EQF (4) Boston Bruins vs (5) Toronto Maple Leafs (Bruins win 4-3).

[madmike]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Not only that, he simply is not a #1 defencemen. #1 defencemen are guys you should be able to trust in the dying minutes of a close or tie game. Offensively, he is a top pair guy. Defensively, not so much.

The thing is how many true number 1 defencemen are there? I don't think there are 30 in the league.

Dion is overpaid. But if the Leafs could get him at 4-5 million per year on his next contract people might begin to have more realistic expectations.

Both Bouwmeester and Phanuef were paid by the Flames to be the next Pronger/Niedermeyer combo. Obviously that didn't work out too well, but the fact the Flames overpaid both of them doesn't make either player absolutely useless. They still have value - just not as much as their salaries would indicate.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by moon

I sure every other d in the league would have just shuffled Chara out of the way no problem.

The fact that people are lamenting that he didn't move a 6'9 265 lbs. Chara from in front of the net when much smaller players routinely are able to screen just like Chara did without being moved is laughable.

Dion made no attempt to move Chara, none, nada, zilch!

[moon]

Originally Posted by Dion

Dion made no attempt to move Chara, none, nada, zilch!

Perhaps we have a different definition of attempt because he certainly did when i was watching.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by madmike

The thing is how many true number 1 defencemen are there? I don't think there are 30 in the league.

Dion is overpaid. But if the Leafs could get him at 4-5 million per year on his next contract people might begin to have more realistic expectations.

Both Bouwmeester and Phanuef were paid by the Flames to be the next Pronger/Niedermeyer combo. Obviously that didn't work out too well, but the fact the Flames overpaid both of them doesn't make either player absolutely useless. They still have value - just not as much as their salaries would indicate.

Building strawmen much? Nobody said Phaneuf is useless, only that he is not good enough to fulfill the role expected of him. Likewise, the fact that he got a big contract from the Flames does not justify the fact that he is not good enough to fulfill the role expected of him.

He is the #1D on the Leafs by default, yes, but that doesn't make him the kind of player so many expect him to be any more than Matt Stajan is a #1C in this league.

[Roof-Daddy]

In my opinion, Dion Phaneuf's hockey IQ (also known as "hockey sense") is fairly limited.

His physical tools are great, if he had better decision making he'd probably be in Norris contention regularly.

[madmike]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Building strawmen much? Nobody said Phaneuf is useless, only that he is not good enough to fulfill the role expected of him. Likewise, the fact that he got a big contract from the Flames does not justify the fact that he is not good enough to fulfill the role expected of him.

He is the #1D on the Leafs by default, yes, but that doesn't make him the kind of player so many expect him to be any more than Matt Stajan is a #1C in this league.

He only has one year left on that deal so at this point they may as well keep him. If they can get him for 4-5 million a year then he's a good deal.

Phaneuf isn't a true number 1D, but like I said there aren't a ton of them around. The Flames don't have one. Neither do the Oil. Nor the Avalanche. I think the term gets used too much.

[puckluck2]

Phaneuf just stands in front of the net gazing at the stars. Doesn't take a body, doesn't pick up a stick, and he doesn't track the puck at all. A pylon would do just of a good job as Phaneuf does in front of the net. Actually a better job since the pylon won't screen the goalie. Phaneuf should be a forward.

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by moon

Perhaps we have a different definition of attempt because he certainly did when i was watching.

From what I saw, he didn't even hamper Chara's positioning in any way

He just let him stand there to screen Reimier with no attempt to move him

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Dion

Dion made no attempt to move Chara, none, nada, zilch!

Dion made an attempt and got swatted away like a fly. You are making it seem like Chara was nonchalantly standing in front of the net. Chara is huge and a Norris winner for a reason. It would have taken a tank to move him from in front of the net. There is was no player on the leafs bench that would have moved him. If Gardiner had been there instead of Dion, the only difference would have been Gardiner would have been sent airborne if he tried to box Chara out.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

So will the Habs.

So will the Canucks.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by fotze

I still think he knee has never been the same.

I'm pretty sure it's his hip.

Missing a lot of Klowe hate in this thread as he was the one who indirectly gave Phaneuf $6.5mil/year! Idiot.

[PeteMoss]

Dion Phaneuf is Dennis Wideman except he throws more hits and has a higher cap hit. They are basically the same guy at this point.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

From what I saw, he didn't even hamper Chara's positioning in any way

He just let him stand there to screen Reimier with no attempt to move him

This isn't 1985. You can't just plow a guy out of the way in front of the net anymore no matter who he is. Most players these days will front the guy and try to block the shot. Phaneuf got swatted out of the way and basically wasn't in the play which was the bad play.

[moon]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

From what I saw, he didn't even hamper Chara's positioning in any way

He just let him stand there to screen Reimier with no attempt to move him

I saw him try and be unsuccessful at moving him out of the way. He may not have hampered his positioning but as I said before which Leafs defenseman would have?

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Dion Phaneuf is Dennis Wideman except he throws more hits and has a higher cap hit. They are basically the same guy at this point.

I disagree. Wideman is a much smarter player.

[puckedoff]

Was cool to see 5 forwards and Chara on the ice, with Chara standing in the blue paint. Glad the Leafs lost, and even better to see them go out the way they did.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by moon

I saw him try and be unsuccessful at moving him out of the way. He may not have hampered his positioning but as I said before which Leafs defenseman would have?

Look where Dion is compared to Chara. He didn't try.

[moon]

That sure shows what happened prior to the second the puck went in!

[Dion]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Dion made an attempt and got swatted away like a fly. You are making it seem like Chara was nonchalantly standing in front of the net. Chara is huge and a Norris winner for a reason. It would have taken a tank to move him from in front of the net. There is was no player on the leafs bench that would have moved him. If Gardiner had been there instead of Dion, the only difference would have been Gardiner would have been sent airborne if he tried to box Chara out.

Why didn't he stay with Chara instead of leaving him alone in front of the net? All Dion did was brush him while moving to the side of the net.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by moon

That sure shows what happened prior to the second the puck went in!

It shows where Dion was standing when the puck went in. One feeble attempt and he moved aside. It would have been worse had Chara deflected the puck in.