This trade isn't as bad as people make it out to be. Both teams are getting exactly what they wanted. Most people are looking at this from the "who won the deal" type mentality. This isn't one of those deals.

Ottawa purposefully got worse in the deal. That was by design.

The Leafs are the true winners of the Dion Phaneuf deals. No retention, no Gaborik’s, just 7 million in cap space. Lamoriello and the team look on and laugh.

I think Gaborik could be a good fit in Ottawa. When he's at his best he's a great player. @F50marco in a way i agree with you but in a way i don't. Some people may be acting like it's worse for Ottawa than it actually is, but Phaneuf was their best LHD so i think LA wins, Ottawa loses. If CapFriendly had a dislike post option (not saying they should, but if they did), i would give your post a like and a dislike.

Nobody won this deal. Both sides lost. LA just lost less than Ottawa did.

Did they?

I dunno, but to me, it seems like Ottawa comes out ahead. Marginally, but ahead.

Edit: Further reading on the subject from Sportsnet: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/will-dion-phaneuf-bring-los-angeles-kings/

The Kings at least got a productive defenseman in the deal, where Ottawa just got a cap dump.

But that's the point of the articles I linked. Did they really get a productive defenseman?

It really just feels like they found an anchor that's even more difficult to move than Gaborik.

They lost Methot, a top 4 defenseman for them, in the expansion draft and never bothered to replace him.

They're gonna Hossa his ass!

Maybe GM Dorion talks to Leafs Lou and see how it's done. Hossa his ass? That's really good.

Phaneuf scores in his first game with LA

Gaborik scores in his first game with OTT

Ottawa is a worse team after this trade.

LA is a better team after this trade.



And Ottawa is eating salary on Dion Phaneuf in this trade.

LA wins.