Phaneuf Discussion Thread - Civil Mode

[Rockinz]

Dion has been brutal since he signed his deal... We are in a bad spot with him...

 

[PhiladelphiaKessel]

It's almost time to Larry Murphy Dion out of town. 7 more years of Dion means we are on a 10 year rebuild because there is no way we can win the cup with that much salary tied up with a pylon. He brings zero to this team. His shot and physical play is gone he has nothing left he's completely washed up.

I agree he looks washed up out there. Always bent over looks likes he's injured but he's not. He's really a pylon out there at this point

 

[HoweHullOrr]

He can't handle those minutes. He is not a superstar, he is a tier below.

Fact. This player usage chart tells the entire story. Dion plays the against the toughest competition with most of his starts in the defensive zone out of necessity. We know he can't handle the minutes he gets, and to be honest, he struggles breaking out of the zone so he can't really handle the defensive zone starts either. If the leafs want to maximize Dion for at least 5 out of the 7 years he's gotten on his contract, he has to have more sheltered zone starts. He also can't be relied on to be the Chris Pronger of this team (Randy once again trying to put a square peg in a round hole). Yes, we need that guy who we can pair him with, or we need that guy to be paired with someone else, and have Dion exclusively in a sheltered offensive role similarly to the way a sensible coach would use Jake Gardiner.

Could be true, but if I've added correctly, that sounds like two more top 4 defenders are required (one of which would need to be a top pairing guy), at least short term. That's not an easily accomplished task to say the least.

 

[Kb21]

Don't worry guys. Dion has 7 more seasons to improve his game.

Still didn't understand the contact length. Would it of been so bad to let the season play out and compete with other team's to signing him in UFA.

 

[yubbers]

-12 with 30pim since the break.

 

[asdf]

So why are we paying Dion to be a legit #1 and one of the best in the league when his game rely on what partner he have? With that salary and the C on his jersey he should be able to carry a rookie and still come out of it looking elite. Resigning Phaneuf to that contract was a joke.

Why, when the suggestion comes up that Dion needs help, does he get treated as if he's alone in this regard? As if the other elite stud defencemen do it all on their own?

Duncan Keith plays under Quenneville, with Seabrook as a partner, Odouya and Hjalmarsson to help with the load, Crawford behind him, and forwards like Toews, Sharp, and Hossa in front of him.

Chara plays under Julien, with Siedenberg as a partner (usually), Rask behind him, and forwards like Bergeron, Krejci, and Lucic in front of him.

Pietrangelo plays under Hitchcock, with Bouwmeester as a partner, Halak/Elliot/Miller behind him, and forwards like Backes, Steen, and Oshie in front of him.

Phaneuf plays under Carlyle, with Gunnarsson as a partner, Bernier and Reimer behind him (this is the only area comparable to other teams), and forwards like Kessel, Lupul, and JVR in front of him.

Quite a bit of difference there.