I think so. Many don't.

Opinions on prospects is just that... opinions.
- Brian Huddle

Because he wouldn't want to see the Tomahawk coming at him from enraged fans
- hooligoon

(frank)'em

when he becomes what he has potential to become, he'll be rubbing their noses in his game used jock.

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger
Jets gm K.Cheveldayoff met E. Kane's agents today(Newport). Dismissed rumours of Kane's unhappiness. Talked contract parameters, but no #'s.
- The_Vark

Not surprising. Too much talent in this kid to just let him go.

IMO, Lupul should be the captain. So I disagree on that point.
- A_Tree

In my opinion, you are both crazy wrong. A) Who cares who the Captain is? Outside of who the goalie coach is, I cannot imagine a bigger non factor. B) You do realize that despite the Leafs recent struggles, the two most hard to fill roster spots are a consistant goalie and a number on defensmen capable at both ends of the ice. Phaneuf's skill set - huge hitter, huge rocket, great skater, intensity, athletic, able to play both ends of the ice...... its the probably the rarest of all skillsets you find in hockey players, outside of 'all time' talent like Crosby, Lemieux, Gretzkey.

For some reason, and it remains a baffling mystery, the Leafs fans (at least the vocal internet ones) do not show Phaneuf a tenth of the respect he deserves.

Trading him would be the single dumbest thing Burke has ever done.

(frank)'em

when he becomes what he has potential to become, he'll be rubbing their noses in his game used jock.
- AnnGee44

"without the crack"


Would you go as far to sayy he has some Evander Kane in him too?
- AnnGee44

Racism.

I have him at 4 on my list. Most lists have him around 8-12, though.

Every year a team takes a player high, and the fans a couple years later cry and say "look at so-and-so who went a couple picks later! Why didn't we take him?" and yet they also think trading down or going off the board is the recipe for a GM's firing.

It makes no sense.

To me, the GMs shouldn't be worried about consensus, but trusting their scouts. If it was me, I'd advise my GM to take Faksa at 5 and not look back.
- Brian Huddle

Very true. You think the Islanders will take him instead of a stud dman?

Very true. You think the Islanders will take him instead of a stud dman?
- Unholy_Forward

Nah. Doesn't make much sense for them, with Strome in the pipeline.

In my opinion, you are both crazy wrong. A) Who cares who the Captain is? Outside of who the goalie coach is, I cannot imagine a bigger non factor. B) You do realize that despite the Leafs recent struggles, the two most hard to fill roster spots are a consistant goalie and a number on defensmen capable at both ends of the ice. Phaneuf's skill set - huge hitter, huge rocket, great skater, intensity, athletic, able to play both ends of the ice...... its the probably the rarest of all skillsets you find in hockey players, outside of 'all time' talent like Crosby, Lemieux, Gretzkey.

For some reason, and it remains a baffling mystery, the Leafs fans (at least the vocal internet ones) do not show Phaneuf a tenth of the respect he deserves.

Trading him would be the single dumbest thing Burke has ever done.
- Jimmy_T

It's so hard to take you seriously.

In my opinion, you are both crazy wrong. A) Who cares who the Captain is? Outside of who the goalie coach is, I cannot imagine a bigger non factor. B) You do realize that despite the Leafs recent struggles, the two most hard to fill roster spots are a consistant goalie and a number on defensmen capable at both ends of the ice. Phaneuf's skill set - huge hitter, huge rocket, great skater, intensity, athletic, able to play both ends of the ice...... its the probably the rarest of all skillsets you find in hockey players, outside of 'all time' talent like Crosby, Lemieux, Gretzkey.

For some reason, and it remains a baffling mystery, the Leafs fans (at least the vocal internet ones) do not show Phaneuf a tenth of the respect he deserves.

Trading him would be the single dumbest thing Burke has ever done.
- Jimmy_T

agree about people not giving ph9uf the respect he deserves

Nah. Doesn't make much sense for them, with Strome in the pipeline.
- Brian Huddle

My misunderstanding, I thought you said AT 4 within the top 4. Who do you think would take him?

I'm being facetious

Some people think that Burke may have been swindled, more or less due to Burke's large ego and his desire to create rumors where ever he goes. If Murray truly wanted Cowen over Kadri then he played his cards right, but as far as the "hoax" goes - it's hard to say who comes out on top.

Personally the verdict is still out on both Kadri (who's had limited NHL minutes) and Cowen (who's played maybe 2 games). Safe to say this is another example of the hockey-crazy media trying to make something out of nothing again. None better against two divisional Canadian rivals, eh?
- A_Tree

Yeah, that's true.

In my opinion, you are both crazy wrong. A) Who cares who the Captain is? Outside of who the goalie coach is, I cannot imagine a bigger non factor. B) You do realize that despite the Leafs recent struggles, the two most hard to fill roster spots are a consistant goalie and a number on defensmen capable at both ends of the ice. Phaneuf's skill set - huge hitter, huge rocket, great skater, intensity, athletic, able to play both ends of the ice...... its the probably the rarest of all skillsets you find in hockey players, outside of 'all time' talent like Crosby, Lemieux, Gretzkey.

For some reason, and it remains a baffling mystery, the Leafs fans (at least the vocal internet ones) do not show Phaneuf a tenth of the respect he deserves.

Trading him would be the single dumbest thing Burke has ever done.
- Jimmy_T

Never said anything about trading Phaneuf. He's not a great captain, he was forced into that role.

agree about people not giving ph9uf the respect he deserves
- The_Vark

Phaneuf deserves nothing but to be traded.

Com'on guys, I think Grigorenko really want to be Canadian. Don't fall for the Russian Factor BS. Gally barely played this year ans scouts kept him top 5 just because he was born in the US. Grigs had Canada polo on him, isn't that enought proof ???

Phaneuf deserves nothing but to be traded.
- Unholy_Forward

the only thing wrong with him is he makes to much money ...... witch isnt his fault

In my opinion, you are both crazy wrong. A) Who cares who the Captain is? Outside of who the goalie coach is, I cannot imagine a bigger non factor. B) You do realize that despite the Leafs recent struggles, the two most hard to fill roster spots are a consistant goalie and a number on defensmen capable at both ends of the ice. Phaneuf's skill set - huge hitter, huge rocket, great skater, intensity, athletic, able to play both ends of the ice...... its the probably the rarest of all skillsets you find in hockey players, outside of 'all time' talent like Crosby, Lemieux, Gretzkey.

For some reason, and it remains a baffling mystery, the Leafs fans (at least the vocal internet ones) do not show Phaneuf a tenth of the respect he deserves.

Trading him would be the single dumbest thing Burke has ever done.
- Jimmy_T

I agree. Guy is a good top pairing Dman. He's not elite, but he's good. He gets the job done. Most other elite guys have a legit top pairing partner too. Weber has Suter. Keith has Seabrook, Letand has Orpik, Doughty has Mitchell (or Scurderi).

In my opinion, you are both crazy wrong. A) Who cares who the Captain is? Outside of who the goalie coach is, I cannot imagine a bigger non factor. B) You do realize that despite the Leafs recent struggles, the two most hard to fill roster spots are a consistant goalie and a number on defensmen capable at both ends of the ice. Phaneuf's skill set - huge hitter, huge rocket, great skater, intensity, athletic, able to play both ends of the ice...... its the probably the rarest of all skillsets you find in hockey players, outside of 'all time' talent like Crosby, Lemieux, Gretzkey.

For some reason, and it remains a baffling mystery, the Leafs fans (at least the vocal internet ones) do not show Phaneuf a tenth of the respect he deserves.

Trading him would be the single dumbest thing Burke has ever done.
- Jimmy_T

Dion is anything BUT a great skater. He gets walked around like a pothole on a back country road.

That being said. I do agree he gets a bad rap and doesn't deserve it. I'm glad we've got him.

I have him at 4 on my list. Most lists have him around 8-12, though.

Every year a team takes a player high, and the fans a couple years later cry and say "look at so-and-so who went a couple picks later! Why didn't we take him?" and yet they also think trading down or going off the board is the recipe for a GM's firing.

It makes no sense.

To me, the GMs shouldn't be worried about consensus, but trusting their scouts. If it was me, I'd advise my GM to take Faksa at 5 and not look back.
- Brian Huddle

I preface this comment by saying I don't mean it to be sarcastic or rude. With the internet being what it is, people might think this is just trolling or something, but:

How do you know? This is the first of your blogs I have read, and I am extremley interested to know what your qualifications are for these predicitions. I have never seen any of these kids play, and though I read as much as I can, I really have no legitimate reason for picking one over the other. From what Ive read, it doesnt seem like the Leafs can go wrong at five with one of the three Russians, the top rated D, Forseberg or Dumba. But prospects always get so hyped, after I watched Bob M's show the other night, I thought they should try to get 4 first round picks. So, I dunno and im just interested in your qualifications for picking Dumba cause if you are for real, he sounds like a pick I could get behind.

agree about people not giving ph9uf the respect he deserves
- The_Vark

It's not so much respect issue with Phaneuf. It's hard to even give him respect with such a name.

#NHL *Rumor*-- A source in Chicago tells Chris Therien, #Flyers radio analyst, that #Blackhawks Patrick Kane is available.



Here come the Kane+Crawford for Miller rumors.

I agree. Guy is a good top pairing Dman. He's not elite, but he's good. He gets the job done. Most other elite guys have a legit top pairing partner too. Weber has Suter. Keith has Seabrook, Letand has Orpik, Doughty has Mitchell (or Scurderi).
- Brian Huddle

Certainly, IMO I would rather have had Burke wait out instating a captain on Phaneufs arrival. As far as his captaincy goes, is he fit for the job?

In my opinion, you are both crazy wrong. A) Who cares who the Captain is? Outside of who the goalie coach is, I cannot imagine a bigger non factor. B) You do realize that despite the Leafs recent struggles, the two most hard to fill roster spots are a consistant goalie and a number on defensmen capable at both ends of the ice. Phaneuf's skill set - huge hitter, huge rocket, great skater, intensity, athletic, able to play both ends of the ice...... its the probably the rarest of all skillsets you find in hockey players, outside of 'all time' talent like Crosby, Lemieux, Gretzkey.

For some reason, and it remains a baffling mystery, the Leafs fans (at least the vocal internet ones) do not show Phaneuf a tenth of the respect he deserves.

Trading him would be the single dumbest thing Burke has ever done.
- Jimmy_T

I agree. Guy is a good top pairing Dman. He's not elite, but he's good. He gets the job done. Most other elite guys have a legit top pairing partner too. Weber has Suter. Keith has Seabrook, Letand has Orpik, Doughty has Mitchell (or Scurderi).
- Brian Huddle

I think also that a lot of his mistakes are because he plays nearly half the game against the other teams best players, and the goalies were bad so mistakes lead to goals that maybe shouldnt have been goals. I think with a top end partner, a good goalie and a more defensive system, you could see Dion move back into the elite. Lets not forget he is 25 or 26 and may be the perfect candidate to be one of those guys who gets better as he gets older, smarter, more experianced. I think we can all agree the biggest deficit in Phaneuf's game has always been mental. SHould he wisen up with age, he might yet live up to his early carreer potential.

I preface this comment by saying I don't mean it to be sarcastic or rude. With the internet being what it is, people might think this is just trolling or something, but:

How do you know? This is the first of your blogs I have read, and I am extremley interested to know what your qualifications are for these predicitions. I have never seen any of these kids play, and though I read as much as I can, I really have no legitimate reason for picking one over the other. From what Ive read, it doesnt seem like the Leafs can go wrong at five with one of the three Russians, the top rated D, Forseberg or Dumba. But prospects always get so hyped, after I watched Bob M's show the other night, I thought they should try to get 4 first round picks. So, I dunno and im just interested in your qualifications for picking Dumba cause if you are for real, he sounds like a pick I could get behind.
- Jimmy_T

from everything i read ( i spend to much of my life reading about hockey) Huddle seems like the real deal when it comes to knowing about prospects especially ones from the ohl


just IMO