Quote:
Originally Posted by bubbsy
Wish we didn't have to remember this like an anniversary 
In my opinion, this single trade screwed the franchise in remaining competitive or being able to turn it around quickly.
Taking an asset and getting back stajan, white, hagman, mayers (orwhatever 4th liners, 3rd pairing dmen they resulted in) down right idiotic. I refuse to believe phanuef's stock had fallen so low at that point where this is all that could expected in the return. Hearing GMs state they weren't even aware he was available is even more painful. |
I think part of the reason Dion Phaneuf being traded has no impact on me is because this isn't true. I understand why he was considered
the super sexy player; he scored and hit harder than anybody. But by the time he was traded, everybody knew what he was about. With his skill-set (which isn't bad) and his contract, Calgary was not going to get a bundle.
Sadly, you couldn't have traded him when he had a super high value. The Flames had a player who only had be more sound with his positioning, and improve his passing, and they might have had the best defenseman in the league. Brent Sutter man... he was determined and believed Dion Phaneuf (and he should because that is like his very own child) could become the best. It just didn't happen. Shaq couldn't hit free throws. He accepts it now saying he wasn't born with it. Shaq was born with the physical attributes to be the most dominating player in his sport, but was never able to do something a novice can acquire. Ironic ehh?
No disrespect to Dion, but I played better positional defense when I was in atom than him. I had to. I wasn't bigger, stronger, faster, than anybody; I learned to adapt. But that's a bigger skill set than anything else: what do you do when you encounter a player who is better and more talented than you?