Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperMatt18
This is where I am...but with Dion Phaneuf.
The tenure was short, but his first 3 seasons were phenomenal.
Rookie Year: 20 goals, 49 points - Calder Finalist & 8th in Norris voting
2nd Year: 17 goals, 50 points - 6th in Norris Voting
3rd Year: 17 goals, 60 points - 1st team NHL All-Star, 2nd in Norris voting
It's too bad that injuries really took away from his style of play and limited his skating and explosiveness. But up until that point his first three seasons were remarkable for the Flames and his peak in the Flames uniform is the highest of any of the remaining names on this list.
[snip]
The other 6 are all on the all time roster, and IMO Phaneuf deserves it too.
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I have Phaneuf penciled in for 7th or 8th on the Flames all-time list...behind Macoun, but slightly ahead of Housley.
The knock against Phaneuf's AST and Norris finish is that he was in a transition period. In his big years (06-07 and 07-08), the old guard (e.g. Pronger, Neidermayer, Leetch, Blake, Chelios, MacInnis) were old and either close to retiring or recently retired, and the next guard (e.g. Karlsson, Weber, Suter, Keith, Doughty) were entering the league or just starting to become great.
Is McCrimmon's 2nd team AST finish, where he finished behind prime Bourque and Stevens, but ahead of Chelios, McInnis, Murphy, Coffey worth more than Phaneuf's 1st team AST finish, where he was behind Lidstrom, but ahead of Chara, Gonchar, Green, and almost finished Pronger/Neidermayer? I'd argue that it is based on their respective competition.
Also, when you add in McCrimmon's contributions to the cup-winning team I think he gets the edge on Phaneuf.