The Star: Toronto Maple Leafs looking for a new face of the franchise

[GordieHoweHatTrick]

Toronto Maple Leafs looking for a new face of the franchise: Feschuk

A few reporters asked Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf for his reaction to the firing of Brian Burke. Phaneuf stared into the mountain of cameras and spoke.

“I was definitely shocked,†he said. “That’s the biggest word I could use to describe it.â€
...
As Phaneuf resaid those words and an army of reporters tried hard not to roll their eyes, a couple of things were abundantly clear. One, just because Burke once spotted the big defenceman a “C†doesn’t mean he’ll be winning a team Scrabble tournament any time soon. And two, now that Burke’s force-of-nature media presence is no longer around to command the Toronto spotlight — at least not after Saturday morning’s Air Canada Centre press conference at which the ex-GM is scheduled to appear — Phaneuf isn’t exactly the favourite to fill the void as the franchise’s new face.

I don't think most of what Feschuk had to say is incorrect. Burke commandeered the media spotlight and without him the players are going to be held accountable in the media spotlight. Feschuk doesn't believe Phaneuf has the ability to be that face of the franchise, or Captain for that matter.

I don't necessarily disagree with him.

Click to read more...

 

[Razor]

Why? Are Phil and Dion not pretty enough?

 

[Dangles McGavin]

Dion's a fine captain.

 

[Bomber0104]

LOL

Chirping Phaneuf hard in this article.

What does Dion have to say about this?

"Classless...is the.......biggest........word.......I can think of........for this article....."

 

[Leafidelity]

This seems like someone trying to stir up something out of nothing. I guess that's how a lowly reporter gets noticed in Toronto.

 

[OptimusReimer34]

This seems like someone trying to stir up something out of nothing. I guess that's how a lowly reporter gets noticed in Toronto.

I thought that's what most of our media does :/

 

[Bomber0104]

This seems like someone trying to stir up something out of nothing. I guess that's how a lowly reporter gets noticed in Toronto.

He gets paid well as a Star journalist, and gets a press pass to watch the Leafs.

Nice gig.

 

[ForzaItalia]

Hard to blame Phaneuf for this. Burke and Wilson needed to find a way to appoint a "leader" for the team and thrust Phaneuf into the role.

 

[Leafidelity]

He gets paid well as a Star journalist, and gets a press pass to watch the Leafs.

Nice gig.

And how do you keep a job when there's nothing to report? Speculate. He wrote an entire article on the fact that Phaneuf said shocking a couple times.

 

[Cor]

Hard to blame Phaneuf for this. Burke and Wilson needed to find a way to appoint a "leader" for the team and thrust Phaneuf into the role.

I also find it odd that a player is getting bashed for being named captain what? 2 years ago

 

[613Leafer]

Hopefully MacKinnon is good in front of the camera

 

[Warden of the North]

No one has any clue how Phaneuf is in the locker room. Media trying to stir the pot as usual.

 

[Bomber0104]

And how do you keep a job when there's nothing to report? Speculate. He wrote an entire article on the fact that Phaneuf said shocking a couple times.

No he wrote an article based on how dim-witted the man is.

And how Kessel lacks social skills.

And how there is no one else to be a leader and be able to communicate at a baseline level to the media than the comeback kid Joffrey Lupul.

This can't be news to you.

 

[Bomber0104]

Hopefully MacKinnon is good in front of the camera

Seth Jones sure is!

"We're obviously the best"...

(Uproar in Canada)

...

...

Team USA wins...

(All quiet in Canada)

 

[dissociater]

Let me summarize this article for those who can't click the link:

Derka derp, derpaderppapa derp. Derpity Derpitas. Derk derka derp. Herp de derp.

 

[613Leafer]

Regardless of if the article is in poor taste, its not wrong. Burke did take the spotlight off the players (largely) and the leadership on the team itself IS relatively weak compared to most teams.

 

[Confucius]

This guy Feschuk, does go out of his way to slam Phaneuf for something that has nothing to do with his playing ability. Unfair and offlimits, since he is a poor reporter I guess he subscribes to the theory, fans hating him is better than indifference.

 

[GordieHoweHatTrick]

Hard to blame Phaneuf for this. Burke and Wilson needed to find a way to appoint a "leader" for the team and thrust Phaneuf into the role.

My line of thinking as well. I don't think it's unfair to call him out given his body of work with the Maple Leafs though. Fortunately for Phaneuf, he may not have to be Team Captain much longer

 

[GordieHoweHatTrick]

Regardless of if the article is in poor taste, its not wrong. Burke did take the spotlight off the players (largely) and the leadership on the team itself IS relatively weak compared to most teams.

Thank You, this is the premise of the article.

Who will take responsibility if the team struggles this season? Wasn't it Phaneuf who skipped out post-game media scrums late last season? Burke won't be around to demand everyone's attention anymore. It is a valid question.

 

[Sokil]

Can't wait for them to strip Dion of the C, worst captain in Leafs history.

 

[Mess]

The face of the franchise is something someone earns on recognition and contribution not appointed.

No one has really replaced Mats since his departure in that role. IMO

 

[Leafs For Life*]

The face of the franchise is something someone earns on recognition and contribution not appointed.

No one has really replaced Mats since his departure in that role. IMO

Like how Lecavalier is C but Stamkos is obviously the face of the franchise.

 

[ULF_55]

I feel bad for Phaneuf.

 

[JoemAvs]

I feel bad for Phaneuf.

Sorry to intrude but I don't think you should feel bad for a guy who earns 6.5M bucks for playing hockey and than returns home to a waiting Elisha Cuthbert

The article is over the top but I think it poses a legit question.
Phaneuf and Kessel are two "Burke" guys. He acquired them and he made them lead his team

Now that he is gone, it will be interesting what Nonis will do. I do think that Kessel and Phaneuf were pushed into their roles by Burke.
Will Nonis make a move on this front to get out of the shadow of Burke by maybe trading one of the two or stripping the C off of Dion?

As an outsider, I am very curious what the transition to the Post-Burke era will bring.

 

[Sokil]

Like how Lecavalier is C but Stamkos is obviously the face of the franchise.

Vinny earned it though. They gave it to him, realized it was a big of a mistake to give him that responsibility out of hype, and let him re-earn it.

While Stamkos is best player, he's not necessarily the face. Vinny won them a cup, a Rocket (like Stamkos), and has been there for 14 years. I'm sure Tampa fans see him just as we saw Mats. (and Stamkos as the heir to the throne)