Dion Phaneuf Dealt to Toronto Maple Leafs In Seven-Player Deal

The trade deadline isn’t until March 3, but the movement has started with a bang.

On Sunday morning, TSN reported that the Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs have agreed to a seven-player deal that sends star defenseman Dion Phanuef  to Toronto. Going east with Phanuef are forward Fredrik Sjostrom and defenseman prospect Keith Aulie.

Coming back to Calgary in the trade are forwards Niklas Hagman, Matt Stajan, Jamal Mayers, and defenseman Ian White.

Phanuef was drafted ninth overall in 2003 by Calgary and is a two-time Western Conference All Star. He was a surprise omission from Canada’s Olympic team this year, and his overall production has been down all year. He has just 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in 53 games; he hasn’t finished a season with less than 47 points in his NHL career.

Sjostrom, 26, has six points in 46 games this year.

Calgary hs been desperately searching for offense lately and this deal certainly acquires some shooters. Hagman was Toronto’s leading goal scorer with 20 on the season, and Stajan was second on the Leafs in points with 41 (16 G, 25 A). Mayers had recently requested a trade out of Toronto and appears to have received his wish.

White could be the golden nugget in this deal. The 25-year-old defenseman has 26 points (9 G, 17 A), more than the more expensive Phaneuf.

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