NHL Rumors: Analyzing Latest Trade Talk on Dion Phaneuf, Tyler Bozak and More

While the initial rush of free-agent signings and blockbuster trades has come and gone, NHL teams are still trying to position themselves for the 2015-16 campaign, which means player movement is far from over.

The trade front is particularly interesting since plenty of organizations would benefit from salary-cap relief. That puts teams that can afford to take on contracts in an advantageous position due to the fact that they can potentially poach quality players at a discounted price.

There are still several talented players who could be on the move prior to the upcoming season, and here is a look at the latest trade chatter surrounding them.

Dion Phaneuf

The Toronto Maple Leafs have already undergone a significant overhaul this offseason by trading away forward Phil Kessel and making a number of signings in free agency, but another big deal could still be in the works involving defenseman Dion Phaneuf.

According to TheFourthPeriod.com, the Leafs aren't resigned to their roster being in place for the 2015-16 season, and trading Phaneuf remains a very real possibility.

Phaneuf's name has been on the block for the past couple years due largely to a contract that counts for $7 million against the cap through 2020-21, per NHLNumbers.com. That complicates things for the Leafs since any deal would likely involve Toronto paying part of Phaneuf's salary.

According to David Pagnotta of TheFourthPeriod.com, the Los Angeles Kings wanted the Maple Leafs to take on $2 million when they were engaged in trade talks in June.

The 30-year-old blueliner is still a quality player coming off a 29-point season, and he has plenty of leadership experience as the Leafs captain. With that in mind, Justin Bourne of The Score envisions Toronto keeping Phaneuf in the fold for the time being:

Also, despite the fact the Leafs are going through a rebuild, Phaneuf has a positive view of the organization, especially when it comes to the hiring of head coach Mike Babcock, per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet:

"I'm excited. And the guys are excited, too. It's big for our fans and our organization," Phaneuf said. "There was a lot of interest in where he was going to go, and rightfully so. You want to play for a coach of his caliber."

While Phaneuf is a solid second-pairing guy at this point in his career, he is being paid like a No. 1 defenseman. His contract could hamper the Leafs for many years to come, so they would be wise to strongly consider any deal that comes their way.

If they receive any offer that involves them paying a reasonable amount of Phaneuf's contract moving forward, then pulling the trigger on a trade is the best option for the franchise's long-term viability.

Tyler Bozak

Jay LaPrete/Associated Press

Phaneuf may be the most prominent player available in Toronto, but he is far from the only one. According to TheFourthPeriod.com, center Tyler Bozak is also on the block should the right offer come along.

The 29-year-old center has posted consecutive 49-point seasons, which isn't great, but it is solid production for a low-end No. 2 pivot. Unfortunately for Maple Leafs fans, Bozak has been positioned and passed off as a first-line guy in recent years.

Bozak could be a better fit elsewhere in a smaller market and a lesser role, but he does have a $4.2 million cap hit attached to him through the 2017-18 season, per NHLNumbers.com. Considering he posted a career-high 23 goals in 2014-15, though, that isn't necessarily a bad deal.

It is fair to wonder if a trade will come to fruition now that teams are deep into the offseason, but John Shannon of Sportsnet recently expressed confidence that Toronto will move on from the maligned forward.

That school of thought is bolstered by the fact that the Leafs have signed several forwards this offseason. Room can certainly be made for Bozak, but trading him would be a huge statement with regard to the organization moving on to a new, more promising era.

By the time the Maple Leafs are once again competitive, Bozak's contract will likely be over. Rather than lessening the potential return by waiting too long, Toronto should strongly consider trading him now since his value may not get any higher.

Joffrey Lupul

LM Otero/Associated Press

Along with Phaneuf and Bozak, the Maple Leafs are also willing to listen to offers for veteran winger Joffrey Lupul, according to TheFourthPeriod.com.

The 31-year-old forward has struggled to stay healthy in recent seasons, and he posted just 21 points in 55 games in 2014-15. He has shown an ability to produce with good linemates around him, though, as evidenced by his 67-point All-Star campaign in 2011-12.

That season seems to be a distant memory, though, and trading him could prove very difficult considering he has a cap hit of $5.25 million per season for the next three years, per NHLNumbers.com.

Much like Phaneuf, the Leafs would almost certainly have to eat some salary in order to get a team to take Lupul off their hands. That may not be the most financially viable move, but Toronto is among the teams that can afford to take on dead money.

According to TheFourthPeriod.com, both the St. Louis Blues and Montreal Canadiens have shown interest in Lupul before. Neither organization has done much to improve their Stanley Cup chances this offseason, so rolling the dice on a player like Lupul could be attractive provided the cost is low.

There are several pieces remaining from Toronto's old core that are preventing it from truly moving on to bigger and better things. Lupul is certainly among them, so the Leafs shouldn't have any reservations about trading him if a market develops.

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