I do, but what is he going to ask for?
- peddy-93

i dont know, but if they let Cool-e-man walk and he made 2.8, and Mason was making I believe $3 with Vancoulo, then somewhere between 2-3 million is ok?

Quite a player. Sad really.
- bixll

He looks like he might be a monster in a couple years.

What I meant by sad is the oilers fan base comes up with Rhymes like "Fail For Nail" that's the only hope they have . Worst team over the last 5 years and this year looks more or less the same.

I forget the one for Hall's draft year
- Killbot460

Try to win (frank) all?

Fall for Hall?
Beggin' for Seguin?
- peddy-93

that was it. I think there was the Seguin Wagon as well

He looks like he might be a monster in a couple years.

What I meant by sad is the oilers fan base comes up with Rhymes like "Fail For Nail" that's the only hope they have . Worst team over the last 5 years and this year looks more or less the same.
- Killbot460

Don't hang your hat on him. I think he blows. JMO. CAn't watch him play.

I should say, I am a fan of players that play both directions of play. Off, and Def.

As for the Vanek talk...

Nonesense. This team does not have an issue scoring goals.

Yeah he wants Norris money for barely norris-nomination-worthy play.

That said there's a valid point that we don't have too many other options in terms of minute-eating Dmen. I think the main option is allowing the goaltending to take the extra slack. Hell it's not like having Dion in the lineup has positively impacted our shots-against totals.
- AngryWhiteMale

I'm sure the Leafs have evaluated their cap next year and the years beyond so if they want to ear mark that money to other players so be it, but it's not like letting Phaneuf go and finding another 7 mil a year D is feasible.

Phaneuf is not worth 7 a year, but what other options are out there? They can't let this guy walk or trade him for a poopty 1st like some of the losers on here are suggesting.. He is the best option the Leafs have now and going forward. A lot of the hatred towards him is stupidity and just fans looking to hate on a player.
- Mr_Smokey

This is the perfect statement.

Not to get into it, but for all the bozak bashing, grabo and weiss have been absolutely AWFUL and all those guys do is offense. Sometimes your options are limited. Dion would be missed, and i love when ppl say 'he's not worth that'. Why? Because as a hockey fan who has zero insight into NHL negotiations you think that? Awesome.

Resigning Phaneuf for 7 years at 50 million dollars is just simply not worth it....he would instantly become the whipping boy for the Leafs 10x more than he is...ie: McCabe after he signed his contract, would also instantly lose all his trade value.....if that is what he is demanding, he must be traded for something of value in return. Perhaps to Edmonton for either their 1st or Yakupov....I know it leaves a hole on our backend, but financially it would hurt the team if we kept him.

7M a year? C'mon Dion.

6-6.5 is where you should be. Those ill-timed pinches and in-accurate shot aren't worth 7.

This is the perfect statement.

Not to get into it, but for all the bozak bashing, grabo and weiss have been absolutely AWFUL and all those guys do is offense. Sometimes your options are limited. Dion would be missed, and i love when ppl say 'he's not worth that'. Why? Because as a hockey fan who has zero insight into NHL negotiations you think that? Awesome.
- clark_griswold

Brutal

Phaneuf is not worth 7 a year, but what other options are out there? They can't let this guy walk or trade him for a poopty 1st like some of the losers on here are suggesting.. He is the best option the Leafs have now and going forward. A lot of the hatred towards him is stupidity and just fans looking to hate on a player.
- Mr_Smokey

That happens all the time though. Many great players out there that people hate. Lots of Crosby and Ovi haters.

I hate that Rat face Logan Couture, but that doesn't change the fact that he is very good.

Phaneuf is a top Dman on pretty much any team. I still cant stand him though....

i dont know, but if they let Cool-e-man walk and he made 2.8, and Mason was making I believe $3 with Vancoulo, then somewhere between 2-3 million is ok?
- 10baci

That works.

Resigning Phaneuf for 7 years at 50 million dollars is just simply not worth it....he would instantly become the whipping boy for the Leafs 10x more than he is...ie: McCabe after he signed his contract, would also instantly lose all his trade value.....if that is what he is demanding, he must be traded for something of value in return. Perhaps to Edmonton for either their 1st or Yakupov....I know it leaves a hole on our backend, but financially it would hurt the team if we kept him.
- ThePresident

You're comparing Phaneuf to McCabe? Seriously?

I'm sure the Leafs have evaluated their cap next year and the years beyond so if they want to ear mark that money to other players so be it, but it's not like letting Phaneuf go and finding another 7 mil a year D is feasible.
- Mr_Smokey

Meh if we could get a guy back who plays a simple game and eats minutes I'd be ok. Bieksa comes to mind.

We let some of the most shots against in the league, so it's not like Dion's been a freakin' saviour. As good as Dion was saturday, without that goaltending being as good as it's been we aren't going anywhere.

The thought of paying this guy more than several other Dmen just doesn't make sense, especially towards his mid thirties.

7M a year? C'mon Dion.

6-6.5 is where you should be. Those ill-timed pinches and in-accurate shot aren't worth 7.
- Compeyson

Oh god if there's one thing he needs to do it's learn to hit the net.

Franson gets low, hard shots on net far more often.

FYI Reimer gets the start.

You're comparing Phaneuf to McCabe? Seriously?
- peddy-93

In terms of pressure because of the money he makes and the responsiblities associated with being a top Dman I think the comparison is apt, even though McCabe wasn't half the Dman Dion is.

Oh god if there's one thing he needs to do it's learn to hit the net.

Franson gets low, hard shots on net far more often.
- AngryWhiteMale

If we could teach him to take a wrist shot from the point. They end up in the net far more than a big clapper.

Hold on... what really needs to be looked at here is, why are we listening to Kypreos?

Oh god if there's one thing he needs to do it's learn to hit the net.

Franson gets low, hard shots on net far more often.
- AngryWhiteMale

I'm one to admit he misses the net a lot, but he's 2nd only behind Chara in goals with 108.

He would obvioously have more if he hit the net more often, but that is an impressive number.

You're comparing Phaneuf to McCabe? Seriously?
- peddy-93

Yeah...pretty much in terms of how fans will treat him after he signs this monsterous contract, and the fact he'll lose all of his trade value after signing an uncap friendly contract.

If we could teach him to take a wrist shot from the point. They end up in the net far more than a big clapper.
- bixll

Guys like OEL, Justin Schultz proof of that. Just get it through.

In terms of pressure because of the money he makes and the responsiblities associated with being a top Dman I think the comparison is apt, even though McCabe wasn't half the Dman Dion is.
- AngryWhiteMale

McCabe never had the responsibilities that Phaneuf has, other than being on the top PP.

McCabe couldn't defend the leagues best players if his life depended on it. Phaneuf does it night in night out.

I'm one to admit he misses the net a lot, but he's 2nd only behind Chara in goals with 108.

He would obvioously have more if he hit the net more often, but that is an impressive number.
- peddy-93

Yeah but that has a lot to do with Kessel feeding him some very nice passes over the last few years. Kessel can do that for anyone with those lasers