Former GM Dave Nonis: 'I could have traded Dion Phaneuf'

There was a lot of speculation before the trade deadline that the Maple Leafs would trade captain Dion Phaneuf and/or beleaguered forward Phil Kessel, but no trade ever materialized.

Or, as former Toronto general manager Dave Nonis corrected Thursday, no trade was ever finalized. 

Nonis revealed to the Toronto Sun that there was a deal in place involving Dion Phaneuf at the deadline, but Nonis did not end up pulling the trigger.

"I could have traded Dion at the deadline," Nonis told the Sun. "We had a deal. It wasn’t a great one, but it was a deal. I look at Phil and Dion and I still think they’re elite, upper-end players. They both could be traded, but it’s not like the Leafs are stuck with them if they’re back."

Nonis told the Sun that at least five teams expressed interest in Phaneuf, meaning there is hope if the new Leafs GM wants to trade Phaneuf over the summer. 

Nonis also debunked the idea that fan and media pressure make Toronto an impossible place both to play and to win championships.

“I believe the team can win in Toronto. It’s just going to take some patience and some time," Nonis told the Sun. "To say you can’t win in Toronto because of the media is an excuse. If the Boston Red Sox can win in Boston and the New York Yankees can win in New York, why can’t the Toronto Maple Leafs win in Toronto?"

(h/t Toronto Sun)

Photo by Jerry Lai - USA Today