MONTREAL

Jason Spezza might not be only captain in the Battle of Ontario on the move in the off-season.

Former NHLer Nick Kypreos, an insider with Rogers Sportsnet, reported not only are the Senators shopping their captain the Maple Leafs have also been trying to move captain Dion Phaneuf.

Ontario captains on the way out soon? Independent sources say both #Sens and #Leafs shopping Spezza/ Phaneuf to west conf #NHL teams — Nick Kypreos (@RealKyper) May 11, 2014

“Independent sources say both #Sens and #Leafs shopping Spezza/ Phaneuf to (Western Conference) #NHL teams,” tweeted Kypreos Sunday night.

While Spezza’s name being on the market doesn’t come as any surprise because Ottawa GM Bryan Murray has been talking to suitors, Phaneuf’s emergence on the market is a surprise.

Spezza has only one year left on his deal at $4 million and a cap hit of $7 million before becoming a unrestricted free agent while Phaneuf signed a seven-year, $49 million extension last December.

The Senators will likely move Spezza before next month’s NHL entry draft in Philadelphia. New Leafs president Brendan Shanahan and GM Dave Nonis are likely sniffing to see if there’s any interest in Phaneuf.

Both players have had their leadership called into question in their respective cities. The Senators have had mild interest from the St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks in Spezza.

The Senators held talks with both Anaheim and St. Louis at the trade deadline in March but Murray and his staff decided they weren’t willing to make a deal at that juncture.

After getting eliminated by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the playoffs, the Blues are probably the most willing to look at making a deal.​

bruce.garrioch@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @sungarrioch