Dion Phaneuf - Calgary Flames Amazing Defenseman

After 3 years in the NHL, Calgary Flames Defenseman Dion Phaneuf sure has made a name for himself. Dion was named to the CHL First All-Star team for the 03-04 and 04-05 seasons, in 2004 he picked up the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy for Top Defenseman and was named to WHL East First All-Star Team. In February of 2005 The Hockey News publication named him the number two prospect in the world behind Russian Alexander Ovechkin. Dion went and represented Canada at the 2004 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Helsinki, Finland. The following year he returned to the 2005 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Grand Forks, North Dakota, where he helped the Canadians take the gold for the first time in eight years. Dion Phaneuf was again awarded a spot on the Tournament All-Star Team, and was named Top Defenseman of the tournament … THEN he was drafted into the NHL!!!

Dion made his NHL debut on Oct 5th 2005 … 5 days later he recorded his first goal, assist and point. Phaneuf was recognized as Rookie of the Month November 2005 by the NHL and was listed #3 behind Ovechkin and Crosby by Hockey Futures – who also said that Dion would someday win the James Norris Memorial Trophy (this award is given to the player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position). He became only the third rookie defenseman (along with Brian Leetch and Barry Beck) to score 20 goals in a season. As well, he broke the Calgary Flames' team record for goals by a rookie defenseman, which was 18 by Gary Suter (1985/86). During the All-Star break of the 2006-07 season, an informal poll of 141 NHL players conducted by ESPN named Phaneuf the hardest hitter in the NHL. On January 24, 2007, Phaneuf played in the 2007 NHL All-Star Game and scored the longest empty-net goal in All-Star history (200 ft.) when he banked a shot off the boards from behind his own net and the puck rolled into the vacated Eastern net.

If your lucky enough to have him on your Fantasy Hockey team – there is no other defensive player that compares to his whole package. As a strong D who likes to play fast, hard and aggressive … Dion’s stats show in his PIM’s and SOG’s. Below you will see the Fantasy Stats for the Top 10 Defensemen in the NHL (according to Yahoo! Sports)



Dion has shown his worth these past 3 years … I am looking forward to seeing what he will bring to Calgary over the next 6 years … since he recently signed a year contract worth around $6.5 Million a year with the Flames. Below are the stats for the Top 10 players (according to NHL.com)



I personally think that Dion is an amazing player with talent that will carry him deep into his hockey career and turn him into an amazing leader in whichever club he is playing for. As for how he ranks with the other Defensive players in the NHL … in Goals he is tied for 4th, in Assists he is tied for 8th and in Points he is tied for 4th. For only being in The Show for 3 years … you cant be anything but impressed.