Toronto Maple Leafs: Dion Phaneuf In God We Trust!

One of the best things about being a creative writer and correspondant with this great venue known as 'bleacher report.com' is the journalistic creativity that this forum allows their writers to participate in.

I have written enough articles now for 'bleacher' to realize that this website is truly a gem when it comes to getting your story out. I have always been a believer in the motto: 'the medium is the messenger'.

With this said; I must stand-by my 'fearless predictions' that have come home to fruition in the last two years.  I don't pretend to be Nostrodamus, but I can predict my in-house Toronto Maple Leafs matters! (I say this with tongue in cheek, but I am also writing out and saying: I told you so!)

Two years ago, Leaf Nation was about to say goodbye to one of our Captains of the times. His name was Mats Sundin and I wrote an article for 'bleacher' - titled - Toronto Maple Leafs: Has Mats Sundin Played His Last Game?

Well we all know the answer to that one. My article generated almost 1800 reads and it also provided another 22 comments from myself and the 'bleacher creature' community. As it turned out Sundin had played his final  game for Leaf Nation and subsequently moved on to the Vancouver Canucks and we all the know how that sad chapter ended!

This past February 3rd, 2010 Toronto Maple Leafs V.P of Operations and General Manager Brian Burke hooked up a blockbuster trade with cross country rival -  Calgary Flames. In the deal,  Burke's prize catch was bringing in the 'young gun' defenceman and former 2008 Norris Trophy candidate Dion Phanef, the rough and tumble stand-up rearguard from the under achieving Flames.

I watched Phaneuf play only one game for the lacklustre Maple Leafs and  boldly and immediately came on to 'bleacher' and wrote my controversial article titled: Dion Phaneuf: Toronto Maple Leafs Captain in Waiting. The article was an instant hit and it was on the hot thermostat of bleacher for a good day or two and ultimately to this day recorded another 1300 reads and several pro and con comments.

Yesterday, the Toronto Maple Leafs and coach Ron Wilson (with the blessing of Leaf Nation - apparent saviour - Brian Burke) named the no bull, full of tenacity and testosterone former Calgary castoff - Dion Phaneuf as the lastest Toronto Maple Leaf Captain. A large resposnsibility in hockey crazed Toronto and we will only see how this selection works out in the next chapter of Leaf Nation.

I am not gloated about this selection, I am only saying that on that February 2nd night while Phaneuf was playing his first game against the New Jersey Devils I saw someting and I wrote about it and my article stands and so does this great venue for offering opinion and commentary.

God Bless 'bleacher report.com' and freedom of speech and expression and good luck to Dion Phaneuf and his new captaincy in rabid Leaf Nation!