Has much I have been a Phanuef basher, just not sure the Leafs would want to eat half his contract for the next 5 plus years. And the package coming back to the rebuilding Leafs, Daley & Rundblad wouldn't help in a few years, and Danault hasn't shown he can be an NHLer. Phanuef has looked like an NHL Dman this year.

How's this trade...helps the Hawks talent wise and some cap relief for two years, helps the Leafs long term cap relief.. Phanuef for Bickell and Daley. Think the Hawks just better develop their young Dmen and not sign/trade any long term contracts to aging Dman.

palhal - Talent of the players aside, I'm just not sure the Hawks can take that large of a contract for 5 more years. 2 years of Bickell or even a buyout next year makes more sense to me. Their Cap issues has tiers. Right now most of their ELCs are up in two years and all signs indicate thus far that they'll be solid NHLers deserving of an ambiguous amount of additional money, but more money none the less. So in two years we have a $7M Panuef rather than resigning Teuvo Teravainen, Artemi Panarin, or Marko Dano. Not to mention Niklas Hjalmarsson is certainly due additional money down the road as well. I just don't see a Panuef trade I like (as a Hawks fan) that doesn't have retained money.