The problem is, the leafs use him as top pairing, facing top competition and overplay him.

Cut his icetime to 20 minutes a night and match him up against reasonable competition and he is not as bad.

However, his body has been steadily going downhill and he has several years left on that cap hit. That contract looks scary if he continues to trend down. Would not take without retention to at least 5 million.
- j0e Th0rnton

100% agree. He's a 2nd pair guy, i wouldn't mind him but the years left on that contract would keep me away especially if we have aspirations of resigning Burns.

If provorov is not their at nine i really want barzal. I know werenski fits a need but i think barzal is a future star in this league. I rather get the best available talent and have assets for trading than force a pick. If barzal, werenski, and provorov are gone i think trade down to acquire a top 90 pick along with another first. I do like both goalie prospects this year and hope we can nab one. Wouldn't mind a trade up for one of them. I am stoked for this draft because of the potential for a lot of big trades and the quality of prospects. Many teams want to restructure and this could get interesting. One of my favorite draft moments of recent was the schneider trade. Hoping for at least a couple big trades at the draft.

If provorov is not their at nine i really want barzal. I know werenski fits a need but i think barzal is a future star in this league. I rather get the best available talent and have assets for trading than force a pick. If barzal, werenski, and provorov are gone i think trade down to acquire a top 90 pick along with another first. I do like both goalie prospects this year and hope we can nab one. Wouldn't mind a trade up for one of them. I am stoked for this draft because of the potential for a lot of big trades and the quality of prospects. Many teams want to restructure and this could get interesting. One of my favorite draft moments of recent was the schneider trade. Hoping for at least a couple big trades at the draft.
- Sharkssince1995

Anybody inthe top 12 are going to be stars.......after that it gets a little merky.

But yeah i share your enthusiasm it's going to be fun & exciting once everything gets rolling just need the first domino to drop.

100% agree. He's a 2nd pair guy, i wouldn't mind him but the years left on that contract would keep me away especially if we have aspirations of resigning Burns.
- SJSharks39

Phaneuf's role has been increasing in each of the past three seasons and while he's under-performed in his role, he's under-performed at a declining rate - meaning he's getting closer to doing what's expected of him. If he was in a standard second pairing role I'd wager a guess he'd exceed expectations and be extremely valuable to the team he's on.

If provorov is not their at nine i really want barzal. I know werenski fits a need but i think barzal is a future star in this league. I rather get the best available talent and have assets for trading than force a pick. If barzal, werenski, and provorov are gone i think trade down to acquire a top 90 pick along with another first. I do like both goalie prospects this year and hope we can nab one. Wouldn't mind a trade up for one of them. I am stoked for this draft because of the potential for a lot of big trades and the quality of prospects. Many teams want to restructure and this could get interesting. One of my favorite draft moments of recent was the schneider trade. Hoping for at least a couple big trades at the draft.
- Sharkssince1995

Uh, if Provorov, Werenski and Barzal are off the board, then is Rantanen, Meier, Zacha, Connor and Crouse are still on the board. Exactly how many spots do you want to trade down to get another 2nd?

I might trade from 9th to 13th at most because I could still get one of those guys, but no lower.

Or 5 days
- SJSharks39

They'll probably be gone in the first day of the draft...so 4.

Uh, if Provorov, Werenski and Barzal are off the board, then is Rantanen, Meier, Zacha, Connor and Crouse are still on the board. Exactly how many spots do you want to trade down to get another 2nd?

I might trade from 9th to 13th at most because I could still get one of those guys, but no lower.
- j0e Th0rnton

If you're at 13 you can add Zboril and Chabot to that list too.

Anybody inthe top 12 are going to be stars.......after that it gets a little merky.

But yeah i share your enthusiasm it's going to be fun & exciting once everything gets rolling just need the first domino to drop.
- SJSharks39

I am not really a big fan of merkley or zacha. Those are the only two picks that scare me. I don't think merkely will be a top 10 pick but he was chartier's teammate so doug might value him more.

If you're at 13 you can add Zboril and Chabot to that list too.
- IDtheJC

Chabot would be a major reach at 13. I'd be pretty disappointed if that's who Wilson took that high.

If you're at 13 you can add Zboril and Chabot to that list too.
- IDtheJC

Not over those I have listed. In my opinion anyways.

But If I were DW, I would drive a hard bargain in regards to trading down.

If Dallas wants #9, tell them it will take their 12th, 2nd rounder and our 2016 3rd back

Uh, if Provorov, Werenski and Barzal are off the board, then is Rantanen, Meier, Zacha, Connor and Crouse are still on the board. Exactly how many spots do you want to trade down to get another 2nd?

I might trade from 9th to 13th at most because I could still get one of those guys, but no lower.
- j0e Th0rnton

Good point. At least two of those guys would be around. Probably better to find another way to get another draft pick. Crouse is another guy who i hope drops to nine

Well you're obviously not biased towards Leaf players.
- SJSharks39

Not so much Leaf biased, I've seen him play for Calgary and it was the same crap when he joined the leafs. Dion wants to be a highlight reel with hits, takes stupid penalties his positioning is atrocious and if you can't cut Mason Raymond off on the boards you're terrible.

If you're at 13 you can add Zboril and Chabot to that list too.
- IDtheJC

I think the quality of forwards available will be far better than the available D men at this point

Good point. At least two of those guys would be around. Probably better to find another way to get another draft pick. Crouse is another guy who i hope drops to nine
- Sharkssince1995

Crouse could drop to 13 or 14. He is the most polarizing prospect among scouts.

Some rank him as high as 5, some 14. Some see the next Lucic, but some see the next Steve Bernier too.

So, if Yandle isn't likely to be traded, I don't want anyone (Klein) coming back with Talbot. I don't want Dion at all. I'd be interested in Hamhuis. Rumor is that he's available and he had some great chemistry with Burns at the Worlds. I don't think he would cost that much as far as compensation, but what do I know. And I really think we should shoot for Okposo. That guy would be awesome in our top 6!

-Talbot for COL's '16 2nd?
-Hamhuis for a package of picks?
-Okposo for Nieto, '16 1st and another mid-to-late pick/prospect?

So, if Yandle isn't likely to be traded, I don't want anyone (Klein) coming back with Talbot. I don't want Dion at all. I'd be interested in Hamhuis. Rumor is that he's available and he had some great chemistry with Burns at the Worlds. I don't think he would cost that much as far as compensation, but what do I know. And I really think we should shoot for Okposo. That guy would be awesome in our top 6!

-Talbot for COL's '16 2nd?
-Hamhuis for a package of picks?
-Okposo for Nieto, '16 1st and another mid-to-late pick/prospect?
- Papa Joe19

Give us your 9th or couture and we have a deal.

Give us your 9th or couture and we have a deal.
- SRam19

How about mike brown and the rights to john scott?

Crouse could drop to 13 or 14. He is the most polarizing prospect among scouts.

Some rank him as high as 5, some 14. Some see the next Lucic, but some see the next Steve Bernier too.
- j0e Th0rnton

When you said steve bernier i got the chills

So, if Yandle isn't likely to be traded, I don't want anyone (Klein) coming back with Talbot. I don't want Dion at all. I'd be interested in Hamhuis. Rumor is that he's available and he had some great chemistry with Burns at the Worlds. I don't think he would cost that much as far as compensation, but what do I know. And I really think we should shoot for Okposo. That guy would be awesome in our top 6!

-Talbot for COL's '16 2nd?
-Hamhuis for a package of picks?
-Okposo for Nieto, '16 1st and another mid-to-late pick/prospect?
- Papa Joe19

I like Okposo too but i would keep the first with the way doug has been constructing teams and the revamped lottery

How about mike brown and the rights to john scott?
- Sharkssince1995

Don't Tempt me

I would like Raffi Torres also.

When you said steve bernier i got the chills
- Sharkssince1995

No worries im sure you guys will select Barzal.

So, if Yandle isn't likely to be traded, I don't want anyone (Klein) coming back with Talbot. I don't want Dion at all. I'd be interested in Hamhuis. Rumor is that he's available and he had some great chemistry with Burns at the Worlds. I don't think he would cost that much as far as compensation, but what do I know. And I really think we should shoot for Okposo. That guy would be awesome in our top 6!

-Talbot for COL's '16 2nd?
-Hamhuis for a package of picks?
-Okposo for Nieto, '16 1st and another mid-to-late pick/prospect?
- Papa Joe19

Check to Talbot.
No for Hamhuis unless it is low picks. He is north of 30 and we have 3 LD already. We need RD.
Maybe to Okposo, but might cost.

Give us your 9th or couture and we have a deal.
- SRam19

Hahaha! In all seriousness, is he on the block? If so, what is the reported asking price?

Check to Talbot.
No for Hamhuis unless it is low picks. He is north of 30 and we have 3 LD already. We need RD.
Maybe to Okposo, but might cost.
- j0e Th0rnton

Well Hamhuis didn't want to go there anyways

Give us your 9th or couture and we have a deal.
- SRam19

Rofl. For Couture, Arizona would give us their 3rd overall and we could draft Hanifin.

Trust me when I say Hamhuis is not worth that.