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However, all indications are this is no slam dunk and, at this point, it’s 50/50 as to whether Phaneuf will accept the club’s request. If he doesn’t — and he has every right to refuse — then Dorion would have to try to deal Methot before the roster freeze or listen to trade offers on Cody Ceci to see what he can fetch.

The Senators’ best-case scenario for the expansion draft is to protect seven forwards, three defencemen and a goaltender. Dorion has already stated he will keep goalie Craig Anderson, while there are several different options the club could look at up front.

On defence, there are two options:

If Phaneuf agrees to waive his “no-move” clause, the Senators will protect captain Erik Karlsson, Ceci and Methot.

If Phaneuf doesn’t agree to waive, then he will be protected along Karlsson and Ceci.

The request would not have caught Phaneuf off-guard because it has been speculated for months, and all he had to do was look at the numbers.

Still, this is a massive decision, and not an easy one, because Phaneuf holds all the cards.

The former captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, acquired by the Senators in February 2016, has settled in nicely with Ottawa and enjoys his role here. Phaneuf has been paired mostly with Ceci and has played an integral role as part of the leadership group in the dressing room.

With four years left at $7 million per season on his contract, it’s unlikely the Knights would select the 32-year-old Phaneuf. Still, this would still be a tough pill for him to swallow because Phaneuf is a proud man and he likely doesn’t enjoy the idea of being one of the players listed as being available in the draft.