Toronto Maple Leafs: The Long-Term Benefits of the Dion Phaneuf Trade

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Jan 30, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Atlantic Division forward Steven Stamkos (91) of the Tampa Bay Lightning during the hardest shot challenge during the 2016 NHL All Star Game Skills Competition at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Opportunities Going Forward

Not only do the Leafs need to find a captain to replace Phaneuf, but it opens up the team to be creative when it comes to their approach to trades and free agency. Lamoriello called it a “five year plan that changes everyday”.

The reason why is because of opportunities like this, where he can make deals that do not necessarily make the team better right now, but potentially benefit them later on. After the 2016-17 season, the Leafs will only have four players under contract from the current roster.

Nov 29, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner (51) celebrates with center Nazem Kadri and defenseman Morgan Rielly (44) after an assist against the Washington Capitals at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs won 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Toronto will look to get a new deal for Morgan Rielly done. In addition, the roster space opens the doors for Marlies players to make their way up to the NHL, and try to earn a spot that may not have been available in the past.

From now until the end of the season, the Leafs will see if Rielly and Jake Gardiner have what it takes to step in, with Phaneuf gone. Gardiner immediately responded with one of his best games of the season against Calgary, because on top of the additional ice-time, he also created plays off the rush like he did in the past.

Gardiner is a player the Leafs will definitely monitor moving forward, to see whether he is capable of being on the second pairing permanently. He did see his ice-time get cut down and moved off the second pairing, but maybe this will be a wake up call for him.

The jury is still out on whether Rielly is able to lead the team as the number one defenceman on the Leafs. Maybe with a more suitable partner on the top pairing he can be better, but until that happens, the Leafs are not ready to anoint him as their top guy moving forward.

All eyes will obviously be on the Leafs when free agency approaches, especially if Steven Stamkos does not sign a new contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. However, could the Leafs decide it is not the right move to offer him the contract he wants?

Probably unlikely, considering how much flexibility the Leafs have with their salary cap, combined with the fact they do not have long-term commitments to players after the 2017-18 season. This is what a team like the Leafs are supposed to accomplish in a rebuild.

They do not want long-term commitments to players they do not see as a part of the plan. Stamkos would fit the Leafs plan.

To think Toronto will not pay him even during a rebuild, people need to be reminded their head coach is earning the highest salary in the NHL. As long as Stamkos is willing to be a part of the Leafs plan (although they will give him millions of reasons to be) then management will probably be relentless in their pursuit.

Getting rid of the Phaneuf contract was essential to this plan. Teams that have elite talent do not have many bad contracts on their payroll, because it then becomes difficult to pay their top players.

Next: Taking a look at prospect Tobias Lindberg

So with this flexibility on the cap after the Phaneuf trade, the Leafs have set themselves up for a good opportunity to improve drastically. However, to say they will go crazy with this new found cap space is tough to see, but something to look out for.

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