Lack of Leadership

[slapshot]

I think many people would agree the core thing this team is lacking is leadership. I am talking on-ice leadership. I don't hate Dion Phaneuf, but I think he is totally miscast as a captain. Why? He looks so lackadaisical at times (some say a pylon) that how can he command his fellow teammates to compete to their highest level. Not to mention quite a few simply bonehead plays. He's not really setting the on-ice example to command followers. I'd be okay with him as an Assistant, second pairing D man. Though, he should probably get traded for the team's sake and probably his.
And, besides Phaneuf, there is no real qualified leader among the group. Kessel is easily the best player they have but it's not really his kind of thing. Number 1 on the Leafs list should be to find "the guy," doesn't necessarily have to be a superstar, just total compete, top line or top pairing capable. Someone who has earned respect around the league but isn't ancient....

Any suggestions?

PS: Wouldn't be handed the C upon arrival, but maybe a year after. Do what the Habs did, go with alternates. May be a better solution for a place like Toronto.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

PS: Wouldn't be handed the C upon arrival, but maybe a year after. Do what the Habs did, go with alternates. May be a better solution for a place like Toronto.

How are they having success without leadership??

 

[bustaheims]

People put too much emphasis on the role of captain as leader. Leadership on a team comes from a variety of sources - the coaches, various players, etc.  If there's a leadership problem with the Leafs, it's not on Phaneuf alone. Really, though, the biggest issues with the team right now are strategy and talent. It really doesn't matter how good your on-ice leadership is if the systems you're putting into play are awful and you don't have the talent to be anything more than a middle of the pack team.

 

[freer]

Lack of leadership....

there is some leaders on the team. I think that Dion
does have leadership. He is a leader on team and in the community. Just because the team is coached awfully does not mean there is no leadership.

 

[moon111]

Phaneuf had leadership.  Do your basic job, get paid millions.  Done.

 

[freer]

Phaneuf had leadership.  Do your basic job, get paid millions.  Done.

Ok....

This same thing happen in ANT... With RC. There is an issue.

 

[Kin]

People put too much emphasis on the role of captain as leader. Leadership on a team comes from a variety of sources - the coaches, various players, etc.  If there's a leadership problem with the Leafs, it's not on Phaneuf alone.

I think that's true to one degree or another. The fact that Phaneuf wears a C is probably overblown. Still, I think that along those lines it's really a player's place in the hierarchy of a team and as Phaneuf fans are quick to point out, he's the team's top defenseman and that would thrust him into a leadership role regardless of him wearing stripes.

 

[Highlander]

I can't see Phaneuf without the C, the Leafs won't take it away from him, to much loss of face.
Now if in a few years someone like Rielly steps up to the next level, then Phaneuf could say he wants to hand it over to the younger guard (but highly doubtful).
By the way the Pylon moniker comes from him being constantly beaten as players skate around him to swoop in on the net, almost always creating a great scoring chance. Sort of like a orange traffic cone in practice. 8)

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Re: Phaneuf's terrible, unmoveable, awful, non-1st pairing contract:

there is a trade market for him that's at least 10 teams deep (Calgary included).

http://www.tsn.ca/dreger-report-alfredsson-s-comeback-bid-about-to-end-1.140932

 

[Highlander]

10 teams want a Pylon?..Wow?lets trade.

 

[Kin]

I like the (Calgary included) addendum. I mean, big shock on that one, Brian Burke sticking to his guns.

 

[Tiger Williams]

I could see why 10 GMs would want Phaneuf, and if Phaneuf was traded he could actually flourish under a different coach and if he was paired with the right type of defenseman.  Sure he may look slow at times, and disinterested at other times, and he may get caught out of position at times.  He may even take the odd bone headed penalty because he is slower than the attacking forwards, but none the less, there has to be at least 1 idiot GM who Nonis could suck into taking Phaneuf.  The pluses for Phaneuf would be his size, his hitting capability and his leadership, that is what the other GM would be trading for. 

 

[Courtnall]

If it's true that Kessel went up to Phaneuf right after the game last night and pointed to the dressing room. How much of a negative impact is he having in the dressing room? Is his bad attitude contagious? I honestly can't wait for the day that the both of them get moved out and we head in a different direction. This direction is full of washouts, closed roads, and broken bridges.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

If it's true that Kessel went up to Phaneuf right after the game last night and pointed to the dressing room.

Whoa people think he pointed...to the dressing room!? Hold the phones, that's just incredible.  Can you believe if the rest of the team hears about this?  The fact he might have pointed his stick towards the dressing room is mind-boggling and super important to discuss.

On a related point, Stamkos probably can't wait to line up and sign in Toronto.  With in-depth analysis like which way his stick might point post-game, he'll have all the unwanted attention he can ask for.

 

[Courtnall]

If it's true that Kessel went up to Phaneuf right after the game last night and pointed to the dressing room.

Whoa people think he pointed...to the dressing room!? Hold the phones, that's just incredible.  Can you believe if the rest of the team hears about this?  The fact he might have pointed his stick towards the dressing room is mind-boggling and super important to discuss.

On a related point, Stamkos probably can't wait to line up and sign in Toronto.  With in-depth analysis like which way his stick might point post-game, he'll have all the unwanted attention he can ask for.

So are you a douchebag in real life? Or just when you have a keyboard in front of you?

 

[louisstamos]

Guys, relax.  It's just hockey.  A wise man once said this:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzpndHtdl9A[/youtube]

 

[ZBBM]

I could see why 10 GMs would want Phaneuf, and if Phaneuf was traded he could actually flourish under a different coach and if he was paired with the right type of defenseman.  Sure he may look slow at times, and disinterested at other times, and he may get caught out of position at times.  He may even take the odd bone headed penalty because he is slower than the attacking forwards, but none the less, there has to be at least 1 idiot GM who Nonis could suck into taking Phaneuf.  The pluses for Phaneuf would be his size, his hitting capability and his leadership, that is what the other GM would be trading for.

By all means, in the name of science, let's do the experiment.

 

[bustaheims]

If it's true that Kessel went up to Phaneuf right after the game last night and pointed to the dressing room. How much of a negative impact is he having in the dressing room? Is his bad attitude contagious? I honestly can't wait for the day that the both of them get moved out and we head in a different direction. This direction is full of washouts, closed roads, and broken bridges.

So, not knowing anything that was said between them at any point about this or anything else, you've deduced that Kessel has a bad attitude and is having a negative impact in the room? For all we know, he was just confirming with Phaneuf that they weren't doing the salute thing and going straight to the room instead. Stop jumping to conclusions.

 

[Rebel_1812]

If it's true that Kessel went up to Phaneuf right after the game last night and pointed to the dressing room.

Whoa people think he pointed...to the dressing room!? Hold the phones, that's just incredible.  Can you believe if the rest of the team hears about this?  The fact he might have pointed his stick towards the dressing room is mind-boggling and super important to discuss.

On a related point, Stamkos probably can't wait to line up and sign in Toronto.  With in-depth analysis like which way his stick might point post-game, he'll have all the unwanted attention he can ask for.

So are you a douchebag in real life? Or just when you have a keyboard in front of you?

whoa  that's out of left field lee -bo.  Or is it normal for you to accuse random people of douchbaggary without cause?

 

[OldTimeHockey]

If it's true that Kessel went up to Phaneuf right after the game last night and pointed to the dressing room.

Whoa people think he pointed...to the dressing room!? Hold the phones, that's just incredible.  Can you believe if the rest of the team hears about this?  The fact he might have pointed his stick towards the dressing room is mind-boggling and super important to discuss.

On a related point, Stamkos probably can't wait to line up and sign in Toronto.  With in-depth analysis like which way his stick might point post-game, he'll have all the unwanted attention he can ask for.

So are you a douchebag in real life? Or just when you have a keyboard in front of you?

whoa  that's out of left field lee -bo.  Or is it normal for you to accuse random people of douchbaggary without cause?

Sarcastic A$$ was probably a more fitting description.