Phaneuf to Ottawa - Who Won The Trade?

Yesterday, The Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators completed the biggest trade in 2016 so far.

The Leafs said goodbye to their captain, Dion Phaneuf, as well as, Matt Frattin, Casey Bailey, Ryan Rupert, and Cody Donaghey.

The Sens traded Jared Cowen, Colin Greening, Milan Michalek, and Tobias Lindberg.  They also included a second round draft pick in the 2017 Entry Draft.

The biggest name included of course is Phaneuf and the $7 million contract that came along with him.

Cowen ($3.7 million) and Michalek, ($4 million) have hefty salaries as well but they come off the books after next season where Phaneuf's contract is good for 5 years.

The Leafs are certainly looking to shed salary, if not short term than long term.  Of course they traded Phil Kessel over the summer.

As outsiders, we can be objective about this.  Which club do you think will be happiest when all is said and done? Like Carolina's captain, Phaneuf is not getting any younger.  Are his best days behind him?

Feel free to leave your opinions in the comments.

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In other news.....

According to a tweet by Bob McKenzie and this article by The Fourth Period.com, Ron Francis met yesterday with Rick Curran, the agent of Eric Staal and Cam Ward, among others.   There is no update on any contract negotiations.

"All options remain on the table."

Francis is really playing it cool here and I give him credit for it.