Tie Domi Esquire
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- Oct 18, 2010
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TSN: Dion almost signed? Mod warning post #277
- Thread starter Durrr
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The problem with Phaneuf is that he is below average defender when the leafs are leading. He is excellent when the leafs are trailing because of his offensive acumen but as a shutdown defender he is miscast.
ThreeHundred
Registered User
The Magic Man
With God given hands
Umm......way too late.
Can't wait for him to sign. This reminds me of all the negative whining about trading Kessel before he bails on us and we get nothing.
Like him or not, he is by far our best defensive d-man. If the time comes that we have to spend 5,6,7M on Rielly or, say, Percy, that's a great problem to have. I'd love to build the team around 2 D that can minimize stars properly.
I'm guessing most of the haters weren't Leaf fans when we chased Larry Murphy out of town, back on to the Cup 2 more times an into the Hall of Fame. This cities media and rabid fans are way too critical of D men.
DeathToAllButMetal
Let it all burn.
- May 13, 2010
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I remember Murphy quite well, and he's was absolutely terrible in Toronto. He was chased out of town because he sucked. Incredibly slow, no commitment, nada. This wasn't just a Toronto thing. Murphy was so brutal here that he was worthless. You think the Leafs gave him away because they just wanted to dump him? The way people act today, it's like the Leafs just panicked and jettisoned him for the first offer that came along. Nope. Murphy was in Toronto for almost two full seasons of crap before he was finally traded to Detroit.
Phaneuf isn't a defensive D-man. His skating is below par, he never, ever seems to win a battle for the puck. Someone's going to rip off a dozen stats here, but I don't see him as a player with the heart and ability to be a foundational player on a regular playoff team. There's just no there there. Can't explain it any better than that without getting into subjective opinions about what I've seen from the guy.
But bottom line: the Leafs have been terrible more often than not with Dion Phaneuf as their top player and captain. Doesn't that fact alone warrant a change? There's something messed up with the culture of this franchise, going back to the half-assed way that Burke just threw the parts together through his absurd "quickie" rebuild plan.
Larry Murphy was an offensive defenceman, and he did his job in that regard. I think the problem was well beyond him and rather our personnel at that time. I wouldn't say it was poor, but I don't see the high cohesion that you'll see in a more well-crafted team like Detroit. Toronto was historically a defensively-oriented team with the Canadiens being the offensive juggernauts, and during the 90s, we just saw a mis-mash of talent. Sundin poorly utilised, Gilmour beginning to decline, etc.
I don't know what you're watching, but I see Phaneuf win numerous puck battles. One thing you need to understand is that he's going up against the top lines. That is, the offensive zone specialists. You're going to see things go either way, but regardless of what you think of "advanced statistics", when he's on the ice, we're being less scored on. The opposition knows this quite well and often sends their top lines when Phaneuf is off, and when their line matching is successfully disrupt, we see them score.
The main problem with Phaneuf is that while he is excellent in the defensive zone almost like a stay-at-home type, creativity is not part of his game. Sure he makes simple crisp passes, but offensive zone specialists are generally very good at driving possession. Usually against these forwards, having a creative puck mover, would more likely force top lines in their zone.
This disconnected logic could even be applied to Nashvile or Minnesota. I don't see very consistent products there, and Nashvile - despite utilising Trotz BORING defensive zone trap looks lackluster. So in that case, should Nashville move Weber? How about Minnesota with Parise and Suter? What I see here is agenda-driven motives, because if we're looking for a shake up, I'd be looking at nearly everyone else before Phaneuf.
What's Kadri doing? He's sexy with the puck, but awful at doing anything. How about Gardiner who is given sheltered minutes to produce? Sexy skater, but doesn't look like someone who'll be generating 40 points anytime soon. Interestingly, we have Franson who can generate some assists ( sheltered, of course), but even then is terrible ( like Gardiner) in the defensive zone. I don't even want to get to Clarkson, who is built for top six hockey, but has poor chemistry with Kadri, or even Kessel for that matter.
Agreed with everything except part on kadri and gardiner.
But before that, there is a reason why torts said last year "i wanted to keep nash away from phaneuf" and look he scores 2 against pairing of fraser and franson
34
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- Mar 26, 2010
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34
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- Mar 26, 2010
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There may be 57 defensemen in the NHL with the same or even more offense than Phaneuf this season, are they all worth 7 million? How much are the players worth, whose D is not below average and have more points than Dion?
And many have said this is his best season yet as a Leaf, so it may not get better than this.
the bad contract maple leafs ......clarkson ,bozak and now phaneuf and this team could still be a lottery pick draft position ,,,,,,no use debating ,,,,only way paneuf doesnt get signed is if owernership steps in ..
Gunnar got caught behind the net on his wrong side and Dion went to the other side of the ice to pickup coverage as Gunnar was out of position.
He went to the same side as Gunner, leaving a wide open path to the front of the net.
He is the leafs best defender BUT he is not good enough to lead and carry this team to a cup. THis kind of logic is the reason the team has signed Bozak as the #1C because Nonis and fans think he was the best option. Settling for Phaneuf is settling for no stanley cup.
He was on his (R) side of the ice and Gunnar followed his man behind the net and over to the right side of the ice. Phanuef jumped to the left side of the ice to cover Gunnar's position.
He was covering neither position, and this isn't the first time that he's chased the puck behind his own net.
I'm not sure what so confusing about that. He doesn't want to play anywhere else and perhaps won't even report if he was traded, so they gave him a NTC. If he doesn't work out here, he can be sent down and if not he only makes 1 million for 1 year, so there's no problem. It's not like he's trying Nonis' hands in any way.
It's hasn't worked out all that well, but general consensus was that he had a strong possibility of getting back to his previous form and be a top 4 dman. His contract would have been stellar if that happened and we're not really out anything if he doesn't.
ACC1224
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- Aug 19, 2002
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diceman934
Help is on the way.
Sorry but that is typical Dion.....sucking exhaust! If he stayed net front he could have denied Hanzel from walking out from.... very poor decision!
HarrisonFord
President of the Drew Doughty Fan Club
Would love to see Dion play with a legit #2 defenseman. All this nonsensical garbage would be finally put to rest
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