This.

He's clearly not as bad as most people here say he is.
- Scabeh

He's a good bottom-pairing d-man/PP specialist.

Anything else and he gets exposed.

Main problem is the hassle he causes the Leafs year after year.

am i the only one scared of the phaneuf gardiner pairing we are going to see this season?

it doesnt seem to bother many people is all.
- Dozzer

Look at the options.

He does need to solidfy this aspect of his game... but turning himself into a stay at home D would be a waste of his offensive talents imo.
- Scabeh

what, cross the blue line, shoot too hard, and miss the net?

i can live without it

what do you think off the Leafs new bottom six? being a Habs fan you should be an expert. your team is full of bottom six.
- the_eye

Well, as an expert, it seems having a team full of bottom six can bring you to the conference finals so.... I guess it's important to have good ones?

what, cross the blue line, shoot too hard, and miss the net?

i can live without it
- Dozzer

Good times.

Maybe we should just agree that I will never read your posts, and you will never read mine.

Deal?
- Atomic Wedgie

you said that you expected a phaneuf robidas pairing

i am trying to say it wont happen

That's an absolutely terrible idea. Just brutal.

Gardiner will play with him. Defense isnt an issue if you aren't in your zone.
- burn

And Gardiner-Phaneuf won't need to get the puck out of our zone much, because the referee will be skating it back to centre ice to drop it all the time?

And Gardiner-Phaneuf won't need to get the puck out of our zone much, because the referee will be skating it back to centre ice to drop it all the time?
- Atomic Wedgie

But they only do that when a goal is sco....

OHHHH!

And Gardiner-Phaneuf won't need to get the puck out of our zone much, because the referee will be skating it back to centre ice to drop it all the time?
- Atomic Wedgie

Well see.... I'm not so sure. Gardiners number better than he's given credit for. Guy played the most even strength mins for the leafs and his numbers held up.

Well, as an expert, it seems having a team full of bottom six can bring you to the conference finals so.... I guess it's important to have good ones?
- Scabeh

don't forget the best goalie on the planet and a super star defense man

you said that you expected a phaneuf robidas pairing

i am trying to say it wont happen
- Dozzer

Yesterday most posters were calling for gardiner to play on the 3rd pair (pre-signing)

you said that you expected a phaneuf robidas pairing

i am trying to say it wont happen
- Dozzer

Do you see that big red light on your centre console? The one that says "Wedgie is playing along meter?"

Do you see how it is flashing red?

As per your actual factual comment, however, never say never (that rhyme was clever).

I'm guessing that two years ago, nobody thought that Kostka was going to be Dion's partner. We'll see what happens in training camp. I'm just sayin' it won't surprise me if they decide to take a wily stay-at-home vet and pair him with Dion.

dion will really need to embrace the D end of the game.. truly become stay at home
- Dozzer

Which is the opposite of what they need him to be doing.

He's good defensively, but his true strength is offense. Better off pairing him with Polak or Robidas, IMO... let him roam, while they cover.

Yesterday most posters were calling for gardiner to play on the 3rd pair (pre-signing)
- MTL1

its going to be (as it stands)

phaneuf gardiner
robidas rielly
polak franson

That's an absolutely terrible idea. Just brutal.

Gardiner will play with him. Defense isnt an issue if you aren't in your zone.
- burn

Thanks for the smug remark to an honest question. I dont think anyone in here knows for certain what their plan is. They traded dions partner for polak so its not too far fetched to think he could be tried with dion. Last season most folks were female doging about gardiners horrible defensive play, so much so alot wanted him traded. How does he go from that to, oh hes now a first pairing guy.

Yesterday most posters were calling for gardiner to play on the 3rd pair (pre-signing)
- MTL1

Really? Ive seen more saying the opposite.

Well see.... I'm not so sure. Gardiners number better than he's given credit for. Guy played the most even strength mins for the leafs and his numbers held up.
- burn

is it possible to hear someone roll over in their grave?

here is Gunnar, Polak and I added Gleason

http://www.extraskater.co...board?players=227,471,536



Gunnar was bad..on a bad team.... Polak looks bad...on a good team
he just feels like another Gleason to me. His CFrel is ass

what, cross the blue line, shoot too hard, and miss the net?

i can live without it
- Dozzer

From what I understand, Dion is trying to change his game - last year, that puck would miss the net high.

This year, he's going to try to miss the net wide more often.

Which is the opposite of what they need him to be doing.

He's good defensively, but his true strength is offense. Better off pairing him with Polak or Robidas, IMO... let him roam, while they cover.
- Feeling Glucky?

1: give up on Robidas.. he said himself he was told when he signed he would be paired with rielly or gardiner.. this is straight from robidas' mouth

2: polak is not top pairing

its going to be gardiner and phaneuf

That's an absolutely terrible idea. Just brutal.

Gardiner will play with him. Defense isnt an issue if you aren't in your zone.
- burn

It's not a terrible idea at all. Phaneuf has always played better with a defense-first partner.

don't forget the best goalie on the planet and a super star defense man
- the_eye

It's not a terrible idea at all. Phaneuf has always played better with a defense-first partner.
- Feeling Glucky?

I'm with you on this one, Gluckster.

Let Dion be Dion.

Do you see that big red light on your centre console? The one that says "Wedgie is playing along meter?"

Do you see how it is flashing red?

As per your actual factual comment, however, never say never (that rhyme was clever).

I'm guessing that two years ago, nobody thought that Kostka was going to be Dion's partner. We'll see what happens in training camp. I'm just sayin' it won't surprise me if they decide to take a wily stay-at-home vet and pair him with Dion.
- Atomic Wedgie

you guys are really wishing for robidas and phaneuf

fine .. here is another reason

you pair those two together you are left with rielly gardiner franson and polak to handle the rest of the defensive responsibilities on their own.. how do you think that will go?

It's not a terrible idea at all. Phaneuf has always played better with a defense-first partner.
- Feeling Glucky?

Cool im not the only one thinking that too! Dion needs to be able to roam as much as Gardiner needs to roam.