Hmmm, the Leafs do possess a tun of offesnsive guys in the system. Plus,scoring won't be a problem for this team. If he takes 4-5 i'de love to keep him, but not as a top paid guy.
- aminnes

Why not as a top paid guy? He is a top guy.

People might not realize this, but Phaneuf is the only defenseman we've had in a decade who has not fallen apart playing in Toronto.

Maybe you fluke out and manage to get a guy on par with Phaneuf. The difference is that most guys on par with Phaneuf haven't done it in Toronto.

Let's go through the list of under 30 defensemen who can score 40+ points, play 25 hard minutes a night, and anchor both special teams.

And, unlike Murphy, McCabe, Beauchemin, and Komisarek, they have to stand up under intense pressure and media scrutiny.

How many are there? How many of those are available?

Guys, Calm Down, Kaberle and Whitney are available.....It's all good.
- Byfuglien Ate Me

I'd take Whitney at the right price...

(frank) yeah! Someone buy this guy a drink!
- Byfuglien Ate Me

He'd be solid and i really think he can be had for cheap since jets are having problems with him and basically they deemed him as an asset that cannot be traded because hes overweight which we can evidently change with oh i dont know, gary roberts!

and I'm not calling him god of defence. Far from it.

But he's WAY better than anybody else on the team. That's all I'm saying.

He plays so many minutes in ALL situations because Carlyle simply doesn't trust anybody else. And I'm pretty sure he's a better judge than any of us.
- Big_Lightnin

Carlyle seemed to make reference at the end of the season that they learned some guys can't handle a big workload.

Why not as a top paid guy? He is a top guy.

People might not realize this, but Phaneuf is the only defenseman we've had in a decade who has not fallen apart playing in Toronto.

Maybe you fluke out and manage to get a guy on par with Phaneuf. The difference is that most guys on par with Phaneuf haven't done it in Toronto.

Let's go through the list of under 30 defensemen who can score 40+ points, play 25 hard minutes a night, and anchor both special teams.

How many are there? How many of those are available?
- Leeman4Gilmour

the list is as follows:















end of list.

See, ALL these guys we could have!

He'd be solid and i really think he can be had for cheap since jets are having problems with him and basically they deemed him as an asset that cannot be traded because hes overweight which we can evidently change with oh i dont know, gary roberts!
- Mapleleafs_91

We can't change him, Gary can't change him, he has to change himself.

(Fortune cookie)

and I'm not calling him god of defence. Far from it.

But he's WAY better than anybody else on the team. That's all I'm saying.

He plays so many minutes in ALL situations because Carlyle simply doesn't trust anybody else. And I'm pretty sure he's a better judge than any of us.
- Big_Lightnin

Is that the case, or is it optics? RC himself says he plays better at about 20-22 mins. He has the C, you can't take the highest paid guy on the club, and the captain and relegate him. Not saying there were too many better options, but usually when you have to demminish a player like this and his role, he gets traded.

We can't change him, Gary can't change him, he has to change himself.

(Fortune cookie)
- Leafland

Even if he is fat, he is still one hell of a player. Solid guy no matter what

Carlyle seemed to make reference at the end of the season that they learned some guys can't handle a big workload.
- robin_steele264

ya... Franson, Gunnarson, Fraser.

not many guys can play the minutes Dion did every night and not get worn down (including Dion). Problem is they don't have anybody capable of reducing his workload, is my point.

Is that the case, or is it optics? RC himself says he plays better at about 20-22 mins. He has the C, you can't take the highest paid guy on the club, and the captain and relegate him. Not saying there were too many better options, but usually when you have to demminish a player like this and his role, he gets traded.
- aminnes

I think phaneuf needs some lessons for captain.. i think wendel clark can be his motivation... maybe he will start punching some guys heads off finally and not wander off to the bench and turn his back on his teammates which he did sometimes this season. His leadership is questionable at times

Why not as a top paid guy? He is a top guy.

People might not realize this, but Phaneuf is the only defenseman we've had in a decade who has not fallen apart playing in Toronto.

Maybe you fluke out and manage to get a guy on par with Phaneuf. The difference is that most guys on par with Phaneuf haven't done it in Toronto.

Let's go through the list of under 30 defensemen who can score 40+ points, play 25 hard minutes a night, and anchor both special teams.

And, unlike Murphy, McCabe, Beauchemin, and Komisarek, they have to stand up under intense pressure and media scrutiny.

How many are there? How many of those are available?
- Leeman4Gilmour

If he is a top guy, why does he get zero respect from his peers? Hey maybe they just hate him but he probly is a little overated. Ask yourself this, ca this team go all the way with Phaneuf playing those minutes. The answer is no. So there has to be a different plan, maybe he's included, maybe he isn't.

ya... Franson, Gunnarson, Fraser.

not many guys can play the minutes Dion did every night and not get worn down (including Dion). Problem is they don't have anybody capable of reducing his workload, is my point.
- Big_Lightnin

You seem very concerned with his load.

ya... Franson, Gunnarson, Fraser.

not many guys can play the minutes Dion did every night and not get worn down (including Dion). Problem is they don't have anybody capable of reducing his workload, is my point.
- Big_Lightnin

Dude, He said dion is best at 20-22 minutes early in the year when he was playing him less.

If he is a top guy, why does he get zero respect from his peers? Hey maybe they just hate him but he probly is a little overated. Ask yourself this, ca this team go all the way with Phaneuf playing those minutes. The answer is no. So there has to be a different plan, maybe he's included, maybe he isn't.
- aminnes

Remain calm everyone. Eventually Gardiner will be the next lidstrom and Rielly will be the next scott niedermayer... pfft and you guys were all scared, shame on you

Is that the case, or is it optics? RC himself says he plays better at about 20-22 mins. He has the C, you can't take the highest paid guy on the club, and the captain and relegate him. Not saying there were too many better options, but usually when you have to demminish a player like this and his role, he gets traded.
- aminnes

so does everybody else.

All valid points. And again I'm not calling him untradeable.

just saying the if they trade him, they need to bring in at LEAST 1 top pair and 1 3/4 guy to replace him.

If they simple go with what they have, without Phaneuf, it's going to be an ugly year

I think phaneuf needs some lessons for captain.. i think wendel clark can be his motivation... maybe he will start punching some guys heads off finally and not wander off to the bench and turn his back on his teammates which he did sometimes this season. His leadership is questionable at times
- Mapleleafs_91

Thats the sad part as well, he used to stand up for his teammates and that was one of his strong points, doesn't do that anymore. The way he looked in this regard this year may be enough to want to move him, cause stripping the C usually doesn't go so well. Brad MAy said he doesn't get a whole lotta respect from his teammates, and we know what the rest of the LEague thinks.

Dude, He said dion is best at 20-22 minutes early in the year when he was playing him less.
- aminnes

right... cause he wasn't worn out every night from playing every situation.

but Carlyle played him in all situations because he didn't trust others to take those minutes

so does everybody else.

All valid points. And again I'm not calling him untradeable.

just saying the if they trade him, they need to bring in at LEAST 1 top pair and 1 3/4 guy to replace him.

If they simple go with what they have, without Phaneuf, it's going to be an ugly year
- Big_Lightnin

I'm with you there.

If he is a top guy, why does he get zero respect from his peers? Hey maybe they just hate him but he probly is a little overated. Ask yourself this, ca this team go all the way with Phaneuf playing those minutes. The answer is no. So there has to be a different plan, maybe he's included, maybe he isn't.
- aminnes

So, you've conducted a poll of his teammates, then?

Great. Let's see the results.

so does everybody else.

All valid points. And again I'm not calling him untradeable.

just saying the if they trade him, they need to bring in at LEAST 1 top pair and 1 3/4 guy to replace him.

If they simple go with what they have, without Phaneuf, it's going to be an ugly year
- Big_Lightnin

Whats your take on johnson being included with stastny in some trade involving phaneuf packaged up

Thats the sad part as well, he used to stand up for his teammates and that was one of his strong points, doesn't do that anymore. The way he looked in this regard this year may be enough to want to move him, cause stripping the C usually doesn't go so well. Brad MAy said he doesn't get a whole lotta respect from his teammates, and we know what the rest of the LEague thinks.
- aminnes

Like i understand we have Orr, Mclaren, Fraser, etc... but when hes on the godamn ice and those guys aren't on... stand up for your team dammnit

You seem very concerned with his load.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

right you are

seriously though, he should play less, but they need to have someone capable of playing more to make that happen. They don't

so does everybody else.

All valid points. And again I'm not calling him untradeable.

just saying the if they trade him, they need to bring in at LEAST 1 top pair and 1 3/4 guy to replace him.

If they simple go with what they have, without Phaneuf, it's going to be an ugly year
- Big_Lightnin

It has every chance to be an ugly year with him.


2 bottom 5 finishes.

So, you've conducted a poll of his teammates, then?

Great. Let's see the results.
- Leeman4Gilmour

Not at all, but May knows most of those guys, he could be lying, but with Dion's personality coming out of Calgary and such, it's probly true.

Whats your take on johnson being included with stastny in some trade involving phaneuf packaged up
- Mapleleafs_91

makes the Avs D better,

Leafs still have no real top pair though...