Report Card - Dion Phaneuf

Name/Position – Dion Phaneuf/D
Height/Weight – 6'3"'/215 lbs
09/10 Games Played – 81 Goals - 12 Assists - 20 Points – 32 Plus/Minus – plus 1
08/09 Games Played – 80 Goals -11 Assists - 36 Points – 47 Plus/Minus – minus 11
Salary/Cap Hit - $7 Million/$6.5 Million

Analysis - Dion Phaneuf had a disappointing year in Calgary. He was not playing like a 7 million dollar defenceman should play like. He had gone from the toast of the town, to the team scape goat in about a years time!

But Dion was really able to turn it around when he came to Toronto. He instantly added sandpaper, and leadership to the team. His vocal "encouragement" was obvious from the first game, and he backed this up with strong physical play.

Phaneuf is a player hand-picked by Brian Burke to lead this team. Burke has always had a strong number one defenceman to lead his team (Jovanovski, Pronger) and Dion will fill that position.

In recent days, both Brian Burke, and Ron Wilson have hinted at making Phaneuf Captain next season, and we can expect that to happen in the next month (a unveiling of the Leaf's modified jersey will come in the next few weeks, where another announcement is expected as well...).

Overall, Phaneuf is a great fit, will be a great mentor to other Leafs defencemen like Luke Schenn, and may be the one to lead this Leaf's team to playoff victory! (ok, this last statement may be a bit premature ;)

Grade - B plus (if Dion can put up a full season of strong play, he will be bumped to an A!)