There is more and more smoke regarding Dion Phaneuf being on the trade block. Larry Brooks of the New York Post has said the following about him:
Despite Calgary general manager Darryl Sutter's adamant denial that Dion Phaneuf is on the trade market, another NHL GM yesterday told The Post that the Flames are "desperate" to move the defenseman and the annual $6.5 million cap hit he will carry through 2013-14.
I've said it before and I'll say it again if a player like Dion Phaneuf is available Scott Howson and ownership have to do whatever it takes to land this guy. He is EXACTLY what we have been lacking for years on the backend. Players of his ilk just don't become available often.
There is some risk - as there is in any trade - but he's a guy I roll the dice on and don't look back. Frankly my biggest concern about going after this guy isn't his play on the ice but his attitude towards coming to "lowly Columbus". Let's face it - Columbus isn't exactly on a player's wishlist of top 5 places to play. He doesn't have a no trade clause so he wouldn't have much of a choice but for the price I'm willing to play I want a motivated player who is up to the challenge of being a key piece in taking this franchise to the next level.
The proposal I've made before was this year's 1st, Filatov plus a salary dump in Juice or Commodore. I'm going to revise that a bit based on what I've read Calgary's needs are which is cheap quality offense and a cheap dman to replace Phaneuf as this team is against the cap.
I give them the choice of the following:
1. This year's first, Filatov, Moore or Voracek
2. Stralman, Russell, Tyutin or Klesla
3. Commodore, Juice or Pahlsson
4. 2nd round pick
#1 gives them a young blue chip talent which is the meat of the deal. I didn't include Brassard as I couldn't sacrifice the center depth.
#2 gives them a cheap but quality dman who can log a lot of minutes. They can go young and offensive with a guy like Russell or Stralman, an all around guy like Tyutin or a defensive guy in Klesla.
#3 gives the Jackets some salary relief and the Flames a veteran. The Jackets would have to shed a veteran salary to make this work for them. I'd prefer Commodore or Juice but would settle on Pahlsson.
#4 is icing on the cake to push this deal through. That is how much I believe we need this guy.
Time to geek out hockey style on you - here is an example of what our lineup could look like next year if say the deal went down as Voracek, Tyutin, Pahlsson and a 2nd round pick:
Umberger (4) Vermette (3.75) Nash (7.5)
Clark (2.5) Brassard (2.8) Huselius (4.75)
Calvert (.650) UFA (1.5) Dorsett (.550)
Sestito (.585) Murray (.650) Boll (.650)
Phaneuf (6.5) Hejda (2.0)
Stralman (1.5) Klesla (2.975)
Commodore (3.8) Russell (1.3)
Methot (1.0)
Mason (.765)
Garon (1.2)
Total: 50.92 million
I'd hate to lose Voracek but you have to give to get and like it or not the Jackets are the deepest at wing. The Jackets move 6.92 million in salary out while taking on Phaneuf's 6.5 which leaves them room to upgrade further if ownership budges on the budget. They key for Howson is getting them to bite on taking back one of the Jackets veteran contracts which would be the difficult part hence why I threw in a 2nd round pick as a cherry on top.
This lineup doesn't account for what Howson could move a Filatov for which with Phaneuf in the mix would allow for him to be dealt for forward help. It also doesn't account for the player taken in this year's draft who could contribute soon and allows for John Moore to spend a year in the AHL.
The offense could use another player (perhaps this year's pick or give Filatov another look?) but I LOVE the looks of that D. There is mobility in each of those pairs with Phaneuf, Stralman and Russell. Phaneuf adds a major physical presence to that group and will eat a LOT of minutes.
There are a lot of other trade scenarios that could be considered but the bottom line is I believe the Jackets have the assets to acquire this guy. They would sacrifice some future for the sake of now but they can afford to.
Here is an idea of what Phaneuf would add if comparing his stats from this year to those of our team.
Points: 20 (9th on CBJ)
+/-: (3rd on CBJ with players over 20 games)
TOI: 23:16 (1st on CBJ)
Hits: 128 (1st on CBJ)
Blocked shots: 56 (3rd on CBJ)
Missed shots: 56 (1st on CBJ)
Give aways: 43 (1st on CBJ)
Take aways: 15 (7th on CBJ)
Shots: 123 (3rd on CBJ)
Goals: 8 (6th on CBJ)
I think Phaneuf would be the first to say he's not having a great year - especially offensively by his standards - but this dude has averaged 51.5 points the past 4 seasons and is only 24! This further fuels my theory that this guy wants and needs a change of scenery. He needs to clean up his defensive end some and limit those turnovers but this is a guy who is the real deal and can be the anchor on the defense the Jackets have sought for years!
Enough with "hoping" a guy can player higher in the lineup - this is a guy who "can" play higher in the lineup!
..and what a shot from the point he possesses!
As Brian from the Jacket Backers tweeted me the other day -- there is no future if we don't win now. Phaneuf would be a significant step towards winning now.
This may all be a pipe dream but it's what I need to hang my hat on as a fan right now. Nothing will disappoint me more than to see this guy get shipped to another team for a price we were capable of paying (I still haven't forgotten about Erhoff).
My bet is if Phaneuf moves it won't be til the offseaon but if they are wanting to deal him now to shake things up the Jackets cannot afford to sit this one out.
Now go get em Howson!
-LTL
