Forget about age. Richards is a very, very old 29.He can't push Kadri and Bozak because both are clearly better.

Dion on the other hand can still play top minutes and get 40+ points a season.
Richards plays a style you stay away from once he nears 30. He's very small and plays that grinding style that has killed his body.
- RogerRoeper

Two words: Wendel Clark (Played that style till he was 35....one of my all time favourite players) Not saying Richards is Wendel, but, I personally don't know that he is too worn out to play anymore. If he is too worn out and beat up to maintain then sure, forget about it. I would hope the Leafs could get a decent return for Phaneuf, but Richards may be it!?

Forget about age. Richards is a very, very old 29.He can't push Kadri and Bozak because both are clearly better.

Dion on the other hand can still play top minutes and get 40+ points a season.
Richards plays a style you stay away from once he nears 30. He's very small and plays that grinding style that has killed his body.
- RogerRoeper

Dion can't play top line minutes. Toronto is paying him too, and he isn't very good at it. Thus trading him. He is a 3/4 though

Two words: Wendel Clark (Played that style till he was 35....one of my all time favourite players) Not saying Richards is Wendel, but, I personally don't know that he is too worn out to play anymore. If he is too worn out and beat up to maintain then sure, forget about it. I would hope the Leafs could get a decent return for Phaneuf, but Richards may be it!?
- Bullot

Bad example. Wendel may have hung around until 35, but he was done years before that. The Leafs traded him at the perfect time.

Dion can't play top line minutes. Toronto is paying him too, and he isn't very good at it. Thus trading him. He is a 3/4 though
- Bieksa#3

Myth. He shuts down the opposition's best players.

If you're saying he's a 3 or 4 D-Man, then he doesn't crack a top 80 list, which is beyond ludicrous.

Myth. He shuts down the opposition's best players.

If you're saying he's a 3 or 4 D-Man, then he doesn't crack a top 80 list, which is beyond ludicrous.
- RogerRoeper

Then why does Toronto want to trade him? Its not like they're gonna get anything big.

richards/ a second/ some midlevel no name for Phaneuf, buy out richards. Because you cant buy out phaneuf
- rferrone

There is no point buying out anyone when you are rebuilding. Either the asset turns into something you can trade for anything or you wait him out and not have a cap penalty on your books for twice as long.

As for the deal there I would still pass. If we are going to be stuck with a bad contract regardless I would want a better piece coming back. There is no gain for the Leafs but a possible gain for the Kings. We don't have to be desperate since we will be terrible with or without Phaneuf.

There is no point buying out anyone when you are rebuilding. Either the asset turns into something you can trade for anything or you wait him out and not have a cap penalty on your books for twice as long.

As for the deal there I would still pass. If we are going to be stuck with a bad contract regardless I would want a better piece coming back. There is no gain for the Leafs but a possible gain for the Kings. We don't have to be desperate since we will be terrible with or without Phaneuf.
- Steven_Dean

Yep

Myth. He shuts down the opposition's best players.

If you're saying he's a 3 or 4 D-Man, then he doesn't crack a top 80 list, which is beyond ludicrous.
- RogerRoeper

On a serious contender he is a second pairing D. No pressure of being a leader and playing against the opponents best player. Perfect role for him, but $7 mil maybe hard to swallow. Maybe the price to pay for a cup!

Then why does Toronto want to trade him? Its not like they're gonna get anything big.
- Bieksa#3

How do we know this?

Then why does Toronto want to trade him? Its not like they're gonna get anything big.
- Bieksa#3

Who said they wanted to trade him? The Leafs need a change and are listening and exploring every possible option. If the Leafs can move Phaneuf for an equally over priced contract and a great piece for the rebuild then you do it. If not then hold onto him until the cap rises and everyone is making 6-7M.

Stall made just short of $6M and everyone believes he took a hometown discount. We are close to paying 2-4 defense who can play over 20 minutes a night $7M as it is anyway.

Then why does Toronto want to trade him? Its not like they're gonna get anything big.
- Bieksa#3

Cause they want to change the nucleus and he is not a good leader. What have they achieved with him?

On a serious contender he is a second pairing D. No pressure of being a leader and playing against the opponents best player. Perfect role for him, but $7 mil maybe hard to swallow. Maybe the price to pay for a cup!
- Champ

Dion would walk in Anaheim and be their #1 right now. He's #2 on LA.

And he's every bit as good as 7 million man Letang in Pittsburgh.

BTW, Richards has 5 years left, so you can't really buy-him-out either.

Dion would walk in Anaheim and be their #1 right now. He's #2 on LA.

And he's every bit as good as 7 million man Letang in Pittsburgh.
- RogerRoeper

Yawn.

Dion would walk in Anaheim and be their #1 right now. He's #2 on LA.

And he's every bit as good as 7 million man Letang in Pittsburgh.
- RogerRoeper

Cause they want to change the nucleus and he is not a good leader. What have they achieved with him?
- Champ

If everybody in Toronto's core is so good, why are they pathetic every single season

- Bieksa#3

Ignoring facts and statistics I see.

If everybody in Toronto's core is so good, why are they pathetic every single season
- Bieksa#3

For the second time, who has said this?

Who said they wanted to trade him? The Leafs need a change and are listening and exploring every possible option. If the Leafs can move Phaneuf for an equally over priced contract and a great piece for the rebuild then you do it. If not then hold onto him until the cap rises and everyone is making 6-7M.

Stall made just short of $6M and everyone believes he took a hometown discount. We are close to paying 2-4 defense who can play over 20 minutes a night $7M as it is anyway.
- Steven_Dean

Stall is a better D than Dion and what a great deal for the NYR

Ignoring facts and statistics I see.
- RogerRoeper

You want a fact? Dion has been in the NHL for 10 yrs. He hasn't won one playoff series. Not one. And has only a handful of playoff games.

For the second time, who has said this?
- RogerRoeper

Nobody ever

You want a fact? Dion has been in the NHL for 10 yrs. He hasn't won one playoff series. Not one. And has only a handful of playoff games.
- Bieksa#3

That's a team stat.

Stall is a better D than Dion and what a great deal for the NYR
- Champ

I gotta say, I'm not a big Marc Staal fan. I find that a lot of money.

Dion would walk in Anaheim and be their #1 right now. He's #2 on LA.

And he's every bit as good as 7 million man Letang in Pittsburgh.
- RogerRoeper

Yet Anaheim is happy with their D. Will add depth at the deadline. And as for your bias Letang comparison, hell no!

That's a team stat.
- RogerRoeper

I see. So Dion's performance is in no way connected to his teans success?
Or its only when they do well

Let me ask u this. What is a fair return for
-Gardiner(the 4 mill d man who has trouble cracking his pathetic teams line up)
-Kessel
- Dion