Brian Burke traded for Dion Phaneuf on January 31, 2010, he risked very little.
What he gained was the pillar on which every other acquisition has been positioned.
The players who went to Calgary, Jamal Mayers, Matt Stajan, Ian White and Nik Hagman were going to go somewhere. Ex-Leafs litter the NHL. Nikolai Kulemin, Mikhail Grabovski and Luke Schenn are the only holdovers from when Burke signed on three years ago Tuesday.
What he gained was the pillar on which every other acquisition has been positioned.
The players who went to Calgary, Jamal Mayers, Matt Stajan, Ian White and Nik Hagman were going to go somewhere. Ex-Leafs litter the NHL. Nikolai Kulemin, Mikhail Grabovski and Luke Schenn are the only holdovers from when Burke signed on three years ago Tuesday.
Phaneuf’s career had stalled in Calgary. Always a point producer, his plus-minus fell to minus 11 in his last full season with the Flames. Flash forward to the present. With 18 points in 24 games, Phaneuf sits fifth in scoring for defencemen. His leadership is unquestioned. Prized rookie defencemanJake Gardiner has been installed in the locker beside Phaneuf.
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