Another factor that makes this deal possible is that Burke and Stars’ Joe Nieuwendyk have a good professional relationship, going back to his stint with Toronto in 2008-09. The two made the blockbuster Fabian Brunnstrom – Mikhail Stefanovich deal, so the lines of communication are open.

Do Leaf fans really call this a "blockbuster" trade?
- stuckey

Not sure, but that might be sarcasm.

Thought UG was the one that compared him to Phaneuf.
- yea-ok-buddy

standard UG tactic. Say somebody said something. Attack them for saying that thing they never said. Go to sleep at night thinking you won. Let the truth build up the rage inside of you.

The first scouting report you copied and pasted from that joke of a site mynhldraft.com.
- Unholy_Goalie

And what parts did I bold?

Did I bold the part that mentioned he was the 2nd coming of Phaneuf(the only part you read) or the parts that appear in every other scouting report?

Another factor that makes this deal possible is that Burke and Stars’ Joe Nieuwendyk have a good professional relationship, going back to his stint with Toronto in 2008-09. The two made the blockbuster Fabian Brunnstrom – Mikhail Stefanovich deal, so the lines of communication are open.

Do Leaf fans really call this a "blockbuster" trade?
- stuckey

i personally thought that was a jest

sad part is, the leafs could make an echl trade and it would be in at least a half dozen papers

honest question

think carlyle (being a former norris winner) could be the coach that elevates phaneuf to the next level?

think dion has it in him?

i'm torn personally.. i've seen the glimpses in his play but not enough to full on believe it possible yet
- Dozzer

All of Phaneuf's problem's are mental problems. If he becomes the defender that he has the potential to become, it's because he learns how to play smart and focus on the details in his game. Phaneuf has all the same problems that McCabe once had. He tries to do too much and ends up getting caught more often than not.

Phaneuf needs proper coaching and somebody to play with him, preferably somebody who is smarter than he is and who can keep his head in check.

Phaneuf also needs that captaincy taken away from him until he learns how to play smart and simple hockey rather than trying to take on the world every shift.

The first scouting report you copied and pasted from that joke of a site mynhldraft.com.
- Unholy_Goalie

Lets be real here UG, Phaneuf isn't even that bad defensively.

Lets be real here UG, Phaneuf isn't even that bad defensively.
- yea-ok-buddy

Trying to teach him one thing is hard enough, why bring up another topic?

Exactly. Which is why the Leafs need to worry about gaining more assets and addressing their needs at center with a safer pick.
- Unholy_Goalie

would you move the pick down and gain another pick if you were unable to move up?

the idea being two question marks are better than one type thing.

i personally thought that was a jest

sad part is, the leafs could make an echl trade and it would be in at least a half dozen papers
- Dozzer

I assumed/hoped it was in jest or things really are out of whack out there.

Lets be real here UG, Phaneuf isn't even that bad defensively.
- yea-ok-buddy

Um....

All of Phaneuf's problem's are mental problems. If he becomes the defender that he has the potential to become, it's because he learns how to play smart and focus on the details in his game. Phaneuf has all the same problems that McCabe once had. He tries to do too much and ends up getting caught more often than not.

Phaneuf needs proper coaching and somebody to play with him, preferably somebody who is smarter than he is and who can keep his head in check.

Phaneuf also needs that captaincy taken away from him until he learns how to play smart and simple hockey rather than trying to take on the world every shift.
- Unholy_Goalie

i see what you're saying.. he has it in him to get to that next level.. but he has simply too much on his shoulders right now to be able to effectively reach said next level

And what parts did I bold?

Did I bold the part that mentioned he was the 2nd coming of Phaneuf(the only part you read) or the parts that appear in every other scouting report?
- Schenn-Sational!

The same people who are responsible for comparing him to Phaneuf are the same ones who are praising his defensive game. See the problem yet?

Lets be real here UG, Phaneuf isn't even that bad defensively.
- yea-ok-buddy

His "Defensive play lacks" Is highly exaggerated.

Mixture of bad goaltending, small forwards and not a legit top pairing partner.

i see what you're saying.. he has it in him to get to that next level.. but he has simply too much on his shoulders right now to be able to effectively reach said next level
- Dozzer

At this stage in the game, even if he fixes his head, how many years does he have left? He's not 35 but he's not 21 either. The Leafs would be better off selling high with Phaneuf too.

The same people who are responsible for comparing him to Phaneuf are the same ones who are praising his defensive game. See the problem yet?
- Unholy_Goalie

think maybe they were specifically comparing his offensive and physical games to Phaneuf's?

Still ignoring every single other scouting report that mentions his smarts and defensive ability, without mentioning Phaneuf?

I assumed/hoped it was in jest or things really are out of whack out there.
- stuckey

it can be similar to when alice fell down the rabbit hole in leafland sometimes

Let the truth build up the rage inside of you.
- Schenn-Sational!

Yes, the truth. The truth that the Leafs need centers but are going to draft a defender because Craig Button said so.

think maybe they were specifically comparing his offensive and physical games to Phaneuf's?

Still ignoring every single other scouting report that mentions his smarts and defensive ability, without mentioning Phaneuf?
- Schenn-Sational!

They are comparable because their scouting reports look the same. Everything being said about Dumba now, was said about Phaneuf then.

And look at Dion now.

His "Defensive play lacks" Is highly exaggerated.

Mixture of bad goaltending, small forwards and not a legit top pairing partner.
- jbold

there's no doubt that he makes brain farts, but playing the huge minutes in a bad system doesn't help.

A young Dman for a 29 year old? Unholy_goatie aint going to like that.
- jbold

Unholy_Forward likes it...

At this stage in the game, even if he fixes his head, how many years does he have left? He's not 35 but he's not 21 either. The Leafs would be better off selling high with Phaneuf too.
- Unholy_Goalie

with that contract?

carlyle grooms him, he either reaches that potential and plays solid hockey for another 5-6 year contract OR he continues to top out where he is at currently.. in which case move him at the deadline in his final contract year to a contender looking to augment

interesting idea. wonder if the leafs brass have the balls to make an honest call tho?

Yes, the truth. The truth that the Leafs need centers but are going to draft a defender because Craig Button said so.
- Unholy_Goalie

1st line centers. Not 2nd line. Draft BPA, don't give up talent just for positional need. Fill that position later through trade.

Think of Pittsburgh, did they draft a d-man just because they already had Malkin? Nope, went for Crosby. Did they draft one when they had Crosby & Malkin? nope, they went for Staal. Know why?

(here's a hint... the acronym starts with a B, ends with an A, and has the letter after O in the middle)

there's no doubt that he makes brain farts, but playing the huge minutes in a bad system doesn't help.
- Schenn-Sational!

Pronger > Phaneuf


I think I missed a few >'s.

think maybe they were specifically comparing his offensive and physical games to Phaneuf's?

Still ignoring every single other scouting report that mentions his smarts and defensive ability, without mentioning Phaneuf?
- Schenn-Sational!

His smarts? Have you even watched this guy play? He's a maverick. He will bust out of the zone like he's going to take on the world. Most of the time he gets away with it but there are a lot of times when he loses the puck or goes head hunting like his Godfather Phaneuf and misses by a mile.

You seem to think I absolutely hate this guy. I don't. Dumba has got some talents. But he's undersized for the style of game he wants to play and right now he's succeeding because his skating gets him out of trouble. Against smarter players, at higher levels, that style of play will blow up in his face more often than it does now. Scouting reports just love to understate weaknesses but he has them defensively.

The Leafs need a center. That's a fact. Burke said he's going to target a center. That's a fact. Taking Dumba is just unnecessary. Period. There's only one defender worth taking and that's Murray. Outside of that, the Leafs need a center.

1st line centers. Not 2nd line. Draft BPA, don't give up talent just for positional need. Fill that position later through trade.

Think of Pittsburgh, did they draft a d-man just because they already had Malkin? Nope, went for Crosby. Did they draft one when they had Crosby & Malkin? nope, they went for Staal. Know why?

(here's a hint... the acronym starts with a B, ends with an A, and has the letter after O in the middle)
- Schenn-Sational!

Bisphenol A was declared toxic in Canada tho

oh wait...