The Toronto Maple Leafs are in crisis, clearly it is an organization in transition and the Edmonton Oilers are another team that is in transition. I think there’s room here for some pontification here and besides, it’s what I do best.
Randy Carlyle is gone and the blogosphere has everyone on the Leafs available. Phaneuf, Bozak, Kessel, Kadri, JVR, Gardiner… Nobody is safe and I love it!
Now just to preface this, I like what I’ve seen from the Oilers since Todd Nelson took over but is that just a bump from the new coaching? Are these performances something we will continue to see with regularity or can we expect the boys to come back to earth at some point? I still believe that this team is in need of a new identity. Small and skilled OUT! Hard working and fearless IN!
There are definitely some pieces on the Maple Leafs that I like and that I think would be an upgrade on what the Oilers have at the moment. I’ve enlisted The Fellowship of the Rig to comment on my proposals so this could get messy.
Oh! A second preface. Since Capgeek has gone shutters I’m not able to check on no-trade clauses or no-movement clauses. If anyone can point me in the direction of a resource that entails that information I would be grateful.
On to the proposal!
I have been on the Dion Phaneuf bandwagon since his days as a Calgary Flame. I’ve always loved his combination of toughness and talent. Yes his contract is a doozy but he is a top pairing defenceman in the NHL and he’s a very consistent performer. He rarely misses games, he plays in all situations and his ‘ol lady is easy on the eyes. Not only that but they’re both from the area if you were looking for a further narrative.
The Offer
Jordan Eberle and Justin Schultz for Dion Phaneuf and Nazem Kadri
Dollar-wise it’s tight but getting rid of Justin Schultz would mean the Oilers wouldn’t have to go through another summer of negotiating with him. One can only hope that Kadri would be a tad easier to get under contract.
Leafs GM Dave Nonis would add another scoring winger to the right side for TO who currently have waiver pick-up Richard Panik occupying the second line spot. In addition, it would reunite Jultzy with his old NCAA defense partner, Jake Gardiner.
Adding the Maple Leafs no.1 defenceman would instantly give credibility to the Oilers suffering defence. IF they could find a way to get Petry re-signed, the Oilers would have 3 right sided dmen of NHL caliber. Dion Phaneuf, Jeff Petry, and Mark Fayne. I don’t know about you but to me that looks like a serious upgrade.
*Side note: I am not buying into the notion that because Petry is from Michigan and the Red Wings need right-handed dmen that it’s a shoe-in that he’ll end up there. He’s leaps and bounds better than he was last year and I believe that is the work of Oilers assistant coach Craig Ramsay. I reckon if a deal that is to his liking is offered to him, he’ll sign it and remain in Edmonton.
I can’t understand for the life of me how Craig MacTavish can possibly entertain the notion of dealing Petry. He’s not going to get full value and isn’t the primary job of the general manager to improve the team? Dealing away its best defenceman is surely doing the opposite and in a major way. Who is going to pick up Jeff Petry’s 20 minutes a night when he’s gone? If this decision is an ego thing, then MacTavish should be fired immediately.*
Unfortunately, a deal like this would rob the Oilers of a 1st line right wing but I believe that with Hall and Nugent-Hopkins on the 1st line they would be okay and it would be a fine opportunity to try Nail Yakupov out in that spot. Oklahoma City would have a body or two worth calling up for a cup of coffee.
Nazem Kadri is a full time no.2 NHL center. He’s got a bit of the grit to his game and the ability to score the odd goal now and then. His player usage chart shows good things as well. I’m not sure how it would go down with previous no.2 center Leon Draisaitl coming back next season. I believe he’d be old enough to get sent to the AHL and that wouldn’t be a horrible thing but it could be a confusing message to send to ze young German. Then there’s the 2015 1st round draft pick. If it’s McEichel you can be sure that Kadri would have a very green but talented winger on his side.
At the time of writing Jordan Eberle is outscoring Dion Phaneuf by a mere 3 points. Eberle has 25 points and Phaneuf 22.
There are a few caveats to this Phaneuf business. The rumors that Sir Dion’s a bit of a douchebag in the dressing room. So I have to ask you, as a diehard Oilers fan, do you give a hoot what kind of person he is behind closed doors? If the man is getting the job done and his play is helping the team move in a positive direction, would that overshadow his personality defects?
Chris Pronger was no angel let me remind you.
We have to consider the Maple Leafs here as well. Is this a deal that Toronto would be glad to make. If the leafs are on the playoff bubble, do they make the trade? It would give them 3 VERY expensive right wingers. And it would leave them with a large hole in their defense and at center. Could Peter Holland do a job equal to or better than Nazem Kadri until next season wherein William Nylander is sure to step in? Could Stephane Robidas or Roman Polak fill in on the top pairing or would Justin Schultz be the immediate fill-in? The Toronto Marlies have a handful of blueline prospects bursting at the seam to get a look-see. Stuart Percy, Matt Finn, and Tom Nilsson are all just waiting for the opportunity. Lastly is Toronto higher on Cody Franson than Dion Phaneuf at this point?
The biggest eyesore is Neon Dion’s newly signed contract. Let’s be honest, first pairing dmen cost… a lot. It’s unavoidable. If a team wants that level of player, they have to pay for it with money or time developing their own. Dealing him would rid the Leafs of that monstrosity, well most of it at least. I can’t imagine them being able to deal Phaneuf without holding back some skrilla but it’s their own fault for giving him such a cap hit and term. I’d have no problem if they asked for a body out of OKC in return for eating some of the contract or taking on one of our bad contracts (Ference, Nikitin, or Purcell).
Phaneuf is in his late 20’s now and when his contract ends he will be in his mid 30’s. Some might see that as a detractor given the cap hit but I don’t believe the rugged blueliner’s talents and skills will erode so much that he won’t be a useful member of the team when he’s 35. Top defencemen tend to play into their late-30’s and early 40’s whilst still maintaining a level of play that got them to that point in the first place.
Like I mentioned above, I asked my fellow Oilers Rig writers to give me some feedback on the proposed deal and this is what they gave me:
Wow. We’d get hosed in that deal. I hate the guy but he would be a major upgrade to a position we suck at. – Shawn Kelemen (@shawn_kelemen)
No. No no no no no. That is all. Barf to Phaneuf… Barf all day long. – Jackie Dawson (@jackiedee16)
Phaneuf baby. Bring me Dion or bring me death! – Alex Thomas (@Alex_Thomas14)
I can’t stand Phaneuf either. -Dave Gordon (@rustyknuckler)
My original offer was Eberle and Schultz for Phaneuf hence the reactions above but as we talked through the proposal we came to the conclusion that Nazem Kadri should be part of the trade.
I’ve never been able to figure out what it is that Phaneuf has done to insult hockey fans in Alberta but it seems there’s a collective dislike for the guy. For me, he’s something the Oilers don’t have, they need, and the cost would be acceptable. Dion Phanuef is probably the only top pairing defender that won’t require the Oilers to overpay by leaps and bounds.
Then there is the anti-Leafs fans, and there are a whole lot out there, who hate anything that comes out of Toronto… I can’t understand that either. It’s irrational and down right stupid to think that just because a player plays for a team you dislike that he wouldn’t help your own team. There are definitely more than a few Calgary Flames I’d love to have on the Oilers.
What say you? Eberle is King Clutch but Phaneuf is Double Dion… Who do the Oilers need more?
-BLH (@beerleagueheroe)
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