri or Schenn.

[DreamTeam09]

do we get a pick or give 1 up??? and does giguere have a yr on his contract after this?? I believe toskla was a free agent ri...??

[Rhettmatic]

@DarrenDreger: Giguere to Toronto for Toskala and Jason Blake. Done!!

[RomaniaLuvTR]

i`m shocked we traded the players i hated most toskala and blake...10x BRYANNNNN

[rapsfan1231]

i love phaneuf but how are the leafs going to able to maintain such a pricey D group

Komi- 4.5 million
Phaneuf- 6.5 million
Kaberle- 4.2 million
Beauch- 3.8 million
Finger- 3.5 million

that's 21.5 million for 5 defencemen

not to mention schenn's rookie contract is going to end after next year.

KABERLE needs to be dealt soon but bruke is for some dumb reason opposed to trading him.. but he got rid of blake so he is fine for a while..

[rocket2981]

Really nice move for Burke if he was able to send Blake's contract to ANA. HUGE...

[bryant08]

On the topic of our expensive d-men, Finger won't be around too long IMO. I think he'll be shipped out or at worst sent down to the minors. We lost plenty of scoring but the major thing is we picked up a massive building block for a few temporary pieces and Ian White. Not bad at all and let's see if Giguere can re-gain his form with a very good shot at playing time.

[Contract Season]

Wrote more in the other thread, but the Giguere trade is an absolute heist.
They take on an extra year of Jason Blake? OK, smart move there Anaheim

Like the Phaneuf trade. He's overrated, but White's going to ask for $4 million and his play has declined recently. Aulie can play, nobody's talking about him but he's a 6-foot-5 punisher.

[_venom_]

I love both trades for the Leafs.

We gave up 3 free agent's (only White might have been re-signed and probably for more than he's worth) and a decent but easily replaceable winger in Hagman. In return we got a young defenceman who might do well with a change of scenery, a speedy penalty killing winger in Sjostrom and one of Calgary's top 3 prospects in Aulie. The deal is almost a wash financially for this season, and then Phaneuf contracts runs for a few more seasons.

In the Giguere deal, we give up the worst goalie in the NHL (yes the WORST) and a bad contract in Blake that runs for 2 more years after this year for a former Conn Smythe winning goalie in need of a change. Toskala (4 this year) and Blake (4 this year and the next 2 years)= 16 million in total salary . Giguere= 13 million in total salary (6 this year, 7 next).

[The Main Event]

wowwww

[whysoserious]

i love phaneuf but how are the leafs going to able to maintain such a pricey D group

Komi- 4.5 million
Phaneuf- 6.5 million
Kaberle- 4.2 million
Beauch- 3.8 million
Finger- 3.5 million

that's 21.5 million for 5 defencemen

not to mention schenn's rookie contract is going to end after next year.

KABERLE needs to be dealt soon but bruke is for some dumb reason opposed to trading him.. but he got rid of blake so he is fine for a while..

The one that has to go first is Finger, may be the worse siginng of all. I think Leaf fans underestimate how good Kaberle is. He does make mistakes and is not physical but his puck moving ability is huge. I'd move Finger as soon as possible, not an easy task. Hang on to the rest for another year and then decide between Beachemin or Komisarek which one to trade.

[noob_please]

komi, phanuef,kaberle,schenn beauch = best defensive line in the league.

kadri,kessel,bozak,stalberg,mitchell = all have potential to be great

More trades are going to come, we are getting younger and faster and tougher and all north american born players.

In the next few years we are going to be the L.A Kings of the east.

[sh00n]

komi, phanuef,kaberle,schenn beauch = best defensive line in the league.

kadri,kessel,bozak,stalberg,mitchell = all have potential to be great

More trades are going to come, we are getting younger and faster and tougher and all north american born players.

In the next few years we are going to be the L.A Kings of the east.

I wanna see this optimism in a few games. The Leafs may be impressive defensively. But offense? I'm still searching for it.

And you guys don't even have someone that would be a top 3 center on any other team, how the hell are you going to be the LA of the East? Find yourself a Kopitar and Doughty first.

[noob_please]

thats why i said in the next few years..via draft, trade, free agents. Look what happened today ...we got rid of useless old players for a young player that will anchor our defense. The guys that we traded were all 30+ Now guys from the marlies/ and other young players will get called up and more ice time. Player can only do with do much with 2 min of ice time a game. but since all these players have been shipped out look at ho wmuch ice time is up for grabs and how much they can improve and show off their skills.


It took L.A a long time to get where they are at today. It just didnt happen over night, This is just out second season re building... a lot has happened in those two years and a lot more is still to come.

[Morris_Shatford]

I have to wonder how much of this is spite to assure that Boston doesn't end up with the top pick in this years draft.

Overall,
Regardless of your thoughts on White and Stajan the reality is that to land a player like Phaneuf who is 24 and having a bad year is normally going to cost you something, and the fact that it didn't cost the Leafs either of their prospects is solid.

The fact that it only cost that means that Calgary has realize that having five mega priced players on the roster and then other folks was not the key to success.

Jay Bouwmeester and Phaneuf both seemed to suffer on the same team, and what was thought to be a great idea turned out to devalue both players, clearly the Flames feel that Jay Bouwmeester is the keeper and the guy they want to build their core around.

The Leafs needed another young-ish piece to serve as a cornerstone aside from Phil the Thrill, and they certainly were able to do just that.

Leaf fans tend to overvalue their talent, but the reality is that White and Stajan combine won't have a better career then Phaneuf will.

The other deal,

Trash In, Trash Out.

Toskala is nothing short of terrible, and Blake was a bad deal before the ink dried on his contract.

The Leafs have had a hard time being able to bring in an elite goaltender, and Giggy will serve as a nice stopgap till the Leafs can.

The Leafs are still pretty terrible, but terrible with some room to grow which was better then it was on Friday.