Swervin81
Leaf fan | YYZ -> SEA
The Sharks are the last tram that should be going after Phaneuf. He plays way better on the right side than the left side. With Burns back on D, no need for Phaneuf, unless the Sharks are moving Braun back to the left side, where he can play, albeit nowhere near as effective as if he was on the right side. The only Leaf d-man I'd see the Sharks in on is Gardiner, since he'd be a perfect fit to fill the void of a young 2nd pairing lefty PMD, which is exactly what Gardiner is. No way the Leafs give him up IMO though.
Phaneuf never really held himself accountable after the season. At least, he never directly put even a fraction of the blame on his and his shoulders only. He always says "we", just trying to deflect the blame from himself as much as possible. In fact, Kessel was the only high profile player that blamed himself and held himself accountable in the public eye (even though he was probably the 2nd last person that should've blamed for the Leafs' collapse, next to Bernier). Lupul, though, I can't defend. He is a fake leader. The guy who puts on the persona of a classy individual with his appearances and moments of intensity in situations where that intensity is totally insignificant to the final outcome, just to keep up his facade of being a leader.
Phaneuf's contract is bad, but it is movable. Despite all his shortcoming, Dion is still a good d-man, a solid #2, but not a #1 in any way, shape or form. It's not like Clarkson who played like a 4th liner this year and will likely regress to AHL form before year four of this deal. The worst contract in NHL history, and it is also virtually bulletproof with terrible buyout implications due to contract structure.
Actually Dion's attitude is pretty impressive considering he bears the blame for every Toronto breakdown. Yet fat boy Phil and Mr. Fashion Joffrey Lupul get off fairly light.
Phaneuf never really held himself accountable after the season. At least, he never directly put even a fraction of the blame on his and his shoulders only. He always says "we", just trying to deflect the blame from himself as much as possible. In fact, Kessel was the only high profile player that blamed himself and held himself accountable in the public eye (even though he was probably the 2nd last person that should've blamed for the Leafs' collapse, next to Bernier). Lupul, though, I can't defend. He is a fake leader. The guy who puts on the persona of a classy individual with his appearances and moments of intensity in situations where that intensity is totally insignificant to the final outcome, just to keep up his facade of being a leader.
Phaneuf's contract is bad, but it is movable. Despite all his shortcoming, Dion is still a good d-man, a solid #2, but not a #1 in any way, shape or form. It's not like Clarkson who played like a 4th liner this year and will likely regress to AHL form before year four of this deal. The worst contract in NHL history, and it is also virtually bulletproof with terrible buyout implications due to contract structure.