I understand dion had a bad season doesn't mean u gotta trade or buy him out second option seems more likely with that contract but he isn't even 30 yet just find him a partner and he will be fine I would be more concerned about kessel and kadri both will want huge chunks of change coming there way I can't see u guys affording both in the long run looks like the cap might hit 67 next summer if ur lucky cant remember how they calculate it if the NHL makes tones of cash
- arnpriorguy

except he didn't have a bad season.

The Leafs are thin on defense he plays way too many minutes making his game ineffective drop his minutes to 20 per and develop players or get a shut down stud to pair with him. Then you'll see him flourish.

I understand dion had a bad season doesn't mean u gotta trade or buy him out second option seems more likely with that contract but he isn't even 30 yet just find him a partner and he will be fine I would be more concerned about kessel and kadri both will want huge chunks of change coming there way I can't see u guys affording both in the long run looks like the cap might hit 67 next summer if ur lucky cant remember how they calculate it if the NHL makes tones of cash
- arnpriorguy

He had a fine season

3-4 million defenceman is what Phaneuf is. He is not top 20 overall.

3-4 million defenceman is what Phaneuf is. He is not top 20 overall.
- CarlitoBrigante

Burn will probably post a laughie in response to this.

Burn will probably post a laughie in response to this.
- robin_steele264

don't know if it deserves even that.

Great blog. I don't get all the hate Phaneuf gets. The only problem is he makes a bone headed play or two every game. But I dont think many people appreciate a guy who plays 25+ minutes against the other teams top lines.

3-4 million defenceman is what Phaneuf is. He is not top 20 overall.
- CarlitoBrigante

Burn will probably post a laughie in response to this.
- robin_steele264

You should too, that was obviously meant to be funny.

- burn

The top 20 dman thing is right. He's not a top 20 dman. Obviously saying he should be paid $3M to $4M is pretty stupid, but saying he's worth $6M is pretty silly too.

The top 20 dman thing is right. He's not a top 20 dman. Obviously saying he should be paid $3M to $4M is pretty stupid, but saying he's worth $6M is pretty silly too.
- Dirte

Get ready for another laughie

Get ready for another laughie
- robin_steele264

$6M is top 10 dman money. No one in their right mind thinks he’s worth that. He’s a good dman. And he damn well may get $6M. But he’s not worth that. $5M is good. Even on the high end. $4.5M would be ideal. IMO, that would be a good deal, but not ridiculously cheap.

Move Dion - He's lost out there.
- Garnie

I think what you fans think means absolutely zeroe. Carlyle knows what he has in Phaneuf and he is going nowhere. I think Phaneuf may be overworked but is still the leafs best dman by a longshot. I would love to see him in Philly but that is highly unlikely. There is something about Phaneuf that brings criticism from so many wherever he plays but he is a stud on the ice, not off the ice as per Avery

Great blog. I don't get all the hate Phaneuf gets. The only problem is he makes a bone headed play or two every game. But I dont think many people appreciate a guy who plays 25+ minutes against the other teams top lines.
- pbrsimps

I think Phaneuf is awesome and would be the best dman on my flyers. I think leaf fans who want him gone are out to lunch. Far too critical on Dion, just reduce his minutes and he will make less mistakes. Calgary would love to have him back!

Get ready for another laughie
- robin_steele264

Funny because what he said is pretty accurate?

Funny because what he said is pretty accurate?
- burn

(what are we laughing at exactly?)

(what are we laughing at exactly?)
- Aetherial

Laughing at dion being worth only 3mil..... Laughing at dion is easily replaceable.

Laughing at dion being worth only 3mil..... Laughing at dion is easily replaceable.
- burn

Now that we've seen how good Suter is without Weber, and how exposed Weber is without Suter, I bet if we had a guy like that matched with Phaneuf people would think differently of him. I wonder is Reilly can be that guy? or if we should venture out to one. No names comes to mind however...

More importantly than this great Dion debate is WHO THE (frank) IS ADAM KIRSCHSOMETHING?

I feel that Phaneuf gets all that flack because of the mistakes made when Carlyle overplays him and the fact that he's not exactly a great interview. The captain is always going to have more focus as it is.

Instead of worrying about Phaneuf the Leafs need to balance out the defence and stop playing him with AHLers. Part of that will just come from playing the right guys and letting the key defensive prospects develop.

While Phaneuf could take pay-cut on that next contract and he's not my favorite Leaf captain, I don't see any point in moving him. Just don't have anyone who can take on those minutes.

Saying Dion needs to be paired with an elite shut down defender in order for him to flourish is moot. He's not worth the big bucks if that's the case.

...Even Komisarek looked like he was flourishing when playing beside Markov. And komisarek is an awful hockey player.

Saying Dion needs to be paired with an elite shut down defender in order for him to flourish is moot. He's not worth the big bucks if that's the case.
- ejeezy

So I guess you wouldn't want Weber, either?

Reading the comments on this article was like bashing my head against the wall.

Leaf /NHL fans can cleary be divided into two groups by their opinions on Dion.

The one's who understand that their opinions are secondary to professional scouts and anyalists, all who agree that Dion is among the best defensemen in the NHL, that he just had his best ever year in the NHL and that he recieved Norris Trophy votes for the excellent season he just had where he was basically the MVP on a team that suprised everyone.


Then theres the 'he isnt worth 6 million' mouth breathing idiots. Who cares what a guy makes unless he's preventing you from making roster moves? Which Dion isn't. He is paid exactly what the market wil bear and the only reason you think he sucks is because of something called confirmation bias, which , if you don't know what that is, you shoudnt even be arguing about anythign anyways.


Finally, whenever people talk about 'the top ten' of anything, its a joke b/c name value / perception is far more than reality. For instance, there are ten defensemen with more name value than Dion. There were not ten defensemen who played better than him in the 2013 seasaon.

Yes - like EVERY SINGLE OTHER NHL DEFENSEMEN - he would be more effective if he could play less minutes and had a better partner than Carl Gunnerson who plays way, way, way too high up in the lineup.