Shakeups In Calgary & Toronto

Phaneuf:"If Wayne Gretzky can get traded..."

Leave it to Brian Burke to captivate the hockey world once again with not one but two deals.  Just like he did in Anaheim; Burkie is putting his stamp on the Maple Leafs with another blockbuster.  Check out TSN's recap of both deals.  Darren Dreger was the first to tweet the Phaneuf deal.

Per Dreger

Phaneuf, Sjostrom and Auley to Toronto for Hagman, Stajan, Mayers and white!!

The Leafs also added J.S. Giguere who is reunited with Burke, Beauchmin, and goaltending coach Francois Allaire.  Unfortunately, Phaneuf doesn't play center and won't be able to help Phil Kessel much.  The Leafs just traded three of their top six forwards.  The Flames add scoring depth and cap relief but is that really the best return they could get for Phaneuf?  I think THN's Ryan Kennedy agrees with me.

Per Kennedy

Calgary gave up the best player in this deal, not to mention a prospect in Aulie who was very strong at the world juniors last year, but change had to come and in trading Phaneuf, Sutter has thrown down the gauntlet to this team: It's time to perform up to expectations, because no one is untouchable.

I guess you just can't trust a GM at his word anymore.  Less than a month ago, Flames GM Daryl Sutter told ESPN's Pierre LeBrun Phaneuf wasn't going anywhere.

Per LeBrun 

I guess in this day of bloggers in their basement, anything goes. But you read it here: Dion Phaneuf is not going anywhere any time soon.
"Put that to bed," Calgary Flames GM Darryl Sutter told ESPN.com on Thursday.

Bob McKenzie's Analysis

Burke and Calgary GM Darryl Sutter have provided us all a reminder of what it used to be like in the NHL, taking us back to the good, old days when managers weren't afraid or restricted from taking a high dive into the deep end of an icy pool.

Leave it to Bob to put it all in perspective. 

James Mirtle covers the Leafs cap-situation and the future of the Leafs.

Wherever they come from, with 32 per cent of the cap dedicated to just Phaneuf, Giguere and Kessel next season, it’s going to be a tight squeeze to fit more top-six forwards into the mix.

Quote of the Day:  Brian Burke on the Leafs cap-situation following the Phaneuf trade.

"Like a new pair of underwear, it's uncomfortably tight."

***UPDATE***

It looks like Calgary has agreed to another deal.  According to TSN,  the Flames are shipping out under-achieving center Olli Jokinen to the Rangers in a four-player deal.

Per Dreger

Expected to be Jokinen, Prust for Kotalik and Higgins

The Flames are beginning to look like the Western Conference version of the Montreal Canadians; adding six new players today while shipping out two of their most productive players in Jokinen and Phaneuf.  While many thought the Flames were creating cap-space by dealing Phaneuf; they've just spent a good portion of their savings on two additional years of Ales Kotalik.  Many feel this makes Calgary a contender in the Ilya Kovalchuk sweepstakes.  But do they have any assets left to deal?

***UPDATE #2***

TSN is reporting that the trade between Calgary & New York has hit a snag for now.

It's obviously possible the deal may not get done at all, but the mere fact that one or both players are in the Flames' lineup tonight doesn't mean for certain it won't get done either.

There were also reports that Ales Kotalik has a no-movement clause and wasn't willing to waive to move to Calgary.  Stay tuned.  I think this deal gets done.


***UPDATE #3***
TSN reports a done deal.

Jokinen & Prust should be in uniform tomorrow night for the Rangers.