• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Toronto Maple Leafs

Analyzing the Maple Leafs – Senators Trade

By Anthony Fusco February 10th, 2016

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

I remember when the Toronto Maple Leafs first acquired Dion Phaneuf. I was still in high school, and I came home from class and went straight to TSN’s website. It was my tradition, as I would check up on all the sports news that I missed during the day.

The first image on the hockey area of the website was a picture of Phaneuf in a Flames jersey. This may sound crazy, but I knew in that moment that Phaneuf was a Maple Leaf. Don’t ask me how or why, I just had a feeling. The trade was Phaneuf, Fredrik Sjostrom and Keith Aulie to Toronto.

Niklas Hagman, Ian White, Jamal Mayers and Matt Stajan were sent to Calgary. It was a blockbuster trade that left both teams and the league reeling from the potential ramifications. That was in 2010. Six years later, Phaneuf was once again involved in a massive trade that shook the league and the two teams involved.

But this time, Phaneuf was not coming to Toronto. Instead, he will be making the trip to Ottawa to join the Senators as they begin a late push in order to try and make the playoffs. Other players shipped off to the nation’s capital include Matt Frattin, Casey Bailey, Ryan Rupert and Cody Donaghey. None of those players were probably in the Leafs plans going forward, which is what made them expendable.

The Blue and White also netted a significant return for Phaneuf. Let’s meet the newest Leafs and see what each could bring to the club.

Jared Cowen

Cowen is a very interesting case. He’s the former ninth overall selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and was picked primarily because of his size. A  solid six-foot-five defenseman is hard to come by in today’s NHL, and the Senators thought they had found a gem.

He’s been held back throughout his career by his skating and by frequent injuries. This year has seen the Senators fall out of love with the young defender, and he has become a frequent healthy scratch. Cowen is however, a salvageable asset for the Maple Leafs. He’s only a mere 25-years-old, and might flourish with a new system and scenery. Mike Babcock may be able to coach him back to prosperity and if not, his contract isn’t on the books past 2016-17.

Colin Greening and Milan Michalek

The Leafs picked up a pair of forwards as part of this deal as well. Michalek has been productive when he’s healthy, but more often than not he finds himself on the mend with some form of injury. He’s only played in the full 82 games of an NHL season once in his career, which came back in 2013-14.

Greening on the other hand, is a 29-year-old forward who has spent the majority of this season in the AHL with the Binghamton Senators. He has 13 points in 41 games and will most likely serve as a depth forward for the rest of the year on the Blue and White.

Tobias Lindberg and the 2017 Pick

He’s the highlight of this trade for the Maple Leafs. Lindberg is a a six-foot-three winger, who has some great offensive upside and is having a fine first season in the AHL. He has 22 points in 34 games and should help a deep Marlies roster as they prepare for a deep run into the playoffs.

Lindberg is considered an above average prospect, and what you may not know is that there is a Leaf connection that helped bring him here. Last season he played for the Oshawa Generals where he was an offensive dynamo who went on to win both an OHL championship and the Memorial Cup. Who was his coach in his only year of junior? None other than current Leafs assistant coach DJ Smith.

Babcock said assistant coach DJ Smith gave Tobias Lindberg, who he coached in Oshawa, a good review: “He better be right, eh? (Laughs)"

— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) February 9, 2016

The Maple Leafs also acquired a 2017 second round pick from the Senators through the deal. It’s never a bad thing to have as many picks as possible, especially when your team is in the middle of a full scale rebuild. Another win for Toronto is the fact that  Toronto will not retain any money on Phaneuf’s contract.

https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/697481180229275648

While it is too early to call a surefire winner in this trade, early thoughts suggest both teams won in their own way. Toronto got rid of the massive Phaneuf contract and came away with a young prospect and pick. Ottawa receives an elite defenseman who is prepared to win now and can help them as they make a push for the playoffs. They were also able to unload some of their own troubling contracts.

It’s never a dull moment in the world of the Maple Leafs. With the trade deadline drawing closer, the question on everyone’s minds is who’s next?

  • Tags
  • Colin Greening
  • Dion Phaneuf
  • Jared Cowen
  • Milan Michalek
  • Tobias Lindberg
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 23rd 8:00 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets Thrilled To Bring Laine, Roslovic On Board

Jan 23rd 6:58 PM
Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens’ Price Still Has Room to Improve Early in 2020-21

Jan 23rd 4:05 PM
All-Star Weekend

25 Years Later: The FoxTrax Glowing Puck Makes Its Debut

Jan 23rd 3:50 PM
Boston Bruins

Bruins Should Play Grzelcyk With McAvoy

Jan 23rd 3:23 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Are Being Too Patient With the Puck

Jan 23rd 2:20 PM
Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins’ Pierre-Oliver Joseph Shines in NHL Debut

Jan 23rd 2:10 PM
Anaheim Ducks

Ducks Prospects: Lacombe, McLaughlin, Sundsvik & More

Jan 23rd 2:00 PM
Colorado Avalanche

Prospects News & Rumors: Clarke, Byram & Cozens

Jan 23rd 2:00 PM
New York Islanders

Islanders’ Kieffer Bellows Adapting to New Role

Jan 23rd 1:50 PM
Calgary Flames

Flames’ Monahan Vying to Be Best Center in North Division

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information