#3 was his uniform number, dumb dumb.
- djamon

I thought he was calling Dion the #3 D man, I know his friggin number..

I think they are using the salary cap space for negotiations, as soon as we sign Franson, Fraser, Kadri, then I think Liles is moved. If there is no interest than we will move Gunnarson.
- MapleLeafsFTW

^^THIS^^^

Everybody is so caught up in the present and freaking out, if GM's were as reactive as the average fan this would be a crazy league.

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
- dragus84

That's where I disagree. I don't think that Phanuef was in top 3 for our D last year. I think he is a middle of the pack defender on our team, and was only better than Liles, Kostka, Franson (arguably), and O'byrne this past year. I felt Gardiner, Fraser, and Gunnarson are better players. Quite frankly, I'd rather see them get Dion's minutes.

I really don't think that Dion is as important to this team as people make him out to be. I'd rather see Fraser on that top pairing.

I think a guy like Franson is primed for added responsibility.
- robin_steele264

I think the same about Klefbom and Linus.

I thought he was calling Dion the #3 D man, I know his friggin number..
- bixll

He wasn't. Hence the dumb dumb.

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.
- Jeffmt

The level of ridiculousness about this was off the chart. People wanted him gone for lesser players knowing they would be getting the short end simply because they were so desperate to get rid of Kessel.

Leaf fans get made fun of a lot by other fan bases, deservedly so!

That's where I disagree. I don't think that Phanuef was in top 3 for our D last year. I think he is a middle of the pack defender on our team, and was only better than Liles, Kostka, Franson (arguably), and O'byrne this past year. I felt Gardiner, Fraser, and Gunnarson are better players. Quite frankly, I'd rather see them get Dion's minutes.

I really don't think that Dion is as important to this team as people make him out to be. I'd rather see Fraser on that top pairing.
- mfreedman

Holy jeez.

That's where I disagree. I don't think that Phanuef was in top 3 for our D last year. I think he is a middle of the pack defender on our team, and was only better than Liles, Kostka, Franson (arguably), and O'byrne this past year. I felt Gardiner, Fraser, and Gunnarson are better players. Quite frankly, I'd rather see them get Dion's minutes.

I really don't think that Dion is as important to this team as people make him out to be. I'd rather see Fraser on that top pairing.
- mfreedman

I tend to feel Fraser would not be able to handle that responsibility. I see him as a solid career 3rd pairing d-man, nothing more.

Just asking, are you forming this opinion by watching him play or are you going by stats? Did you know he was injured?

He was the best Marlie dman when he was in the lineup, played penalty kill and powerplay, first units.
- LeafMan

He was definitely their best defensman. He almost certainly would have been with the Leafs last season if he'd taken them up on their camp invite.

That's where I disagree. I don't think that Phanuef was in top 3 for our D last year. I think he is a middle of the pack defender on our team, and was only better than Liles, Kostka, Franson (arguably), and O'byrne this past year. I felt Gardiner, Fraser, and Gunnarson are better players. Quite frankly, I'd rather see them get Dion's minutes.

I really don't think that Dion is as important to this team as people make him out to be. I'd rather see Fraser on that top pairing.
- mfreedman

fair enough, your opinion is your opinion. so i don't intend to be a Richard about it

but i disagree strongly. I think you may be overlooking that dion played all of his minutes against guys like crosby, malkin, ovechkin, bergeron, lucic, etc

while these other guys play against tyler kennedy

i am huge on gardiner, but if he was the anchor on our first pairing last year, we might not make the plyaoffs

I think a guy like Franson is primed for added responsibility.
- robin_steele264

I agree, Franson was my favourite D for us last year. However I think he is a very good second pairing guy. He doesn't have to play against the top pairing opponents which helps him be strong defensively while still being able to generate offense. I'm hoping our top 4 going into next season is

Phaneuf-Gardiner
Rielly-Franson

Phaneuf needs to come back at a reasonable price or we need to replace him with a top pairing defensive guy. But that could very well be a championship caliber D-core.

That's where I disagree. I don't think that Phanuef was in top 3 for our D last year. I think he is a middle of the pack defender on our team, and was only better than Liles, Kostka, Franson (arguably), and O'byrne this past year. I felt Gardiner, Fraser, and Gunnarson are better players. Quite frankly, I'd rather see them get Dion's minutes.

I really don't think that Dion is as important to this team as people make him out to be. I'd rather see Fraser on that top pairing.
- mfreedman

Pass it to the Left, Im waiting, that's some good $hit youre smoking.

That's where I disagree. I don't think that Phanuef was in top 3 for our D last year. I think he is a middle of the pack defender on our team, and was only better than Liles, Kostka, Franson (arguably), and O'byrne this past year. I felt Gardiner, Fraser, and Gunnarson are better players. Quite frankly, I'd rather see them get Dion's minutes.

I really don't think that Dion is as important to this team as people make him out to be. I'd rather see Fraser on that top pairing.
- mfreedman

Steve Yzerman disagrees.

In fact, Steve Yzerman thinks you are a buffoon.

I have a lot of respect for Steve Yzerman.

Dunno, what did you trade him for?
- robin_steele264

Nothing, he's just somewhere else.

That's where I disagree. I don't think that Phanuef was in top 3 for our D last year. I think he is a middle of the pack defender on our team, and was only better than Liles, Kostka, Franson (arguably), and O'byrne this past year. I felt Gardiner, Fraser, and Gunnarson are better players. Quite frankly, I'd rather see them get Dion's minutes.

I really don't think that Dion is as important to this team as people make him out to be. I'd rather see Fraser on that top pairing.
- mfreedman

I have to disagree with you 100%. Fraser would have been eaten alive on the first line, he can't skate well enough to shut down other teams' top lines. This is a big problem with Leafs fans. We see a guy play really well in his natural role, then want to see him in bigger role, and if he can't handle that we all decide that he's poop. Maybe the truth is that Fraser is just a good 3rd pairing guy, that's his role. Say what you want about Phaneuf's mistakes and his salary, but he was a positive presence on the ice last season more often than not. Furthermore, we don't have another defenseman who's done anything to indicate that he can step into Dion's role. Like it or not, he's the only #1 defenseman we currently have.

He was definitely their best defensman. He almost certainly would have been with the Leafs last season if he'd taken them up on their camp invite.
- Jeffmt

People seem to forget: it was Ranger who decided not to play in the NHL.

Whatever it was, I just hope that poop is sorted out.

Gluck's misadventures with popcorn...

That's where I disagree. I don't think that Phanuef was in top 3 for our D last year. I think he is a middle of the pack defender on our team, and was only better than Liles, Kostka, Franson (arguably), and O'byrne this past year. I felt Gardiner, Fraser, and Gunnarson are better players. Quite frankly, I'd rather see them get Dion's minutes.

I really don't think that Dion is as important to this team as people make him out to be. I'd rather see Fraser on that top pairing.
- mfreedman

Wow - I am a huge Gardiner fan but to say he was better last year then P9?
Yikes.....

Ranger is a good player. Good signing for a million... now Liles needs to go

People seem to forget: it was Ranger who decided not to play in the NHL.

Whatever it was, I just hope that poop is sorted out.
- Atomic Wedgie

The fact that he turned them down last year tells me that he wasn't going to take this on until he felt like he was ready so that's encouraging.

Wow - I am a huge Gardiner fan but to say he was better last year then P9?
Yikes.....

- Cooshie

my thoughts exactly

Pass it to the Left, Im waiting, that's some good $hit youre smoking.
- Byfuglien Ate Me

I want some too man....... Wow, serious hate going on for easily our best defensemen.

People seem to forget: it was Ranger who decided not to play in the NHL.

Whatever it was, I just hope that poop is sorted out.
- Atomic Wedgie

Problem was the wife. Wife has a big paying executive job. Would not leave Toronto to go to Tampa any more. That is why it had to be Toronto or bust for him.

I want some too man....... Wow, serious hate going on for easily our best defensemen.
- faceto27

The range of opinions today are from one end of the spectrum to the other.