Senators acquire Phaneuf in nine-player trade

The Ottawa Senators acquired Toronto Maple Leafs’ captain Dion Phaneuf in a nine-play deal on Tuesday afternoon.

In addition to Phaneuf, the Senators received forwards Matt Frattin, Casey Bailey, Ryan Rupert and defensive prospect Cody Donaghey. Heading to Toronto is defenseman Jared Cowen, forwards Colin Greening, Milan Michalek, Tobias Lindberg and a 2017 second-round NHL Draft Pick.

The key part of this trade for the Maple Leafs is that they did not retain any of Phaneuf’s massive contract. The 30-year-old defenseman has a $7 million dollar cap-hit through the 2020-21 season. Phaneuf was heavily used as a top-pair defenseman in Toronto, but he settle into a second pair role alongside Cody Ceci in his Senators debut on Wednesday. Phaneuf has three goals, 21 assists (24 points) and 116 shots in 51 games this season.

Frattin, Bailey and Rupert are all expected to report to the Senators’ AHL affiliate in Binghamton. Frattin, 28, has registered 22 points (9G / 13A) in 47 games with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) this season. In addition to Frattin, Bailey, 24, has 18 points (4G / 14A) in 38 games and Rupert, 21, has 12 points (6G / 6A) in 29 contests.

Cowen, 25, was the ninth overall pick in 2009 but has yet to live up to his draft position. He has often served as a healthy scratch this season, including the last three games before the trade and has just four assists in 37 games overall. He plays a physical brand of hockey but needs a lot of work on his skating. Cowen has one year left on his current deal, which carries a $4.5 million dollar cap-hit. Michalek also has one year left on his contract, which carries a $4.0 million dollar cap-hit. He is currently out with a broken finger, which is the second finger he has broken this season. Finally, Greening, 29, has only appeared in one NHL game this season, he has spent the season with Binghamton, where he has collected 13 points (7G / 6A) in 41 games.

Lindberg, 20, is a 6-foot-3, 215 lbs. winger who will report to the Toronto Marlies. He has picked up 22 points (5G / 17A) on 34 games in his first AHL season. Lindberg won the Memorial Cup with Oshawa (OHL) last season, a team that was coached by now Maple Leafs assistant coach D.J Smith.