Even though he was asked to waive his no-movement clause in order for the Ottawa Senators to protect a different defenseman, Bob McKenzie of TSN reports that Dion Phaneuf is expected to refuse the request. He will not waive, and thus will require automatic protection in the expansion draft should he remain on the roster when the protection lists are submitted on Saturday evening.
Phaneuf is one of the most interesting cases among players asked to waive, as his contract only contains a limited no-trade clause that allows him to block deals to all but ten teams. That’s how the Maple Leafs executed the previous deal that sent him to Ottawa, and how the Senators could potentially move him again in order to protect someone else. Currently, the team will have to choose between Marc Methot and Cody Ceci for the final defensive slot if they go with the 7-3-1 protection method, with Chris Wideman and Mark Borowiecki having cases of their own.
Ottawa could go with the eight skater protection method, but that would leave several interesting forwards available. Obviously the team hoped that Phaneuf would waive the clause, assuming his contract would be protection enough against selection. As we discussed back in February when it was first suggested that the team would ask him, there is no guarantee that Vegas would pass up a former Norris finalist and Maple Leafs captain even with his hefty cap hit. The 32-year old Phaneuf comes with a $7MM cap hit for the next four seasons, but his actual salary drops to $5.5MM by the final season.
The Senators will now have to figure out which direction they take. Do they move Phaneuf (if they can) and take whatever asset they can get for him, or risk watching another good defenseman walk out the door for free. There is always the option of making a side-deal with Vegas, something that many teams around the league may have to do.
I hate this guy so much he should of been a team player and waved it it’s not like the knights would have taken him anyways
He negotiated this and Ottawa knew it taking him on. There should be no hard feelings towards him because he exercised it. Let Vegas take Ceci since he’s awful, and it shows how Phaneuf wants to stay with a winning team. It’s a good thing that players don’t want to leave your organization, not leave it
Stay in rout organization*
Jesus I give up
100%. I’d much rather see Dion head for the desert, but it’s within his contractual right to say no. I can understand why he wouldn’t want to possibly end up in a brand new organization at his age. Cici looked better during the playoffs here and there, but there are guys breathing down his neck down the pipeline that will be better than him in a year or 2 anyway. Best of luck to him if/when he goes.
Don’t blame Phaneuf for exercising his right to refuse waiving the NMC in his contract.