What went wrong with Dion Phaneuf?

[MrSnrub]

In the mid to late 00s, Phaneuf was one of the most promising potential stars of the league with his bone-crushing hits and scoring touch for Calgary. 10 years and 3 teams later, he simply hasn't had the kind of career many foresaw. What stood in the way?

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[MessierII]

Skating never really improved. People figured out he will always go for the hit and started burning him in the D zone.

 

[X66]

Went down hill right about here

 

[Zybalto]

He was never super quick and has slowed down from playing a very physical game just as the game itself was changing to a faster pace.

Doesnt help that he has been a part of some abysmal teams either.

 

[SensFactor]

Can't skate.. Can't play D anymore

 

[Rhaegar Targaryen]

Nothing really went wrong. He's had a very nice career so far.

He adapted his game in Toronto. He went from offensive defenseman who goes for big hits, to a two-way defenseman who still got caught on big hits from time to time, but played a more responsible game.

In Ottawa, he had a solid year last season against the top lines and not being the focal point. This season, everything turned to shit in Ottawa so it's hard to blame him. His skating has regressed, though.

Seems like a good fit for LA.

 

[Empoleon8771]

He looked good tonight, I don't know what you mean. He didn't turn into a star, but he was a fringe #1/2 for quite a few years and started falling off recently, which isn't too surprising considering his age and play style.

 

[Varan]

Went down hill right about here

holy hell that is embarrassing, cringeeeeee

 

[7even]

It's not that he can't skate... It's that he doesn't. Like seriously he just glides everywhere. It's kinda bizarre tbh.

 

[Stammertime91]

A lot.

 

[Snakepit]

Hard to see opportunities to improve with his head up his own ass

 

[Wo Yorfat]

He's sorta stupid looking.

 

[BigRangy]

His big numbers were mainly the result of the gratuitous powerplays of the post lockout time, 5v5 he hd pretty much the same production through his while career up until the last few years iirc

 

[Dr Always Right]

Will always remember him for that hit in the wjc.
Miss those kinds of defenders.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Million dollar talent, budget brains.

 

[Devils090]

Bought into his own hype

 

[lawrence]

teams had the "book" on him, figured out his tendencies and habits, and utizlited it against him. from then he went from Norrs level dman to regular top 4 dman in a hurry.

 

[Bileur]

It's not that he can't skate... It's that he doesn't. Like seriously he just glides everywhere. It's kinda bizarre tbh.

True. He is slow, but not that slow. He just rarely moves his feet.

 

[Its a Trap]

His contract made him terrible

 

[Hockeyholic]

He's sorta stupid looking.

You should tell him that to his face someday.

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

Locker room cancer??

 

[CaptainCrunch67]

I'm convinced that he picked up a hip injury in calgary that killed his skating.

 

[SmoggyTwinkles]

He smoked two darts at the same time at a party early in his career and eventually got up to a pack a day.

 

[Yamazaki]

Mike Keenan

 

[Howie Hodge]

Went down hill right about here

Looks like he got hit with the same phantom punch that Mohammed Ali delivered on Sonny Liston! History repeats itself!