Diane "Pylon" Phaneuf is a scrub, especially since she's a UFA next year will get little to nothing on the market. So maybe at the most they'd get Frattin back and a 7th maybe for Diane.

I dont get the Dion bashing. He plays with Gunnarson against all of the top players in the world.

As of right now He is #3 in the East +/- for Defensemen.

He is ahead of all except Markov and Niskanen.

This is a classic example of Leaf haters bashing him cause he is a Leaf and Leaf fans complaining about him cause they pick apart every little mistake.

He is the best Leaf's Dman since Salmiing (He left over 30 years ago!)

It reminds me of going to the ACC and hearing the whining about how Sundin is not an elite player. He got a point a game playing with Hoglund! Kinda wish he was there now dont we!

Dion isn't as flashy as Karlson or Subban but he is a top 15 D in the world!
He has issues but if the Leafs had a really solid #2 guy. Dion could get a little help back there.

You are not going to replace him for the same money.

Lets watch the Leafs these next 2 games and see how their D performs without him. Playing 2 really good teams. Could be UGLY!

The cap is going up 12% next year alone. Probably be at 80 mil in 3 years.
If Dion will take between 7 and 7.5 for 7 years RUN to bank to get him the money.

He will be taking a smaller percentage of the cap then he is now. Sounds pretty good to me.

If Leafs want to save money for other guys look at Kulemin, Ranger, Franson, Fraser, etc.
- mantosh

saying that he's not worth $8 million, or saying that he's not a stud #1 isn't bashing him.

sign him for under 7 million or move him and sign orpik in the offseason
- davecervo

Why would Orpik be available in the offseason?

Why would he sign in Detroit for $6mil/yr, but sign in Toronto where he's the captain for more than that?
And Leafs wouldn't trade him for a prospect or a couple picks.

In reality, it would open up a HUGE hole on the Leafs defence, but if he is demanding $7-$8mil/season, may be worth it to move him for significant assets and sign two stay at home d-men at $3.5-$4mil each.
- BoBBeR56

Guess you didnt read my first sentence. "in a perfect world"

(not that i think the wings are on the verge of a cup) But IMO they have a better cup shot than the leafs do

Again, doesnt matter - i said i assume he will stay with toronto for more than i think he should get, but thats the way this works, they overpay to avoid losing him, or he will test open water and get a ton anyway from a team whos got the money.

saying that he's not worth $8 million, or saying that he's not a stud #1 isn't bashing him.
- DoubleDown

You may not have been but look at the post above you and read what Leaf fans write.

Franson was supposed to be their #1 this year. He has been garbage.

Dion may not be a Norris trophy candidate but he is a solid #1 D Man. Leafs just don't have a real number 2 to help him out.

saying that he's not worth $8 million, or saying that he's not a stud #1 isn't bashing him.
- DoubleDown

I look at it in total cap space for 2 players, Kessel 8 - Phaneuf 7.5-8, combined 15-16m. Each great players and you would want either 1 on your team.

Just there are better combo of number 1 forward and number 1 dman for less of that cap hit signed long term already. I cant see the justification for so much money for the 2 same players that really havent led to any major success yet for the team.

They kept Kessel which was the the 1 I wouuld pick out of the 2.

if he goes UFA he is getting 7-8M

you can argue about what he is "worth" all you want...with the cap going up somebody will offer that money for the chance to get him without giving up an asset. He knows this, his agent knows this, so if the Leafs want to keep him they have to be in that range.

its the going rate

Phaneuf for Giradi.
- abmjimmy

Trade Phaneuf
Sign Girardi as a UFA

How does Phaneuf get $7-8M when Pylons can be had at Canadian Tire for $20 bucks at the most?

if he goes UFA he is getting 7-8M

you can argue about what he is "worth" all you want...with the cap going up somebody will offer that money for the chance to get him without giving up an asset. He knows this, his agent knows this, so if the Leafs want to keep him they have to be in that range.

its the going rate
- flashfire

same boat with Stastny, teams will pay him around 6m for his services, which will probably be too rich for the Avs blood when it comes to resigning him. I dont think he will take a bigger discount to stay an Avalanche, but crazier things have happened

I look at it in total cap space for 2 players, Kessel 8.5 - Phaneuf 7.5-8, combined 16-16.5m. Each great players and you would want either 1 on your team.

Just there are better combo of number 1 forward and number 1 dman for less of that cap hit signed long term already. I cant see the justification for so much money for the 2 same players that really havent led to any major success yet for the team.

They kept Kessel which was the the 1 I wouuld pick out of the 2.
- DDM-Coga

They signed with a lower cap so its really not a fair comparison.
With the 15.5 (Kessel is 8) and Dion will be (7-8) combined in 3 or 4 years they will be paid less that top F - D combos

Whatever good player is the next to sign will always seem high until 3 years go by and there is another 10 mil in cap space

Keep Phanuef, Deal Frason or Gardiner + Gunnarsson and other pieces to get a solid D to play with Dion.

How does Phaneuf get $7-8M when Pylons can be had at Canadian Tire for $20 bucks at the most?
- Komisaurus Rex

You can buy pylons at Canadian Tire?

How does Phaneuf get $7-8M when Pylons can be had at Canadian Tire for $20 bucks at the most?
- Komisaurus Rex

Fantastic burn


seriously great stuff ....if you are 9 years old and came up with it on your own

Diane "Pylon" Phaneuf is a scrub, especially since she's a UFA next year will get little to nothing on the market. So maybe at the most they'd get Frattin back and a 7th maybe for Diane.
- Komisaurus Rex

that steak around your neck isnt to stop you from chewing on your jockstrap, it's so the dog will play with you

Keep Phanuef, Deal Frason or Gardiner + Gunnarsson and other pieces to get a solid D to play with Dion.
- PotvinFan

Amen!

Option 1: Trade him for a mediocre return. Why would anyone give up a lot for a pending UFA who's going to ask for (allegedly) more than he's worth? Besides, he's a 2nd pairing guy on every other team in the league, right? Now that we rid ourselves of that guy we've got a new decision to make. The first option is to stick with our defense that just went from bad to worse and return to our comfortable spot in the basement of the East while we wait to see if any of our young defensemen pan out. The second option is to trade for someone else's 1st pairing guy, giving up way more than we got back for Phaneuf, and give that guy $7-$8M.

Option 2: Bite the bullet and give him his money.

Leafs fans can't continue to say in one breath that he's not worth what he's asking for, and in the next talk about the huge return we could get for him in a trade.

I see where you are coming from, Ek. That suspension is GM bait.

Keep Phanuef, Deal Frason or Gardiner + Gunnarsson and other pieces to get a solid D to play with Dion.
- PotvinFan

so build around Dion

easier said then done.

There would be a fair return on Gardiner, but what do the Leafs ask for if they decide to ship Gunnarsson and/or Franson out? draft picks/prospects or other dmen?

would you like doughty as a throw in?
- nightmare3020

no not really

Option 1: Trade him for a mediocre return. Why would anyone give up a lot for a pending UFA who's going to ask for (allegedly) more than he's worth? Besides, he's a 2nd pairing guy on every other team in the league, right? Now that we rid ourselves of that guy we've got a new decision to make. The first option is to stick with our defense that just went from bad to worse and return to our comfortable spot in the basement of the East while we wait to see if any of our young defensemen pan out. The second option is to trade for someone else's 1st pairing guy, giving up way more than we got back for Phaneuf, and give that guy $7-$8M.

Option 2: Bite the bullet and give him his money.

Leafs fans can't continue to say in one breath that he's not worth what he's asking for, and in the next talk about the huge return we could get for him in a trade.
- Jeffmt

but who do you trade him to for their top pairing guy? Only scenerio I can see work with that is trade him to a team who paid a 2nd pairing guy to be their top guy but has a lot of potential to be a number 1. (Bogosian for example).

Team B gets an imidiate upgrade if they sign him but Leafs get a longer term guy with potential to still reach.

Ph9 + Connor Brown

for..........


Seth Jones

so build around Dion

easier said then done.

There would be a fair return on Gardiner, but what do the Leafs ask for if they decide to ship Gunnarsson and/or Franson out? draft picks/prospects or other dmen?
- 10baci

I personally believe you don't need a number 1 if you have two very complimentary 2's, so it would be someone with speed who isn't a goat in their own end. I'd keep Gardiner over Franson, and get rid of quite honestly the rest of the D core on or before Free Agency (except Morgan).

Mystery #2 - Phanuef
Gardiner - Someone New
Rielly - Also Someone new

I personally believe you don't need a number 1 if you have two very complimentary 2's, so it would be someone with speed who isn't a goat in their own end. I'd keep Gardiner over Franson, and get rid of quite honestly the rest of the D core on or before Free Agency (except Morgan).

Mystery #2 - Phanuef
Gardiner - Someone New
Rielly - Also Someone new
- PotvinFan

I would think they keep Franson...they should keep a couple of "power" guys, so Dion and Franson can be the shutdown boys. Gardiner and Reilly can be the "offensive guys", now gid rid of Fraser and Gunner and Liles and they should be ok.

Diane "Pylon" Phaneuf is a scrub, especially since she's a UFA next year will get little to nothing on the market. So maybe at the most they'd get Frattin back and a 7th maybe for Diane.
- Komisaurus Rex

u fergot to add princess in front of diane