Dion Phaneuf or Charlie McAvoy?

[WillardJFredricks]

Calgary Phaneuf was pretty damn good.

Except at playing defence. Just awful. You could count on at least once a game he'd leave someone wide open at the side of the net because he was caught staring off into space, or maybe distracted by a shiny object.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

I personally would rather not play against Phaneuf. He's mean. Couldn't tell you exactly peaked better though.

 

[Felidae]

Comparison between their Norris records..

Charlie McAvoy: 4, 5, 10, 13, 18

Dion Phaneuf: 2, 6, 8, 11, 12, 16

Phaneuf probably has the single best season between the two, but almost all his Norris finishes happened from ages 18-24..

McAvoy is only 27 and likely to add to his Norris record, even if he's never a finalist.

Comparing their track records right now, I guess I'd go with Phaneuf. But McAvoy is already on the cusp of having a better, lengthier prime.

 

[LokiDog]

I don’t think it’s even remotely close. McAvoy is one of the more underrated guys around because he doesn’t put up 60-80 point seasons but defensively he’s an absolute stud. Slavin-like in terms of not having the offensive numbers to win a Norris but probably better defensively than 99.5% of his peers. Phaneuf had a big shot and laid some big hits but he was never THAT good.

 

[Roughneck1]

Dion. In his prime he was considered a franchise player. At one point up with Crosby and Ovi. Mind u it was a short run but Mcvoy never reached that peak in my opinion.

 

[seafoam]

Mac but closer than we all think.

 

[Ignatius]

Dion was a 3-4 D forced into a top pairing roll while McAvoy is a true top pairing D that would be a #1D on many teams. McAvoy I would say is top tier but not elite like say Makar, Q.Hughes, Heiskanen, etc.

 

[Mobiandi]

Peak Dion was a unicorn. But that peak was very shortlived.

Smart money says to take McAvoy. But Phaneuf was unlucky with his hip and it was a pity Hamrlik didn’t stay for longer