For the first couple of years, I thought Phaneuf was pretty awesome - big slapshot and big hitter. Paired with Regehr, the Flames D was like massive! No one dared to go into the Flames zone and if anyone did, they didn't come out unscathed. By the time he was traded, I (and I'm sure many of us) were frustrated with him. This unsubstantiated story kind of confirms a bit of that. There were rumours of him having scuffles in the locker room with either Regehr or Iginla or somebody. But because JBo was signed over the summer that year, he was expendable. Looking back, between having JBo or Phaneuf, I'd probably choose Phaneuf.
You look at him now in a Sens uniform and watch his interviews recently. The guy has matured quite a bit. The trade and a crappy team in TO likely took a while for things to sink into his thick skull, but I think it's definitely changed him - and likely humbled him.
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