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If Dion Phaneuf really wanted to stay, he needed to say he’s willing to move — specifically, to Las Vegas.

Now the Senators have to trade him.

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And fast.

If even for a song.

It would be much better than risk losing Marc Methot or Cody Ceci in the expansion draft.

That’s a no-brainer.

The Senators would prefer to keep their Top 4 defence intact for one more run, but the arrival of the new team means all others will be stripped of a player, and GM Pierre Dorion has to keep damage to a minimum.

He must stick to his original plan of protecting three defenceman — Methot, Ceci and Erik Karlsson — despite Phaneuf’s expected decision of refusing to waive the clause in his deal stipulating he can be relocated to one of only a dozen teams.

A veteran of a 12 NHL seasons, Phaneuf has earned that right. But come on, there’s zero chance Vegas GM George McPhee is going to take on the contract of a slowing 32-year old that has four more seasons, each with a cap hit of $7 million, despite the threats of doing so he has surely and wisely made.