The move to get rid of his contract was a tall, but necessary task. It's just one move of many to try and get this team back on the right course.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I'll evaluate this trade on the basis of their solution to fixing the top-4 defence, because I don't agree that this was a necessary move. The past 5 years or so have been pretty crystal clear about the team's performance when they had 4 solid d-men in place (including Phaneuf), versus when they had major holes on their 2 top pairings. They largely ignored the loss of Methot, and if they do the same with the loss of Phaneuf it could be a harder road back to the playoffs than they're anticipating.

Except you didn't move $7M per year.

You took back (IMHO) an even worse contract, plus you retained 25% of Dion's cap hit.

You are basically saving $500,000 a year, except you now have Gaborik instead of Phaneuf.

Haterz gonna hate, but Dion can still play a little hockey.

Gabby? Not so much anymore.
- Atomic Wedgie

Exactly. Excluding Shore and Thompson, because their contract dollars are negligible, the money looks like this...

Phaneuf's 25% of 7m is 1.750. Gaborik at 4.875.
4,875,000
+1,750,000

..... that equals 6,625,000.

Sooooo 7,000,000 minus 6,625,000....

And we save a WHOPPING $375,000.

Like I said in my previous post, I'd rather pay Dion to play on my second D pair than pay 36yo Gaborik.... PLUS THE MONEY RETAINED WITH DION..... $6,625,000 to be a fill in depth play who's always injured.

Jesus.....do people not understand the difference between cap hit and actual salary? Gaborik costs significantly less in real dollars (especially when you consider the extra bonus money that Ottawa does t have to pay) which gives the team more of its limited resources to re-sign actual useful players.

Cap hit is irrelevant, this isn't a cap team

Every post on this page.

This is just one of many moves to happen between now and the trade deadline. More will be made at the draft. (HOPEFULLY) They are not trying to address the existing roster. They are trying to make room to address the current roster. There's a difference.

To evaluate this trade right now is short sighted. The salary cap era has created a nightmare for creating trades and clearing money. You have to get creative. You have to make multiple moves sometimes to get a desired outcome.

Stay (frank)ing patient.

Jesus.....do people not understand the difference between cap hit and actual salary? Gaborik costs significantly less in real dollars (especially when you consider the extra bonus money that Ottawa does t have to pay) which gives the team more of its limited resources to re-sign actual useful players.

Cap hit is irrelevant, this isn't a cap team
- sensarmy_11

Cap hit is irrelevant? What planet do you live on?

Every post on this page.

This is just one of many moves to happen between now and the trade deadline. More will be made at the draft. (HOPEFULLY) They are not trying to address the existing roster. They are trying to make room to address the current roster. There's a difference.

To evaluate this trade right now is short sighted. The salary cap era has created a nightmare for creating trades and clearing money. You have to get creative. You have to make multiple moves sometimes to get a desired outcome.

Stay (frank)ing patient.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

No. No patience. None whatsoever.

Phaneuf has been a "bad" defenseman because he plays on a team that is notoriously bad at team defense. This season, Ottawa is 30th in GA/G. The last time they had a respectable GA/G was in the lockout shortened season, when they finished 2nd in the NHL.

The Kings have been an elite defensive team every season since 2011-2012. Even in the past couple seasons when they've been relatively depleted on defense, they've finished in the top 5 of the league in GA/G. Everyone on the team, forwards included, is defensively responsible. It's part of the reason why they struggle to score goals every year, despite having premier talent in the lineup.

Phaneuf will likely do well in LA, simply because the team's system supports his style of play. They only need him to fill in a 4/5 position, not play on the top pair.
- tkecanuck341

This is a good point. They also have a much better goalie.

Cap hit is irrelevant? What planet do you live on?
- PavohnDatsvares

I live on the planet where the sens are owned by melnyk and therefore won't spend to the cap. This is a deal that saves a little but of cap and a lot of actual dollars......so on planet melnyk it's a good deal

What planet do you live on?

I live on the planet where the sens are owned by melnyk and therefore won't spend to the cap.

What planet do you live on?
- sensarmy_11

I'd take the evidence of approving to pay Dion 1.6 million to play somewhere else that he maybe more inclined to spend than in the past. At least on the roster anyways. If Karlsson, Duchene, Stone, etc are going to stay, we are going to have to be a cap team. Maybe he is turning over a new leaf in that regard?

I'm a Melnyk hater, but that was the most shocking thing to me in the deal and am surprised more people aren't brining it up.

To extend... it's ACTUAL dollars that are irrelevant.

Everyone is worried about extending Karlsson, Duchene, Stone , no one wants to lose Hoffman. I don't give a flying F if Gaboriks ACTUAL pay is a PENNY, that's still $4.875M PLUS Dion's 25% ($1.75M) on OUR CAP preventing us from extending and keeping the players we all want. It's pretty simple, folks.

I live on the planet where the sens are owned by melnyk and therefore won't spend to the cap. This is a deal that saves a little but of cap and a lot of actual dollars......so on planet melnyk it's a good deal

What planet do you live on?
- sensarmy_11

Because Melnyk is a cheapskate it's better to save HIM 'actual' dollars than to free cap space? F Melnyk.

Actual dollar s only help Melnyk. I repeat; (frank) MELNYK

To extend... it's ACTUAL dollars that are irrelevant.

Everyone is worried about extending Karlsson, Duchene, Stone , no one wants to lose Hoffman. I don't give a flying F if Gaboriks ACTUAL pay is a PENNY, that's still $4.875M PLUS Dion's 25% ($1.75M) on OUR CAP preventing us from extending and keeping the players we all want. It's pretty simple, folks.
- PavohnDatsvares

So what's the alternative in your opinion? Keep Phaneuf and his higher cap hit? Ottawa wasn't getting rid of him, EVER, without taking an equally bad contract back.

This way they save a little bit of cap and a lot of money

Ok. I'm going to bed now. Xoxo

So what's the alternative in your opinion? Keep Phaneuf and his higher cap hit? Ottawa wasn't getting rid of him, EVER, without taking an equally bad contract back.

This way they save a little bit of cap and a lot of money
- sensarmy_11

We only save $375,000. So yes. I'd rather keep P9

Actual dollar s only help Melnyk. I repeat; (frank) MELNYK
- PavohnDatsvares

Jesus man...nobody here likes melnyk bit you're clearly on a ledge that nobody will talk you down from. You're completely incapable of looking through your hatred at the good in this trade

So what's the alternative in your opinion? Keep Phaneuf and his higher cap hit? Ottawa wasn't getting rid of him, EVER, without taking an equally bad contract back.

This way they save a little bit of cap and a lot of money
- sensarmy_11

Stash Gaborik in the AHL where he belongs and you'll save an extra $1.025M in cap space!

We only save $375,000. So yes. I'd rather keep P9
- PavohnDatsvares

Atleast you can hide gaborik on the 4th line if he sucks.....phaneuf is (frank)ing awful and there is no hiding him anywhere in the lineup .

I would have gladly given up assets to get rid of Phaneuf, so to dump him, save money, and not have to give up ANYTHING....thats a win in my books every day

Jesus man...nobody here likes melnyk bit you're clearly on a ledge that nobody will talk you down from. You're completely incapable of looking through your hatred at the good in this trade
- sensarmy_11

Lmao

Look at it this way. Neither player is currently on your team. You HAVE to choose one of the following...

Phaneuf at $7,000,000
Or
Gaborik at $6,625,000

Let's get a poll going?

Actual dollar s only help Melnyk. I repeat; (frank) MELNYK
- PavohnDatsvares

agree .... melynk destroyed this organization and fans don't really speak up enough!

agree .... melynk destroyed this organization and fans don't really speak up enough!
- AlfieisKing

I'm actually not as big a Melnyk hater as most people are. I'm just saying that in this particular converstation of actual dollars vs cap dollars, Uncle Eug can suck a whole bag of them. Lol I don't care what any owner saves, personally, I only care how money is managed for the TEAM.