The NHL Trade Deadline is March 2nd. There has been plenty of speculation about what the Toronto Maple Leafs may or may not do before Monday. Today, our Buds' columnists review what may happen with Captain Dion Phaneuf. On Monday night is he a member of the Edmonton Oilers, Columbus Blue Jackets, LA Kings, San Jose Sharks, Winnipeg Jets, Detroit Red Wings? Or does he stay in Toronto?

PHOTO CREDIT - Tim Cornett, HometownHockey.ca

Windsor - February 28, 2015 - As the NHL Trade Deadline approaches on March 2nd, we asked the HometownHockey.ca Toronto columnists to give their opinion on the trade value of various Toronto Maple Leafs. Today, in part four of our five part series Tim Cornett, Will Cornett, Rob McPhee and Chris Savard will discuss Dion Phaneuf.

For each player, our columnists were asked - Would you trade him? If so, for what price? If not, why not? Then provide your prediction on what will actually happen.

T. Cornett - Phaneuf already! Too much pressure was put on the guy from Day One. It’s been said that he’s not a good captain. By who? People who have never been in the dressing room. Have you ever heard a teammate, past or present, question his leadership abilities? No. And you probably won’t. If he was brought to the Leafs as a number three or four defenseman without the “C”, it would be a different story. But he came to Toronto as the unheralded saviour of the team. And when he didn’t live up to the billing, he became a target of the fans and media alike. Phaneuf needs to go to a young team like Edmonton or Columbus, where he can be a mentor.

I hope for his sake that he’s moved. And I think he will be. Asking price? A second rounder and a prospect.

W. Cornett - The Leafs’ captain will not be playing in Toronto in September unless it’s as a member of an opposing team visiting the ACC. Dion Phaneuf’s time in Toronto has been turbulent, and although the regular season may end soon, Phaneuf’s troubles will not. Although I doubt he will be moved before the deadline, it could be possible for Phaneuf to be moved to a team looking to add depth to their roster as the playoffs rapidly approach. Many believe the defenseman will end up out west, but given the moves made by teams sitting in a wild card spot or on the bubble, I could see Phaneuf sporting a number of jerseys, including the Panthers and Capitals. The trade that involves Phaneuf will look nothing like the one that sent him to the Leafs. Toronto’s brass will not be looking to acquire a plethora of depth players in exchange for the Leafs’ captain, but instead will entertain proposals involving the exchange of high-end picks and prospects. The trade will most likely revolve around a package deal including Phaneuf for a youthful defenseman, and either a combination of picks or a pick and an up and coming forward.

Bold Prediction: Dion Phaneuf traded to Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Brenden Kichton, Ryan Olsen, and a 2nd round pick in 2015.

McPhee - The trade rumours around Phaneuf all have him going to LA. However the Kings are in serious salary cap trouble as is, and adding Phaneuf’s contract just does not make any sense for them (does not mean they won’t do it). However a far more likely landing spot is San Jose. The Sharks have just over $5M in cap space, and are 3 points out of the last wildcard spot. The addition of a player like Dion could help them make that postseason push. I see 2 potential scenarios playing out.

Scenario 1:
To San Jose: D Dion Phaneuf (Salary retained $1M)
To Toronto: D Brenden Dillon, 2015 1st round pick, conditional 2016 2nd/3rd round pick

Scenario 2:
To San Jose: D Dion Phaneuf (Salary retained $1.25M), 2016 3rd round pick
To Toronto: prospect D Mirco Mueller, 2015 1st round pick, 2016 conditional 2nd/3rd

Evaluating Dion’s trade value is difficult, so determining return is not easy. You should absolutely get a top prospect back, and then a high round pick. I see Dillon as the more likely option. He’s not as highly rated as Mueller and he’s 23, where Mueller is 19. This does mean a better pick from San Jose though, and a first round selection in this years draft is a solid addition. You will have to eat salary on Phaneuf’s contract if you want solid return and don’t want to eat a bad contract coming back. I would expect a Phaneuf trade to happen at the Draft but in the West you’re going to need as many top defencemen as you can get. Again make the conditions dependant on SJ’s playoff success.

Savard - I think I am often in the minority when it comes to Dion Phaneuf. I liked the deal that Brian Burke made to bring Phaneuf to Toronto and I wrote in an earlier article that he would be one of my ten players in the entire Toronto system that I would build around for the future. I think the challenge is that the way the team is structured, the expectation for him to be the #1 defenceman, play against all the top players, contribute offensively, be a leader and physical presence – is simply too high.

Personally, I like Dion Phaneuf on the team. That said, I think there is a better chance today that he gets traded because now that the Leafs have moved David Clarkson’s contract. I think teams like Detroit, LA and Edmonton will sniff at the Leafs captain, but in the end he will not get moved between now and Monday at 3:00 pm.

What do you think HometownHockey.ca readers – does Dion Phaneuf stay or does he go? You can post your comments below.