Both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators are shopping their captains – Dion Phaneuf and Jason Spezza – to Western Conference teams, according to Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos.
The news of a possible Phaneuf trade comes on the heels of a two-year extension for head coach Randy Carlyle, the first big move made by the organization since Brendan Shanahan took over as president after another late-season collapse by the Leafs.
Phaneuf, who has been captain of the Maple Leafs since June 2010, signed a seven-year, $49 million contract extension with Toronto last December. Phaneuf’s extension doesn’t kick in until July 1 and, according to Kypreos, Shanahan may not be fully on board with the Leafs current captain moving forward.
The 28-year-old Edmonton native had eight goals, 23 assists and a plus-2 rating in 80 games for the Leafs this season and led the team in ice time, averaging more than 23 minutes a contest.
Spezza was given the ‘C’ in the nations capital last September after long-time captain Daniel Alfredsson signed on with the Detroit Red Wings. Spezza, who is entering the final year of a seven-year contract, had 23 goals, 43 assists and a minus-26 rating in 75 games for the Senators last season.
