Gunnarsson I wouldn't quite call a plug. He can eat around 20 min a game, and plays a similar style to Niklas Hjalmarsson and Andrew Ference. I'm quite happy we locked up Gunny for a reasonable cost.
- jerseyleaf

I know a lot don't agree with me, but Gunnerson eating up minutes is Not a good thing. Im hoping we don't have average, skinny Gunnerson types with bad hips eating up time on this D in a year or two, hope these kids take his job. Horrbinian is also awful. Ranger is a Big Question mark. Plugs I tell Ya!

I agree. Need a word with more magnitude than "huge"
- Feeling Glucky?

I would say the Leafs with Phaneuf are still a bubble playoff team (division is even tougher this year with DET). Without him, they are likely a lottery team.

Man, the more I look at the length of the Clarkson contract the more I shake my head.

1-30 goal season and he gets that through his 30's.

Good thing it'll be 4 years or so before we have to worry about it biting us
- AngryWhiteMale

So it's a good contract for the first 4 years then might be a bad contract for the last 3?

Welcome to the world of professional sports. It's an unescapable truth - to sign a meaningful UFA you have to overpay.

Your points all make him seem like he is a decent defender. I agree he is decent, but not a #1 or #2, and certainly not worth 6.5.

As for what to do, trade him for building blocks. Get a 1st rounder and a good prospect. Let the guys we have fill his spot, and the young guys earn the opened spots on the team that come from him leaving.
- mfreedman

I agree with some of your points though. He has his problems, but who doesn't? In the end, he's someone we need. I'm against trading him unless we get a better Dman in return. There isn't anyone in the FA list that fits that. If we make a trade, we need to give something to get, of course, but it could lead us taking a step or 2 back. Trading Phaneuf will put us back, trading for a dman that can play with him will be better, but that doesn't mean trade the farm or anything. Franson, Kulemin or a pick could get us a decent top 4 dman. I like Phaneuf, he isn't garbage...he isn't the best, but he's still good. It's this market that hates on him. Us fans, media, etc.

Nobody gave Frattin hate for messing up that breakaway against Boston, that most likely sealed their fate, but Phaneuf gets the hate for his mess up that lead to Boston taking game 5 (I think). It just isn't fair towards him.

I agree. Need a word with more magnitude than "huge"
- Feeling Glucky?

So I diagree with someone on this site... What else is new

Smith...
- Colin Dambrauskas

Damn, I was hoping it was Bryzgalov

I would say the Leafs with Phaneuf are still a bubble playoff team (division is even tougher this year with DET). Without him, they are likely a lottery team.
- vermie22

Division has Detroit (who we finished ahead of last year BTW), but also Florida and TB. I don't think our division got any tougher, but you're probably right...we are a bubble team. Along with basically every team in the East except Pitt and Boston.

Too Many D Nonis

Kadri and Franson still not done....

But that's OK, because we got Gunnerson and Ranger signed

I don't get why we sign the plugs before the players
- Byfuglien Ate Me

You're going to flip when they sign Fraser before Kadri and Franson. It's a process - the arbitration dates make it so they have to negotiate with the guys in arb first.

why do you guys want to trade phaneuf so bad?
- njdevil35

I can't figure it out. He's got his detractors in the media and lots of Leafs fans are completely incapable of thinking for themselves. This time last year everyone wanted Kessel traded so go figure.

I would say the Leafs with Phaneuf are still a bubble playoff team (division is even tougher this year with DET). Without him, they are likely a lottery team.
- vermie22

I don't think he has that big of a positive effect.

the leafs signed Luke Schenn on Sept 16th when he was an RFA
why are people so impatient?
- senstroll

I thought ignorance was supposed to be bliss?

I don't think he has that big of a positive effect.
- robin_steele264

Look at the D Robin.

Now take Phaneuf Out.

See what were sayin now??

Paul Ranger is not NHL depth...he's a Marlie. Money is very tight at the moment, and we have valuable players who need contracts. The idea that we "outbid" other teams for a guy who does not makes us better is a waste of time and assets, IMO.
- djamon

If the plan is to trade Liles they need another defenseman. If it's not Ranger it's probably Holzer. Trading Liles and adding Ranger saves a lot of money.

I agree. Need a word with more magnitude than "huge"
- Feeling Glucky?

colossal

I agree with some of your points though. He has his problems, but who doesn't? In the end, he's someone we need. I'm against trading him unless we get a better Dman in return. There isn't anyone in the FA list that fits that. If we make a trade, we need to give something to get, of course, but it could lead us taking a step or 2 back. Trading Phaneuf will put us back, trading for a dman that can play with him will be better, but that doesn't mean trade the farm or anything. Franson, Kulemin or a pick could get us a decent top 4 dman. I like Phaneuf, he isn't garbage...he isn't the best, but he's still good. It's this market that hates on him. Us fans, media, etc.

Nobody gave Frattin hate for messing up that breakaway against Boston, that most likely sealed their fate, but Phaneuf gets the hate for his mess up that lead to Boston taking game 5 (I think). It just isn't fair towards him.
- MCharisma91

Firstly, I would trade phaneuf for pieces. I don't think he is a top 2 defender on a stanley cup tea, and in the end thats what I want. For the short term, I'd give a guy like Douglas Murray a 2 year deal, and sell phaneuf for a pick and a good prospect. Wait until Gardiner and Rielly start developing to take over those top spots.

I don;t blame phaneuf just because of that game. The series loss was good for them as a team, it will give them a wake up call. I blame phanuef because of what I see from him time and time again.


However, if a player became available to trade for, I would to it as long as theywere young and worth it. Otherwise, I'd rather develiop our own top D-man.

Look at the D Robin.

Now take Phaneuf Out.

See what were sayin now??
- Byfuglien Ate Me

Yeah. Everyone would get more time.

You're going to flip when they sign Fraser before Kadri and Franson. It's a process - the arbitration dates make it so they have to negotiate with the guys in arb first.
- The Law

I like Fraser, All heart, 1mil or less and I wont shoot the place up....

If the plan is to trade Liles they need another defenseman. If it's not Ranger it's probably Holzer. Trading Liles and adding Ranger saves a lot of money.
- Jeffmt

Tomas Kaberle is available and would probably come cheap, like $3 million or so.

I know a lot don't agree with me, but Gunnerson eating up minutes is Not a good thing. Im hoping we don't have average, skinny Gunnerson types with bad hips eating up time on this D in a year or two, hope these kids take his job. Horrbinian is also awful. Ranger is a Big Question mark. Plugs I tell Ya!
- Byfuglien Ate Me

Well hopefully, Gardiner is on the top pairing this season, although it will give him a bargaining chip for resigning next season he is clearly 1rst pairing caliber. We need to resign Franson and Fraser for our second pairing!

And then Gunnarson and Ranger as our third. It's not much of an improvement from last season. But if Gardiner can handle the roll our D will be solid.

Also we need to move Liles.

I like Fraser, All heart, 1mil or less and I wont shoot the place up....
- Byfuglien Ate Me

*takes off iron man suit.

Yeah. Everyone would get more time.
- robin_steele264

Stirring the pot a little today are we Robin?

Firstly, I would trade phaneuf for pieces. I don't think he is a top 2 defender on a stanley cup tea, and in the end thats what I want. For the short term, I'd give a guy like Douglas Murray a 2 year deal, and sell phaneuf for a pick and a good prospect. Wait until Gardiner and Rielly start developing to take over those top spots.

I don;t blame phaneuf just because of that game. The series loss was good for them as a team, it will give them a wake up call. I blame phanuef because of what I see from him time and time again.


However, if a player became available to trade for, I would to it as long as theywere young and worth it. Otherwise, I'd rather develiop our own top D-man.
- mfreedman

I don't think their are very many if any teams that phaneuf doesn't slot in on the first pairing.

Douglas murray however probably doesn't slot in on the top pairing of any team in the league.

I'm not sayin dion is gonna make team canada, nor should he unless there are injuries, but there's a reason he's invited, and its because he's a real good defenseman.

its this market that creates this crazy stigma on him being a terrible defender. being under the microscope is a crazy thing

and this team is in real rough shape without phaneuf

Tomas Kaberle is available and would probably come cheap, like $3 million or so.
- Gary_B.

Wouldn't give up more than mil. He's incredibly out of shape and sends a weird message to our team.

You're going to flip when they sign Fraser before Kadri and Franson. It's a process - the arbitration dates make it so they have to negotiate with the guys in arb first.
- The Law

Was Ranger was in arbitration with the Leafs?

Stirring the pot a little today are we Robin?
- bixll

Saying the Leafs would be ok without #3 is pretty provocative stuff round these parts.