Phlame On: Leafs Land Phaneuf, Giguere

Finally, a reason for some optimism.

After yesterday's predictable comeback loss against the Vancouver Canucks on Hockey Day In Canada -- a game the Leafs were leading 3-0 in the third, chasing Olympian Roberto Luongo from the crease, only to lose 5-3 at the hands of former Leafs scapegoat Andrew Raycroft -- Leafs General Manager Brian Burke shook up the team and made two blockbuster trades today, including a seven-player deal to land former Calgary Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf.

The Leafs acquired Dion Phaneuf, Fredrik Sjostrom and prospect Keith Aulie in exchange for Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman, Jamal Mayers and Ian White.

In the same press conference announcing this trade, Leafs GM Brian Burke told reporters to sit tight, as another one would be announced. After a coffee break, Burke revealed Vesa Toskala and Jason Blake were heading to Anaheim in exchange for Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

For me, today's new was alarming. Literally.

My brother yelled down the basement stairs, "The Leafs got Phaneuf!" I was asleep, and obviously thought it was a dream. The current Leafs organization could not land a star player if they promised heroic monuments in their name. But it was true; Phaneuf is a Leaf, although he comes at a price.

The Leafs traded most of their scoring away as Stajan, Hagman and White were the most consistent Leafs this season. They all put up respectable numbers on a subpar team, and Jamal Mayers wanted out of Toronto anyways. To their credit, the Flames answered many of their needs. They have a potential centre for Jarome Iginla, much-needed scoring depth on the wing, and a productive defenseman on a D-corps that's still solid. But while this could solidify a bottom-five finish in the standings for the Leafs (to the delight of the Boston Bruins who own our first-round pick), it's short term pain for long term gain.

Phaneuf is not playing like the highly-touted prospect he once was, but he's only 24 and many defensemen get better with age. He'll have more playing time in Toronto, and a chance to rack up power play points with Tomas Kaberle feeding him. With all due respect, none of the players the Leafs traded will be elite players, but Phaneuf could be. And elite players are hard to come by, especially in Toronto.

I don't know much about Sjostrom, although he is a former first-round pick. Someone somewhere thought he had potential. And I vaguely remember Keith Aulie from Canada's World Junior Gold Medal team in 2009, but my thumb is always up to former World Juniors players.

As for the Anaheim trade, Toskala's time was up. He would have never recovered the faith of Leaf fans. Jason Blake brought it every night and is quick as light, but put a defender on him and the momentum's gone. Try all he might, he never lived up to his five-year, $20 million contract. Giguere looks like he's past his prime, but he's a former Conn Smythe winner and is reunited with Brian Burke and goalie coach Francois Allaire -- two men who share with him a Stanley Cup victory. While $7 million annually is a little much for a backup goalie, like most of the players involved in today's transactions, a change of scenery may rejuvenate his career. Even hockey players need a wake-up call.

No more memories of the first-, second- and fourth-round picks traded for Toskala and Mark Bell. No more flabby contract from Jason Blake, The Man Who Can't Be Moved. And only Garnet Exelby is left publicly wanting out of Toronto.

He better be traded soon, because there's another #3 in town.