Dion Phaneuf, Maple Leafs close on new 7-year deal, as confirmed on ‘HBO 24/7’

What a wacky new media world we live in, where news is broken on a reality cable television infomercial for an NHL outdoor game?

Granted, Dion Phaneuf’s contract extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs has begun to seem inevitable. Sportsnet had reported since October on 7-year deal between the impending unrestricted free agent and the Leafs, and subsequently that the two sides had agreed to terms in the structure of the deal.

Darren Dreger of TSN reported Saturday that a 7-year deal worth $7 million per season.

But it wasn’t until Saturday night on Episode 3 of “HBO 24/7 Red Wings/Maple Leafs: Road To The NHL Winter Classic” that we heard a Leafs executive spell out how close the sides are.

Here’s Claude Loiselle, Toronto’s assistant general manager, explaining that it’s down to the details on a no-move clause for the Leafs and Phaneuf:

So there you have it: Claudy told Nonny that they’ve agreed on numbers and years, and a structure, but the only sticking point is a limited no-trade.

Sounds like we might have a Phaneuf deal in time for the season finale of “24/7.”