Dion Phaneuf News & Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

February 10

CSN Philly

"Everyone seemed to have a different viewpoint on why Scott Hartnell threw down with Toronto's Dion Phaneuf a millisecond after scoring a goal. "Dion had hit him near the goal line and the other guy fell into the boards," offered Leafs coach Ron Wilson. "I think it had to do more with that hit earlier then it had to do the goal. That is why [Hartnell] player slashed him after he scored the goal. That is why they got the extra penalty." Claude Giroux liked what he saw."

Phaneuf trade still awful for Flames

February 1

Calgary Sun

"On Sunday, Dion Phaneuf skated in the NHL all-star game. If that wasn't enough of a reminder to the Calgary Flames and their fans how bad that now-infamous trade has turned out, so many others will be in their eyes in the next while. Tuesday marks the two-year anniversary of the blockbuster deal."

Scott Hartnell falls down for charity, tells Phaneuf to "suck it"

January 30

Pro Hockey Talk

"It's possible you went into All-Star Weekend not caring much for Flyers forward Scott Hartnell. It's even possible you disliked the guy a lot after seeing him beat your favorite team. One good way to win people over though is to do good things for those in need, and that's just what he did during yesterday's All-Star Game. Hartnell has embraced a Twitter meme that counted up how many times he fell down during a game (#HartnellDown for those not in the Twitter world) and for yesterday's game, Hartnell pledged $1000 for each time he went down. The All-Star Game turned into a lucrative one for charity as he raised $4000 and Hartnell tells NHL.com's Dave Lozo his teammates were more than eager"

Burke praises Phaneuf for addressing Foligno's 'cheap hit'

January 19

Ottawa Citizen

"It was easy to see how Brian Burke felt in the moment, when a camera focused on the Toronto Maple Leafs general manager as he watched his captain drop his gloves to fight for the first time this season. It was easy to read Burke's lips as Dion Phaneuf threw his punches: "Atta boy!" The more complex questions were raised after the game, after the Leafs had fallen 3-2 to the Ottawa Senators at home on Tuesday night. Phaneuf was given the extra two minutes for roughing on the play, on top of the fighting major drawn for avenging a questionable hit from Senators forward Nick Foligno a few minutes earlier. Was it wise for the captain to fight with the Leafs in a tight, crucial game, removing"

Leafs teammates think Dion Phaneuf is anything but overrated

January 13

Toronto Star

"There are two players on the Maple Leafs who know Dion Phaneuf better than most — Colby Armstrong and Matthew Lombardi. Both played with the Leafs captain when he was a teenager. They have seen a young player with a bundle of energy and a bucketload of talent blossom into the leader of an NHL team. So they'd know better than most what to make of Phaneuf being named the most overrated player in the NHL by Sports Illustrated. "Ridiculous," said Lombardi, who was in his second year in the NHL with the Flames when Phaneuf broke in as a rookie. "We've got one of the best defencemen in the league on our team. He's playing great. I think people just don't like playing against him. He's a tough"

NHLers who labelled Phaneuf overrated green with envy

January 13

Toronto Star

columnist Dave Feschuk

"An open letter to those NHLers who voted Dion Phaneuf the most overrated player in the league in a Sports Illustrated poll of 161 players. Dear Jealous, Petty Gentlemen: I'm sure you have your reasons. Maybe his $6.5 million salary is bigger than yours. Maybe his girlfriend is lovelier and more famous than yours. Maybe he hurt your feelings with some brash on-ice slight or another. Maybe his endorsement deals for energy potion and trendy parkas and hockey equipment have you calling your agent saying, "If Phaneuf can get that, why can't I?" But let's face it, fellas. The vast majority of you can't get it because you're not the captain of the most watched, most loved and most valuable hockey"

Leafs' Dion Phaneuf voted most overrated in the NHL; Brian Burke not amused

January 12

Toronto Star

"Dion Phaneuf apparently doesn't have the respect of the rest of the NHL. Phaneuf, one of six players voted by fans to the NHL all-star game, was named the league's most over-rated player by Sports Illustrated in a poll of 161 players. Phaneuf was named in 20 per cent of the ballots. Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin was named second most overrated player. Phaneuf's teammate, Mike Komisarek, was named the 10th most overrated player. Scott Gomez was third, Roberto Luongo fourth and Dany Heatley fifth. "Yes, players dumb enough to participate in polls designed to crap on fellow NHLPA members are not very bright," said Leafs GM Brian Burke. "They can all go defecate in their chapeaus. I am"

Dion Phaneuf voted to NHL all-star team, Phil Kessel snubbed

January 6

Toronto Star

"A late surge in voting by Ottawa fans pushed Maple Leafs sniper Phil Kessel out of an automatic spot at the NHL all-star game. But Toronto captain Dion Phaneuf made the cut, finishing second in fan voting among defencemen. Phaneuf has had a solid season. He's sixth in scoring among league defencemen with 6 goals and 20 assists. Kessel had led overall voting for weeks but fans from the host city made a big push on the final day and four of the top six spots were taken by Senators. Results were announced Thursday morning. Kessel said he wasn't disappointed by the outcome. "You know I really don't care," Kessel said Thursday after the morning skate at the Air Canada Centre. "Fans voted for me"

Leafs' Phaneuf takes puck in face, awaits x-rays

January 6

Toronto Sun

"Dion Phaneuf might not look very photogenic if anyone from the league stops by for some all-star game pictures on Friday. The Toronto captain took a puck in the side of the face in the dying minutes of Thursday's 4-0 win over the Jets, with Winnipeg trying to bust Jonas Gustavsson's shutout. After a minute or two prone on the ice, Phaneuf went to the dressing room under his own power. "His mouth is swollen, but he didn't lose any teeth," coach Ron Wilson reported after the game. "We'll see what the X-rays show.""

Phaneuf leaves blown lead behind

December 31

Toronto Sun

"Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf has been consistent in his approach this season to quickly dismiss previous games whether the result has been good or bad. That approach has certainly helped the team keep an even keel, a likely reason they haven't gone three consecutive games without registering at least one point. "You're not happy, but you've got to move on very quickly," Phaneuf said. "Whether you win or lose games, the schedule is so tight that you've got to be able to regroup." Though Phaneuf was clearly irked with the blown lead to Carolina on Thursday, he doesn't believe such collapses will become epidemic with the team. "We've never had a problem this year with closing out leads, I think"

Phaneuf a changed man

December 9

Toronto Sun

"Dion Phaneuf is a changed man since Ron Wilson coached against him. When Wilson coached the San Jose Sharks and Phaneuf was patrolling the blue line for the Calgary Flames, Wilson said Phaneuf was not hard to play against. "In San Jose, we thought as long as you had your head up, you could entice him to running around a bit, especially in the neutral zone," Wilson said. "He was always looking for a hit, and when defencemen are caught, they are not back to defend. He did not use his stick very well. "We used to take advantage when Dion was on the ice. He got a lot of hits, but we scored a lot of goals when he was on the ice. "Now, I think it is his positioning and patience with his physical"

Phaneuf needs some help on D

October 31

Toronto Sun

"As strong as Dion Phaneuf has been in nearly every game for the Maple Leafs, he could use a little help. Not necessarily from his defence partner, Carl Gunnarsson, whose overall steady performances have aided in allowing Phaneuf settle into a rhythm. But Phaneuf, in the second of back-to-back games, was on the ice for 29 minutes 18 seconds during a 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Sunday night. No matter how well the Toronto captain has been playing, that's too much."

Phaneuf gets his mojo back as Leafs thrive

October 24

Toronto Star

columnist Damien Cox

"This time of year hyperbole and overstatement are rife in the hockey world, whether in these parts or those beyond. Last fall, for example, Steven Stamkos was going to score 70 goals (guilty), Dustin Byfuglien was a Norris Trophy candidate and there was no chance the Maple Leafs were going to be able to get anything of value for Tomas Kaberle after failing to trade him during the summer. So let's stay away from overstating the case on anything, or specifically, when it comes to Dion Phaneuf. Let's not say he's the best defenceman in the league or a sure-fire all-star at his position or a lock to be part of Team Canada when and if the NHL sends players to the Sochi Olympics in three years."

Phaneuf gives rookie rough ride

October 9

Toronto Sun

"Don Cherry usually doesn't need any help putting his foot in his mouth. But Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf gave him a hand on Saturday night. Just 48 hours after Cherry moaned on Hockey Night in Canada that we won't see many more Scott Stevens-style hits, thanks to the NHL's concerns over head shots, Phaneuf crushed Ottawa Senators rookie Stephane Da Costa at the Toronto blue line during the second period of the Leafs' 6-5 victory at the Air Canada Centre. No penalty was called. It was the kind of check that would have made Stevens proud."

Leafs' 'Riverboat Gambler' is back

October 8

Toronto Sun

"It took Dion Phaneuf 68 days to score his first goal as a Maple Leaf back in 2010. It took him just one in 2011-12. Phaneuf won't make much of a big deal about hitting the scoresheet in the Maple Leafs 2-0 opening-night victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, but behind closed doors it certainly must come as a big relief. Truth be told, the Leafs, who would appear to lack a lot of sizzle up front, will need Phaneuf to regain the offensive form that allowed him to score 54 goals over his first three NHL seasons, all of those coming as a member of the Calgary Flames. In the post-mortem after the victory over the Habs, much was made of how the Leaf blueliners jumped into the"

Some Leafs heading to worlds

April 12

Toronto Sun

"The lure of a possible gold rush was enough for three Maple Leafs to agree to take a trip to Slovakia. Not so for one of their American teammates. Captain Dion Phaneuf, rookie netminder James Reimer and defenceman Luke Schenn will play for Canada at the world hockey championship. But Phil Kessel has said no to a similar invitation from the U.S. "I'm kind of worn out," Kessel said on Monday. "It has been a long season. I'm going to take a break. "There have been a lot of ups and downs and I'm tired." Kessel was one of five Leafs — the others were Schenn, Clarke MacArthur, Nikolai Kulemin and Tyler Bozak — who played in all 82 games during the season. Kessel has represented his country on"

Reimer, Phaneuf, Schenn will play for Canada

April 11

Toronto Sun

"James Reimer's strong play during the past few months will get an extension on the international stage. The Maple Leafs rookie goaltender confirmed on Monday morning he has accepted an invitation to play for Canada at the world championship in Slovakia. "I'm stoked," Reimer said. "I couldn't turn that one down." Not long after Reimer said he would be wearing a maple leaf of a different colour, Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf confirmed he will play for Canada as well and said he did not hesitate when he was asked. Ditto for fellow defenceman Luke Schenn. "I'm really looking forward to it," Phaneuf said. Said Schenn: "When you get the invite, you've got to go." Reimer was 20-10-5 for the Leafs"

Phaneuf of old returns

March 17

Toronto Sun

"It was sometime just before the all-star break when Dion Phaneuf sat in the Maple Leafs dressing room following practice and chatted informally with a couple of reporters. That's a rarity for Phaneuf, who is cordial, but usually all business, in his mostly daily scrums. He made it clear he wasn't making excuses for anything that happened before, but the Leafs captain said he had only recently started feeling fully recovered from the nasty gash and subsequent surgery on his leg that had kept him out of the lineup for 16 games in November and December."

Phaneuf scores twice to lift Leafs to 3-1 win over Hurricanes

March 17

Toronto Star

"As the Maple Leafs continue to make life interesting in the race for eighth spot in the Eastern Conference, it is the elevated play of Dion Phaneuf that stands out. Phaneuf was again the on-ice leader, scoring on two howitzer-like slapshots and assisting on the third in a 3-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night. The Leafs probably have to run the table in their 11 remaining games — or win at least nine — but they find themselves four points behind eighth-place Buffalo and two back of the Canes thanks to a huge effort from their captain."

Phaneuf's efforts propel Leafs to OT win

March 3

Toronto Star

"It is a thing of beauty when a team's best players indeed play their best — and so it is with the Maple Leafs these days, in their continuing push for a playoff spot. Mikhail Grabovski scored twice, including the overtime winner, and Phil Kessel got another goal — his eighth in eight games — as the Leafs kept up their hot play. But the unsung hero on Wednesday was Dion Phaneuf."

Phaneuf takes a maintenance day

February 15

Toronto Sun

"Even at the young age of 25, Dion Phaneuf needs to give his body a rest. In one of those nothing-to-see-here moments, the Maple Leafs captain told reporters on Monday he skipped practice for a maintenance day. Phaneuf took a shot off the leg during a loss in Montreal on Saturday, and also was not on the ice on Sunday when every Leafs player was off. But Phaneuf assured he will be in the lineup on Tuesday night in Boston against the Bruins."

Leafs' Phaneuf vows to improve in Year 2

February 1

Toronto Sun

"Dion Phaneuf marked his first year as a Maple Leaf on Monday with a vow to do much better in the second. "It's definitely been a year to remember," Phaneuf said of the trade with Calgary and being named to the prestigious post of Toronto captain. "We aren't where we want to be in the standings, so it hasn't been all positive. But we're getting there. "Individually, I'd like to be better, I'd like my numbers to be better (one goal, 10 assists in 33 games). But as I said, you have a major (leg) injury, you miss a lot of time. I put lots of pressure on myself. My numbers aren't where they've been in the past, but I'd not had a major injury, either. "I'm starting to feel back to my old self."

Stajan, Flames one year after Phaneuf blockbuster

February 1

Toronto Sun

"When Matt Stajan came to Calgary a year ago, he walked into an imperfect storm. The Calgary Flames had just lost nine in a row - the damage plummeting them down the standings and on the brink of losing their NHL playoff position. A day after snapping that lengthy losing streak with a win over the Edmonton Oilers, the team underwent massive changes. GM Darryl Sutter shipped defenceman Dion Phaneuf off to the Toronto Maple Leafs and brought in Stajan, Niklas Hagman, Ian White and Jamal Mayers. A couple of days after that, out went Olli Jokinen and Brandon Prust and in came Ales Kotalik and Christopher Higgins. "If they don't lose nine in a row, I don't know if that deal ever happens last"

Phaneuf promises better days ahead

February 1

Toronto Star

"It was an anniversary marked by Maple Leafs' defenceman Dion Phaneuf, once again, promising better times ahead. It was one year ago Monday that Phaneuf arrived in Toronto, with prospect Keith Aulie, as the centrepiece in a blockbuster deal in exchange for Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman, Ian White and Jamal Mayers. Phaneuf, named Toronto's captain in the summer, was supposed to lead a Leafs' resurgence but his inconsistent play, low production and a severe leg laceration that cost him 16 games are a big part of why the team comes out of the all-star break 14 points out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference."

Phaneuf has fallen short

January 30

Toronto Sun

columnist Steve Simmons

"One year ago Monday, Brian Burke brought Dion Phaneuf to Toronto in a sweeping assault on the state of the Maple Leafs. Since then, after moving 30% of his roster in one swoop, almost everything expected to change hasn't. Phaneuf has not been the leader, the developing defenceman, the offensive force, the power-play specialist that Burke believed would jump-start the Leafs' revival. Instead, with 59 games gone by as a Leaf, Phaneuf has made some impact, just not enough. He has been all right, but nothing great, with the club losing 32 of the 58 games he has worn the blue and white. Of all that was expected and all Burke thought possible - often last summer, he would reference Jan. 31 as a"

The best, worst of Phaneuf

January 25

Toronto Sun

"The best and worst of Dion Phaneuf was laid bare on Monday night. The open-ice check on Carolina Hurricanes forward Tuomo Ruutu was vintage Phaneuf, which sounds a little strange considering the Maple Leafs captain is all of 25 years old. The defensive breakdown by Phaneuf on Brandon Sutter's first goal in the third period also was something that will become familiar to Leafs fans as Phaneuf honours his contract in the next 31/2 seasons. Sutter beat Phaneuf to the puck in the corner, and then was faster than Phaneuf to get to the front of the net and start the scoring in what evolved as a wild final 20 minutes."

Where was Dion?

January 23

Toronto Sun

"Perturbed Leafs head coach Ron Wilson snapped at a reporter who dared question why captain Dion Phaneuf was not on the ice for Toronto's open-to-the-public optional skate on Saturday morning prior to the team's contest against the Capitals. About 10,000 fans showed up at the ACC to watch as the Leafs did final preparations for their night game. The scribe wanted to know why the team would deny fans - many of them kids - the opportunity to watch the Leafs captain work out. "I don't even know how to answer that question," an irritated Wilson snarled. "We're trying to win hockey games right now, and it was optional." That's all Wilson had to say on the subject, but the reporter had raised a"

Leafs need more from Kessel and Phaneuf

January 16

Toronto Star

columnist Damien Cox

"One wrist shot layered upon an evening of absolutely nothing else of note apparently gets you first star status in the NHL these days. Talk about your devalued properties. But that's what Olli Jokinen "earned" Saturday night after 65 minutes of play in which he had no points, two shots and was lousy in the faceoff circle."

Leafs defence needs offence

January 5

Toronto Sun

"The Maple Leafs have high-tech gizmos to assist coaches and players improve, but it's time to fix the radar for their mis-firing defencemen. Toronto's blueline brigade have produced just eight goals in almost 40 games, second fewest in the NHL up to Monday night's 2-1 loss to Boston. That result, by the way, was the third consecutive one-goal loss at home and ninth this year, home and away, for a team averaging 2.32 goals a game. Their defence counterparts on 12 clubs have at least double what the Leafs have produced, so just think of the difference one or two more would make in a couple of those close defeats. Luke Schenn soared to the team lead of two with a goal on Saturday in Ottawa,"

Maple Leaf defence shooting blanks

January 5

Toronto Star

"The look of disappointment on Dion Phaneuf's face after another Leaf loss kind of summed up what kind of season it has been so far. One goal and six assists after 22 games — even factoring in the 16 he missed due to injury — is not the kind of year the Leaf captain envisioned for himself. The defenceman once scored 20 with Calgary, and privately set a bar at near 15 goals for himself at training camp. "I can't speak for the other guys, but personally, yeah, you want to put up numbers, you want to produce," said Phaneuf. "But right now, it's just the way things go. Sometimes they go in, sometimes they don't.""

Good to see Phaneuf playing with an edge

December 27

Toronto Sun

"Did Dion Phaneuf suddenly find a dose of truculence stuffed in his stocking above the fireplace when he opened up his gifts Christmas morning? It certainly seemed that way, judging by his play in the Maple Leafs' impressive 4-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils in snowy Newark Sunday night. During his time with the Calgary Flames, Phaneuf was at his most effective when he played with an edge, the type of sandpaper style that would get under the skin of the opposition's top players. True, he hasn't showcased that same in-your-face swagger on a nightly basis since coming over to the Leafs back on Jan. 31. At the same time, the Leaf captain appears to be getting back to mid-season game shape"

Phaneuf fizzles as Flames roll over Leafs

December 17

Calgary Herald

"Just as everyone expected — No. 3 turned out to be the entire story. But no, not Dion Phaneuf, former darling of the Calgary Flames, current captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who was making his hotly anticipated return to Scotiabank Saddledome ice. Rather, it was three — as in goals . . . in a single 57-second outburst . . . that was the difference. The Flames, turning deadlock into laughing stock in that second-period blink, waltzed to a 5-2 decision in National Hockey League action Thursday. Bonus No. 3? Number of points for players that came to Calgary in return for Phaneuf. One goal, one assist for Niklas Hagman. One assist for Matt Stajan. "Oh, it's great — those guys stepped it"

Flames spoil Phaneuf's return to Calgary

December 17

Toronto Sun

"It took Dion Phaneuf 319 days to finally face off against his former team. It took the Calgary Flames just 57 seconds to spoil his party. In a game that had enough hype to be considered a Super Bowl on blades, Phaneuf and his Maple Leaf teammates were thoroughly embarrassed by Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman and the rest of the Flames in a 5-2 loss at the Saddledome on Thursday night. "That was not acceptable," Phaneuf said. "They outworked us. We are fighting for our playoff lives and can't play like that. "Like I've said all along, this wasn't Dion Phaneuf against the Calgary Flames." Referring to the fact that he was jeered, Phaneuf replied: "They have great fans here. They have the right to"

Keenan: Issues between Phaneuf, Flames teammates

December 17

Toronto Sun

"While Flames players continue to insist there were no problems inside the dressing room during Dion Phaneuf's tenure in Calgary, former coach Mike Keenan has a slightly different take. Keenan confirmed to TSN that there were, in fact, issues with Phaneuf and his teammates. According to the report, veteran players referred to Phaneuf as "Neon Dion" and found him "cocky at times." Having said that, Keenan acknowledged enjoying his time coaching Phaneuf, one of the more competitive players he has dealt with. As part of the story, Keenan added that former stars such as Jeremy Roenick, Chris Chelios and Ed Belfour all had their issues, but still played at a high level once the puck was dropped."

Calgary welcomes Phaneuf back by thumping Leafs 5-2

December 17

Toronto Star

"In his homecoming game, Dion Phaneuf absorbed the boos. The Leafs, though, were the more deserving target. What should have been the club's biggest game of the season fell apart in a rush in the second period, leaving the Leafs and Phaneuf empty. Calgary swamped their former defenceman and the Leafs with a three-goal blitz in 57 seconds en route to a 5-2 win at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary fans left little doubt how they felt about Phaneuf. As soon as he touched the puck for the first time, the boos rained down in unison around the rink. They kept up that way for much of the first period, but there wasn't any need after that. "This was never about me against the Calgary Flames," a"

Iginla downplays match vs. Phaneuf

December 16

Calgary Herald

"Dion Phaneuf had been nowhere near the rink. But nothing could stop the buzz. Nothing could stop him from (indirectly) stirring the pot. The Dion - one-time darling of the Calgary Flames, now captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs - was attending a family funeral Wednesday, meaning he wasn't around for the practice session at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Didn't matter. Because he was still a factor. The mere suggestion that beating Phaneuf would mean something extra special was enough to knock the smile off Jarome Iginla's face. Not an easy task. "I honestly will not take any pleasure out of playing him and just beating him," said the Flames captain, bristling. "Honestly, to beat the Maple Leafs"

Phaneuf's impact on Leafs goes a long way

December 16

Toronto Sun

columnist Mike Zeisberger

"It greeted them when they arrived at the Saddledome for practice, a souvenir from a local auto dealership promotion two years ago. To a man, the Maple Leafs could not believe their eyes. Yet, there it was. A paper mask. With Dion Phaneuf's face on the front. "We walk in the room and THAT face is the first thing we see," forward Kris Versteeg said. Maybe the Maple Leafs captain wasn't with the team physically on Wednesday, but he certainly was there in spirit. And cardboard. Or, as Versteeg so eloquently put it: "Even when he's not here, he's here." Make no mistake. Each and every one of his teammates understood that Phaneuf's absence was no laughing matter. He was, after all, back in"

Phaneuf attends grandmother's funeral; Stajan returns to Flame lineup

December 16

Toronto Star

"The news was sad for Dion Phaneuf, and glad for Matt Stajan. On the eve of his biggest game as a Leaf, Phaneuf answered a greater call—the need to be with his family—as it mourned the loss of Phaneuf's grandmother over the weekend. The Leafs captain was excused from the team Wednesday in Calgary so he could travel back to Summerside, Prince Edward Island, to attend the funeral of his grandmother, Roma Phaneuf, who passed away at the age of 83."

Leafs have emerged as clear winners of the Phaneuf trade

December 16

Toronto Star

"It was almost 11 months ago that the Maple Leafs pulled off a huge trade to bring Dion Phaneuf, their future captain, to Toronto. While both teams wallow near the bottom of their respective conferences, it's starting to become obvious the trade has the potential to help the Leafs out of their mess more than it will help the Flames. While time is usually needed to fairly assess any deal, it's not too early to declare this one a decisive victory for the Leafs. The Flames got skunked in this lopsided transaction."

Less hype, more hockey: Phaneuf set to return to Calgary

December 16

Toronto Star

"It was a bit surreal seeing Kris Versteeg step out onto the Leafs' practice ice on Wednesday wearing a Dion Phaneuf mask. But the gesture summed up the surreal level of expectations behind the Leaf captain's homecoming game on Thursday. Phaneuf himself couldn't work out Wednesday; he'd flown to P.E.I. to be with his family at the funeral of his grandmother, Roma Phaneuf, who passed away in Summerside over the weekend at age 83. Yet, there was Phaneuf — or, at least, a very good impression of him in Versteeg, who mimicked his captain's on-ice mannerisms, the way he skates and stretches."

Unpredictability is Phaneuf's calling card

December 15

Calgary Herald

columnist George Johnson

"He's back. In all his glorious, maddening imperfection. Who knows what on earth he'll be up to Thursday night? Dion Phaneuf could clock a mid-ice loiterer or two and launch them into the Calgary Flames' owners' box or end the night minus-4. He might score the overtime winner with an absolute screamer from the point or be on the ice for every goal, both sides, in a 6-5 win. Or a 6-5 loss. And therein lies the fun. Utter unpredictability has always been his quirky entertainment value. At age 25, Phaneuf remains the embryonic star-in-the-making, no closer really to that Norris Trophy that once seemed his predestination than when he left here Jan. 31. Plying his trade in Canada's Big Smoke,"

Phaneuf wasn't a cancer

December 15

Calgary Sun

"Cheers, jeers, or a mixture of both await Dion Phaneuf at the Saddledome Thursday night in his return. But as ugly rumours still seem to make their way around the world wide web when it comes to Phaneuf's time in Calgary, his former teammates still stand by the idea he was a solid teammate. They weren't about to plead with the fans to treat him right, but hope they show some class to a kid who gave his all every time he hit the ice. "He never wanted to leave. He wanted to stay here. Hopefully the fans realize how good he was here," said Olli Jokinen. "He played hard, practised hard. Hopefully they won't boo him too much." Craig Conroy thinks Phaneuf could receive the same treatment he got"

Heads up, Dion's back!

December 15

Calgary Sun

"Alex Tanguay still vividly remembers the kind of impact Dion Phaneuf can have. It was during a road trip out east during Tanguay's first season as a member of the Calgary Flames when the lasting memory was made. Phaneuf crushed Denis Hamel with an open-ice hit that sent the Ottawa Senators winger flying. "I still remember that hit," said Tanguay, whose Flames face Phaneuf at the Saddledome Thursday night for the first time since the young blueliner was dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs last season. "It was something that you don't want to happen to yourself." To avoid just that, the Flames will have to keep their heads up every time Phaneuf is on the ice Thursday night when they host the"

Alberta boys lead Leafs over Oilers

December 15

Toronto Sun

"One homecoming down, one to go. For Dion Phaneuf, making his first appearance in a Maple Leafs uniform in his native Edmonton, the evening could not have gone much better on a snowy Tuesday night at Rexall Place. Opening the scoring at 5:55 of the first period, Phaneuf's first goal of the season propelled the Maple Leafs to a 4-1 victory over the Oilers, setting the stage for the captain's return to Calgary on Thursday. "It has been a while. It felt good," Phaneuf said of the goal. "The big thing was the screen. (Colby Armstrong) did a great job. "It was just a huge win for our team." But this game was more than just about Phaneuf. With several thousand blue-and-white clad Toronto fans"

Iginla and Phaneuf shoot down feud rumours

December 15

Toronto Sun

"Jarome Iginla finally has come clean. With Dion Phaneuf marching into town for the first time since being traded to the Maple Leafs, the Calgary Flames captain no longer can hold his tongue about the physical disagreement he had with his former teammate. "Yes, Dion and I had a scrap," Iginla admitted to the Toronto Sun. Does that mean the rumours of infighting between Phaneuf and Iginla were true? Is this, then, a confirmation of the various reports alluding that a bitter confrontation took place behind the closed doors of the dressing room while both were members of the Calgary Flames, a tussle that resulted in one of them receiving a shiner? "Ask Dion about our wrestling match," Iginla"

Leafs GM Brian Burke stands behind Dion Phaneuf

December 15

Toronto Star

"Brian Burke came to the defense of Dion Phaneuf Tuesday as the Leafs captain faced a tidal wave of media hype and speculation in advance of what should be the game of the year for the Leafs — Phaneuf's homecoming against Calgary Thursday. "We know exactly what was going on in that dressing room (Flames)," Burke said as the rumours of Phaneuf's impasses with teammates in Calgary heated up two days before the big game. "We heard all the stuff that was in the media, but we have ways of getting into the dressing room and whatever disagreements there were, we were satisfied Dion Phaneuf was a player who was could help our team.""

Phaneuf finally scores as Leafs win 4-1 in Edmonton

December 15

Toronto Star

"Dion Phaneuf had been looking for his first goal of the season. In Edmonton on Tuesday night, he found an almost perfect stage to bust onto the score sheet. Playing in his home town, with family and friends looking on, Phaneuf's goose egg broke, as the Leafs downed the Oilers 4-1 at Rexall Place. It was a one-timer slap shot – something the Leafs have been waiting for from their captain – that did the trick. The goal put the Leafs up 1-0 and sent them on their way to a fourth win in six games."

Wilson lets Phaneuf hear it

December 14

The Globe and Mail

"As far as game preparation tactics go, it has to rank as one of the stranger things Toronto Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson has tried in his 17 years behind an NHL bench. With his team about to embark on a three-game swing through Western Canada, where defenceman Dion Phaneuf will face his former team, the Calgary Flames, Wilson let loose with a few catcalls for his captain at practice here Monday. "I was booing Dion because I think he's going to hear it," Wilson said. "He's going to hear it in all three places I would expect. We were just trying to have fun with Dion and getting him prepared." The Leafs play the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday in Phaneuf's hometown to begin the trip and the"

Coach boos captain

December 14

Toronto Sun

"The strange but unmistakable sound of booing came from inside the Maple Leafs' private quarters on Monday, with a smiling Dion Phaneuf emerging a few minutes later. Coach Ron Wilson later said he'd given his captain a bit of the Bronx cheer as well during practice, all in fun, to help break the ice when Phaneuf goes back to Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver this week. "He's going to to hear it in all three places I suspect," Wilson said with a grin. "I think he will be cheered by more people. "But it's like Toronto. If 500 people boo, you guys will write that 18,000 booed. It's the Silent Majority. Most people don't want to boo. It's always a small amount of people who do it, but a little"