Kukla's Korner Hockey
Next entry: Quincey A Big Hit In Denver
Previous entry: 40 For Franzen?
Phaneuf Needs To Stay On The Ice
by Paul on 09/21/09 at 06:38 AM ET
Comments (3)
from Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun,
The last thing Dion Phaneuf has to prove to anybody is that he’s tough.
And the last place the Flames need him is in the penalty box or on the surgeon’s table.
So it’s laughable to hear that after establishing himself as the NHL’s hardest hitter the last four years, Phaneuf is being criticized for refusing to fight a no-name knucklehead in a meaningless exhibition game.
Phaneuf is maturing to the point he knows every team in the league would rather have him off the ice and is justified in being selective in terms of when to punctuate his hits with fights.
While this space has long embraced fighting in the game, it’s embarrassing for critics who flooded sports talk radio phone lines to be so lacking in hockey knowledge to suggest every time he lays a forward out cleanly, he needs to follow it up with his fists.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Dion+Phaneuf,
Comments
It was a dirty preseason hit that only a coward would make.
Or it was a phenomenal open ice hit and he shouldn’t have to fight after making a clean, if devastating, hit.
Posted by Garth on 09/21/09 at 08:02 AM ET
And the “big debate” goes on and on and on. Sides have been chosen. Everyone believes exactly what he believed the day after the incident happened. Nobody’s changing their mind.
It’s time for the media and the fans to move on and, in time, we’ll all see whether Phaneuf “being selective in terms of when to punctuate his hits with fights” means anything more than, “He’ll fight when the other guy isn’t a fighter and Dion knows he can beat the snot out of him.”
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 09/21/09 at 10:23 AM ET
Add a Comment
Please limit embedded image or media size to 575 pixels wide.
Add your own avatar by joining Kukla's Korner, or logging in and uploading one in your member control panel.
Captchas bug you? Join KK or log in and you won't have to bother.
Most Recent Blog Posts
Leafs Can Improve During Free Agency Period
Early Options For NHL Teams Traveling To Europe Next season
Niklas Kronwall Out After Knee On Knee Hit By Laraque
Brian Mullen’s Heart Still With The Rangers
Dealing With A Make-Shift Lineup
Sutter Trying To Find The Fire In The Flames
Cory Stillman Out With Knee Injury
About KK Hockey
Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.
From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.
Email Paul anytime at
Kukla’s Korner is always a free service for readers, but it costs some money to maintain. If you’re ever in a position to donate a few dollars to help out, we’d be very appreciative.
Hockey Links
Thats the whole point you fool. It was a dirty preseason hit that only a coward would make.
Posted by drw on 09/21/09 at 05:47 AM ET