Sometimes fans from one team can answer the burning questions of fans of another team.
So, Leaf fan, if you’re one of the many who are booing Dion Phaneuf just 10 games into his reign as captain in Toronto, maybe you know someone in Calgary who you can talk to.
Question from Maple Leafs fan: "When is Dion Phaneuf going to shore up his defensive game?"
Answer from Calgary: "Don’t hold your breath."
Toronto: "But doesn’t the team that gets the best player win the trade?"
Calgary: "Sure, but how many games this season has Phaneuf played like the best player?"
Phaneuf has never been Chris Pronger-like in his own end, and he is already minus-6 in 10 games this season. But he was a plus-1 last season and minus-11 the season before that, so this is no great revelation.
There are two problems he’ll face in wearing the ‘C’ in Toronto — and Calgarians know them both well.
Phaneuf has always abhorred the interview process, and facing the Toronto media on a daily basis is eventually going to wear on him. And the ice-time Phaneuf gets as captain will at times exacerbate the self-inflicted nature of his defensive game.
Generally speaking, he’s a high-risk, high-reward kind of player.
But people in Calgary have always known that.
Eddie The *^&%*
It is impossible to deny that Ed Belfour has Hall of Fame numbers. He is third in career wins (484), third in career playoff games (161), tied for fourth in playoff wins (88), and tied for ninth in career shutouts (76).
And we have to admit, he was a jerk of Hall of Fame proportions.
Belfour is on the HHOF ballot for the first time next year, in a weaker crop that also includes Trevor Linden. The billion-dollar goalie is clearly the cream of the crop, and we’re happy we’re not in a position to have to vote for him.
He was that rare hockey player who wasn’t a nice guy to deal with, and did not treat dressing room staff very well.
Dealt with him often.
Never liked the guy.
Tick, Tick, Tick…
There is something weird going on in Calgary. We’re not sure we can put our finger on it, but the Flames are only 11 games into the season and Brent Sutter is already at about January in his arsenal of coaching strategies.
He’s already called out Iginla, railed on his veterans, and on Saturday, Sutter yanked Kiprusoff out of a 7-2 loss to Washington in the second period, then made him start the third period despite the fact the Flames trailed by five goals.
The power play is ranked 25th (11.8%). The penalty killing is 18th (82.2%). They’re winning just 48.3% of faceoffs. They’re blowing leads.
Somehow, just 11 games into a 6-5 season, the Flames look fragile.
"We’re playing like it right now, and that has to change for us," admitted defenceman Robyn Regehr. "We have to be able to face some adversity."
Head coach Brent Sutter countered: "It has nothing to do with being fragile. I hope (the players are) not saying that. We have to get tougher. We have to be able to deal with adversity better."
Meanwhile, it’s looking more and more like Daymond Langkow may not come back from injury, after taking a shot in the back of the neck last season.
He was shut down this week after experiencing some numbness below his waist during workouts.
"We'll try this, and your guess is as good as mine," GM Darryl Sutter told the Calgary Sun. "We're eight months into it and here we are -- that's a concern."
Loose Change
Jordan Eberle leads the rookie scoring race with four goals and eight points. Magnus Paajarvi is fifth with 2-4-6, and Taylor Hall is tied for eighth spot with 2-3-5.
All have played nine games.
History tells us when a team has three promising rookies, the chances of all three becoming Top 6 forwards are probably about 20%.
So far however, it’s indiscernible which one of these young Oilers isn’t going to turn into a very good player … Just 12 games into his sophomore season, Buffalo’s Tyler Myers is at minus-10. From the Calder Trophy to the Green Jacket. Nice … There is real concern in Nashville, where centre Matthew Lombardi hasn’t dressed since a concussion sustained in the second game of the season. He missed nearly the entire lockout season with a serious concussion sustained as a Flame in the 2004 playoffs.
