First of all, in a ranking of all drafted prospects who are yet to play an NHL game, I have Dion Phaneuf ranked number two. Just to set some sort of background of my own approach.
So this is no disrespect to Dion Phaneuf, who is an absolutely incredible hockey prospect. But he is not in the same category of Sidney Crosby at this stage. I'm sorry, but I have to seriously call into question anybody who says they would rather have Phaneuf. I'm not certain what justification there is, if it is preferably viewing FLames prospects, WHL loving, Q bashing, Crosby bashing, or maybe just misunderstanding....but as outstanding as Phaneuf is, he simply does not have the same potential to evolve the game the way Sidney Crosby does.
I think anybody who fantasizes that a single NHL GM would rather have Dion Phaneuf over Sidney Crosby is delusional. There is a gap in their potential. Phaneuf is a great prospect, Crosby, at this point, is a generational talent.
You cannot compare how they are playing this season because of the two year age difference. Not that it really matters, but even at this point, I suspect that a majority would agree 17 year old Crosby was MORE dominant (both were dominant respectively) than 19 year old Phaneuf.
But compare the two players at 17 if you want to make a fair comparison. Or 16. Was Phaneuf the WHL player of the year when he was 17? Was he a strong candidate for CHL player of the year? Did he LEAD his team to a division, possibly league, title?
I'm not trying to put DOWN Dion Phaneuf. I have nothing but the utmost respect and appreciation for what he does. He's incredible. Like I said in my comments in the Ovechkin/Crosby/who has more Gretzky like tendancies threat, just because somebody compares to another differently does not mean they are bad.
Dion Phaneuf is incredible. Sidney Crosby is more incredible.