Senators fill defensive void with the arrival of Phaneuf
Murray convinced huge deal with Leafs can help push for playoffs
The Senators and Maple Leafs didn’t call a truce in the Battle of Ontario on Tuesday, but they did make a trade — and it was a blockbuster.
Trying to get his team back into the playoff race in the Eastern Conference, Senators GM Bryan Murray pulled off a massive nineplayer deal that brought in the club former Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf. He’ll make his debut playing alongside Cody Ceci on Wednesday night in the Motor City against the Detroit Red Wings.
The Senators have been looking for someone to play with Ceci all season and this will fill that hole. Ottawa sent wingers Milan Michalek and Colin Greening, who has spent this season in the AHL, to Toronto along with struggling blue-liner Jared Cowen, prospect forward Tobias Lindberg and a second-round pick in 2017.
Ottawa also acquired minorleague forwards Matt Frattin, Casey Bailey, Ryan Rupert and defence prospect Cody Donaghey.
The Senators are hoping that Phaneuf, unburdened of his role as the Leafs captain, can just play, contribute and provide leadership here.
Phaneuf was in Calgary when the trade was announced — the Leafs played the Flames there on Tues- day night — and was expected to join the Senators at their Detroit hotel Tuesday night.
“I don’t expect him to come in here and be a saviour,” said Murray, trying to relieve some of the pressure Phaneuf felt in the Toronto market. “We expect him to come in here and be the hockey player he is.”
Talks between the teams heated up on Saturday when the Leafs were in Ottawa. Toronto GM Lou Lamoriello pulled Murray into the coaches’ offices before the morning skate at Canadian Tire Centre and that’s where it got serious.
The Leafs were happy with the way Phaneuf was contributing this season, but they didn’t like his $7-million annual salary. Murray did some homework on Phaneuf to make sure he’d be happy here before making the trade.
“I never had a doubt about Dion’s character,” Murray said. “I know we scrutinize people, especially in good markets or big markets, and guys that wear the ‘C’ on their sweater. I’ve talked to enough people over the years to know (and) I’ve talked to (former Leaf and current Senator) Clarke MacArthur enough to know.
“I don’t think I’ve heard one thing other than he’s a real good person, competes (and) he wants to win. He’s been in a tough environment. He’s been judged very tough in the environment he’s in.”
MacArthur, who skated Tuesday morning, said he planned to reach out to Phaneuf. They are close friends and have stayed in touch.
“I think he’s going to be great,” MacArthur said. “I had good years with him in Toronto. He’s a character guy that we need. He came a long way in Toronto. Having to be the captain in a city like that, it’s a tough place to play and even tougher to be the guy that takes all the heat so for us to get him, I think that solidified a really solid ‘D’ corps now and we’re excited to get him.
“At the same time, it’s a sad day. I was really good buddies with (Michalek), he was a great teammate. Everyone’s going to really miss those guys ... So any of these big trades you always lose good people, so it’s tough.”
The Senators will save $1.4 million this season and another $4 million next year. While Murray noted money is always a factor, he wanted to make a hockey trade that would help the team.
“First of all, it’s great to make a hockey trade. We usually don’t do that,” said Murray. “We usually worry about everything else.
“From our point of view, it’s a trade that will give us a little more security on the back end. I hear people talk all the time that we’re dreadful in our own end and we haven’t been great. We’re getting better and we believe this will be a good addition in that process.
“It’s about getting an experienced leader, a good person, hardworking, competitive guy to add to the mix in our top four.”
It seems odd that the Senators made a deal with their archrival, though. The teams have rarely been dance partners in the past, but Murray and Lamoriello have been around long enough that they don’t have to worry about what anybody might think. They both wanted to do what was best for their teams.
“It helps them. It helps us. Those are good deals and then maybe you can make a deal in the future,” said Murray. “We’ll battle them on the ice. They’ll battle us on the ice.
“We’ll try to compete to beat them every game and they’ll do likewise but, at the end of the day, we’re in a business that’s about winning and all I’m trying to do is help the Ottawa Senators be a winner.”
The Senators felt they made a step in that direction Tuesday.
I don’t expect him to come in here and be a saviour. We expect him to come in here and be the hockey player he is.