Leafs sign Dion Phaneuf to 7 year extension

[Deebo]

Toronto Maple Leafs ‏@MapleLeafs 4m
The #Leafs have signed Dion Phaneuf to a seven-year contract extension:  #PhaneufSigned pic.twitter.com/4gYEXHpl8u

 

[Britishbulldog]

There you go.  He is here as a cornerstone for 7 more years.

 

[Corn Flake]

Good.

And here's hoping that in a couple of seasons, he isn't the best d-man on the team anymore... being surpassed by one or more of the kids. And at that point this team becomes legit.

So with Kessel getting 8 years and Dion getting 7 years, would the Leafs not have both signed if Burke and his 5 year limit rule was still here?

 

[princedpw]

Good.

And here's hoping that in a couple of seasons, he isn't the best d-man on the team anymore... being surpassed by one or more of the kids. And at that point this team becomes legit.

So with Kessel getting 8 years and Dion getting 7 years, would the Leafs not have both signed if Burke and his 5 year limit rule was still here?

Burke said he would make exceptions for certain players, I believe.

 

[Corn Flake]

Good.

And here's hoping that in a couple of seasons, he isn't the best d-man on the team anymore... being surpassed by one or more of the kids. And at that point this team becomes legit.

So with Kessel getting 8 years and Dion getting 7 years, would the Leafs not have both signed if Burke and his 5 year limit rule was still here?

Burke said he would make exceptions for certain players, I believe.

Trying to recall what he said but he was talking about there only being a select few players in the league he would sign longer than 5 years, and I believe he referenced Crosby. 

 

[princedpw]

Good.

And here's hoping that in a couple of seasons, he isn't the best d-man on the team anymore... being surpassed by one or more of the kids. And at that point this team becomes legit.

So with Kessel getting 8 years and Dion getting 7 years, would the Leafs not have both signed if Burke and his 5 year limit rule was still here?

Burke said he would make exceptions for certain players, I believe.

Trying to recall what he said but he was talking about there only being a select few players in the league he would sign longer than 5 years, and I believe he referenced Crosby.

Ok, well, I'd have to guess he'd make an exception for those two guys.  If not, they'd be signing somewhere else.

 

[Leafaholic99]

Good.

And here's hoping that in a couple of seasons, he isn't the best d-man on the team anymore... being surpassed by one or more of the kids. And at that point this team becomes legit.

So with Kessel getting 8 years and Dion getting 7 years, would the Leafs not have both signed if Burke and his 5 year limit rule was still here?

Burke said he would make exceptions for certain players, I believe.

Trying to recall what he said but he was talking about there only being a select few players in the league he would sign longer than 5 years, and I believe he referenced Crosby.

Ok, well, I'd have to guess he'd make an exception for those two guys.  If not, they'd be signing somewhere else.

Kessel I am 100% sure he would sign for more than 5 years, other wise he would like like a bigger idiot letting him walk, although I still think we did pretty good in that trade.

Phaneuf I could see him going either way, but probably would make the exception there too.

 

[ZBBM]

I don't care if it's a broken record, but it's too long, too much money being tied up, for a guy who is good but not good enough to build a team around.

And with all due respect, hoping that somehow he will be surpassed by one or two others is kind of damning him with faint praise.

 

[Corn Flake]

And with all due respect, hoping that somehow he will be surpassed by one or two others is kind of damning him with faint praise.

Phaneuf is one helluva defender overall, and with the 6th most points for d-men since the first lockout, he's got stats to back it up, both in simple and advanced for those who care.

I'm not really sure what else he's supposed to do in order to be considered one of the better d-men in the league.  He really is one of the most complete d-men this team has had. Ever. As Cox said, maybe since Salming.

 

[AvroArrow]

I don't care if it's a broken record, but it's too long, too much money being tied up, for a guy who is good but not good enough to build a team around.

I know you're not a big Phaneuf fan, but take a moment to consider how insanely difficult it has been for us to find a #1 C - we still haven't succeeded.  We really can't afford to lose a #1 D, even if he's a mid-level (or lower-level if you consider him that) #1 D.

 

[Peter D.]

Whether it's too long or too much money, the deal had to get done.  And Phaneuf held the hammer in negotiations.  I suggested/predicted this exact contract, so to me, it makes sense.

 

[pmrules]

Is it confirmed at $7M per year as was suggested earlier?

 

[drummond]

Whatever your opinion of Dion is, Jonas Siegel correctly pointed to the fact that no other defenceman in the league has faced more difficult competition in the past 2 years than Phaneuf. That in itself warrants the term and money. Period.
http://www.extraskater.com/players/qual_comp

 

[moon111]

Since a comparison to Salming was made, I did a 'what-if' comparison of Phaneuf and Salming at the same ages.  Maybe it's not fair, because I used only the last five years played, where Phaneuf was someone else in Calgary to begin his career.  In those five years, for various reasons, Phaneuf has missed games.  To keep production fair, I used Phaneuf's pts/game.  If he played the same amount of games as Salming, his production would result in: 29, 36, 41, 43, and 27 points.
Salming had: 78, 76, 73, 71, and 66

Average points for those five years: -Salming 72.8, Phaneuf 35.2

If Phaneuf's points drop like Salming, his future totals will be:
27
22
21
19
11
10
12
10
9
At that rate, it would cost $350,000/point.  Although I'm sure Phaneuf has seen less physical action and he stays in better shape.  He's a .55 pt/game player.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Whatever your opinion of Dion is, Jonas Siegel correctly pointed to the fact that no other defenceman in the league has faced more difficult competition in the past 2 years than Phaneuf. That in itself warrants the term and money. Period.
http://www.extraskater.com/players/qual_comp

Strictly speaking, it's not simply a matter of just facing the toughest competition, it's facing them and being successful at it (and I'm not arguing his success or lack of it either way).  But certainly it's a fact that can't be overlooked.

 

[drummond]

Whatever your opinion of Dion is, Jonas Siegel correctly pointed to the fact that no other defenceman in the league has faced more difficult competition in the past 2 years than Phaneuf. That in itself warrants the term and money. Period.
http://www.extraskater.com/players/qual_comp

Strictly speaking, it's not simply a matter of just facing the toughest competition, it's facing them and being successful at it (and I'm not arguing his success or lack of it either way).  But certainly it's a fact that can't be overlooked.

I believe it is safe to say that this year Phaneuf is pretty good in shutting down the best opposition players. Let?s hope it remains so.

 

[Zee]

I don't care if it's a broken record, but it's too long, too much money being tied up, for a guy who is good but not good enough to build a team around.

And with all due respect, hoping that somehow he will be surpassed by one or two others is kind of damning him with faint praise.

You usually only get #1 D by drafting them. If Rielly can become that in a few years then Dion as a #2 at $7M is fine given the cap will be way higher. You still could use a guy like Dion even if he isn't a true #1

 

[Madferret]

Up to this point what would you guys say are Phaneuf's captaincy defining moments in Toronto over the past 4 years?

 

[armche123]

Up to this point what would you guys say are Phaneuf's captaincy defining moments in Toronto over the past 4 years?

He's been defending against the other teams top line every game and plays the most minutes on the team....

 

[maplesyrup]

Up to this point what would you guys say are Phaneuf's captaincy defining moments in Toronto over the past 4 years?

The various hairstyles of... and never, EVER smiling let alone laughing. A thing another big-ticket captain in Ontario with warts should probably never, EVER do.