via James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail,

The issue is not only the coach. The issue is the Leafs built their team around Kessel, Phaneuf and not much else because they were the impact players that former GM Brian Burke was able to get without going through the draft or free agency, routes he deemed too slow or too costly.

They were available because they had flaws; unsurprisingly, they still have them.

And you can blame those who have ignored that for too long for part of the Leafs’ downfall.

The tough part is how president Brendan Shanahan should go about fixing this roster. You can’t give away talent for nothing in this league, and freeing up cap space without anything to spend it on hardly makes sense unless it’s a total teardown, something he said last spring he wasn’t interested in.

Even so, getting younger makes sense, as does adding prospects that will mature with players such as Nazem Kadri and Morgan Rielly.

It’ll take some boldness from the brass to start selling now, but it’ll be long overdue.

Phaneuf will turn 30 on April 10th and his AAV is $7M thru the 2020-21 season.

He shoots left but has played the right side at times during his career.

If a trade is made, you would have to think Toronto would have to keep some of his salary, I don't see any team trading for that contract.

With that in mind, do you want him and who would you trade?