4 Potential Trade Deadline Moves for the Detroit Red Wings

Dion Phaneuf

Jan 2, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Dion Phaneuf (3) shoots in the first period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Minnesota Wild win 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

While I’m not a huge fan of Dion Phaneuf, he needs a way out of Toronto and Detroit could be an interesting place for him. I feel bad for the guy because the media is just super mean to him and while they are right to say he isn’t a number one defenseman, because lets face it he isn’t, he still is a decent addition to your team.

While his numbers aren’t great this season. He has 2 goals on the season with 84 shots on goal, he does have 20 assists. He seems like just a Red Wings player, he isn’t 30 yet, in fact he is only 29 so he still has a bit of time to play.  Yet the worst part of Phaneuf is the 6 year contract that has a 7 million dollar cap hit. Picking up a player with that kind of contract left just seems difficult to me, especially if you don’t know if he is going to produce the way you want him too.

He wouldn’t be my first choice of guys to give up good young talent, which is what the Maple Leafs will more than likely want for him. If Toronto is willing to pay for some odd amount of the crazy contract they gave him then yeah, I might take a chance on him. It will be interesting to see if maybe he goes somewhere new and maybe he plays very well because he won’t have the media that is Toronto barking at him all the time.