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Letang Rumors; Plenty Of Potential Destinations For Phaneuf

June 26, 2013, 9:57 PM ET [1760 Comments]
Mike Augello
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
UPDATE - 10:30pm

Per Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, if negotiations with defenseman Kris Letang do not yield a new contract, "that Toronto has emerged as a preferred landing spot....a place he would be willing if dealt to sign a long term deal."

The package that Pittsburgh would be looking for would be similar to the deal they got for Jordan Staal last summer, a roster player, top prospect and 1st round pick.

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The term “non-denial denial” is when something is said that seems direct or absolute when first heard, but when carefully analyzed it is not really a denial and is not untruthful. Over the coming weeks, NHL general managers will be practicing the fine art of saying things that on the surface seem definitive, but in reality do not close any of their options.

Leafs GM Dave Nonis was asked about the future of defenseman Dion Phaneuf in Toronto on Tuesday and whether his club could afford to retain the team captain past next season at his current salary of $6.5 Million.

“That all depends on who else you add, it depends on where the cap goes. It’s way too premature to answer that.” Nonis said “If the revenues go where we hope they go and the cap jumps up, then we’ll have more money to spend.”

In spite of the fact that the salary cap could jump back up over $70 Million in 2014-15 based on next season’s hockey related revenue that will include five outdoors games, Nonis may only be able to afford to extend one of his two core players; Phil Kessel and Phaneuf, who will be unrestricted free agents at the end of the 2013-14 season.

According to ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun, the Leafs are willing to listen to offers for the three time All-Star, but they are not actively shopping him. If you read between the lines, that means that Nonis is not trying to trade Phaneuf to get rid of him, but will move him if he gets equal or greater value.

Defenseman with the capability of producing offensively and playing over 20 minutes are valuable commodities, which you can tell by the signings of veterans Mark Streit and Sergei Gonchar for $5 Million per season deals and lengthy extensions to youngsters Roman Josi, Slava Voynov and Kevin Shattenkirk.

There are at least four teams that could have significant interest in Phaneuf.

Detroit is looking for a defenseman to help fill the large vacancy created by the retirement of Niklas Lidstrom, but they do not appear to have a player who would help Toronto in their areas of need.

Edmonton has young Justin Schultz and a collection of bottom pairing blueliners and need a top pairing defenseman like Phaneuf(an Edmonton native), the Oilers also have an ample supply of young forwards and the seventh overall pick in the NHL Draft this Sunday.

Colorado has a similar need to add to their blueline and could be in a position to trade center Paul Stastny if they select Nathan McKinnon with their first overall pick and Carolina could be shopping the #5 pick or possibly RFA Jeff Skinner for a top four defenseman.

The calculation is simple, if Leafs management have found out how much it will cost to extend Phaneuf past next season and that amount is not to their liking, then you have seen the last of #3 in Blue and White.

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