Maple Leafs vs. Flames: Dion Phaneuf Returns To Calgary Tonight

When Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke and Calgary Flames GM Darryl Sutter consummated their seven-player deal last January many felt the Toronto Maple Leafs won the trade hands down.

Fast-forward 10 months later and, while many Calgary fans long to believe they have won the trade, it appears as if Toronto will emerge with the better deal.

It has been said many times that the team that emerges with the best player wins a trade. While one can argue that Phaneuf is not worth the $7 million salary he carries, the accumulative play of former Flames Phaneuf, Keith Aulie and Fredrik Sjostrom has been far and away better than that of Nik Hagman, Matt Stajan and the departed Jamal Mayers and Ian White.

At the time of the trade, rumors were running rampant that Phaneuf was a negative influence in the Flames locker room. Infighting, sleeping with teammates' wives and physical confrontations were all rumored with Phaneuf the catalyst in each.

While most of those rumors have never been substantiated it is clear that, while both sides are saying all the right things, tonight's tilt between the Leafs and Flames will be as much about the game as it will be about the return of Dion.

Try as he might to be politically correct, there is no love lost between Dion and Sutter. Phaneuf would like nothing more than to show his former GM up—delivering a big hit, scoring the winning goal and/or showing a glimpse of the talent that once earned Phaneuf comparisons to Scott Stevens and often found his name mentioned in Norris Trophy discussions.

Admittedly, it has been a long time since Dion was mentioned in the same breath as Scott Stevens and the Norris Trophy looks to be nothing more than a dream these days. That said, Dion still brings a certain cache, attitude and, regardless of his struggles with the Maple Leafs, Dion demands a measure of respect and fear from his opponents.

From the Flames perspective, if the rumors are true about Phaneuf’s negative impact while he was in Calgary, they too may very well be gunning for a piece of No. 3. As the saying goes, “It’s best to leave a sleeping lion alone,” I suspect this would be the best piece of advice anyone could give the Flames, but they will likely ignore that.

One thing is for sure, Flames fans are sure to deliver a deafening round of boos at Dion the second he hits the ice. While many loved Dion while he was in Calgary, that ship has sailed—the thrill, as they say, is gone.

Unwanted in Calgary, Phaneuf has found a home in Toronto, earning the “C” and embracing the responsibility that comes with it. There are no rumors of infidelity, no locker room tussles, in Toronto it’s been all hockey for Dion, nothing more, nothing less. Great players often come up large on the big stage—tonight’s game against Calgary is just that, a big stage for Dion, the Maple Leafs and the Flames organization.

Make no mistake about it, Dion will be looking to make hits, score goals, make a great pass—whatever it takes to leave the Calgary fans wondering “what if” they had kept Phaneuf instead of settling for a package of players that, try as they might, may never live up to the upside that Phaneuf has.

One thing is for sure, Maple Leaf fans and Flames fans alike will be watching Phaneuf’s every move tonight, as will many NHL fans.

Tonight’s tilt between the Maple Leafs and Flames is must-see TV and Phaneuf, more than anyone, made that possible.

Until next time,

Peace!