Leafs’ Phaneuf not concerned with trade deadline
Posted February 14, 2012 12:09 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
With NHL Trade Deadline Day looming and the Toronto Maple Leafs in a three-game losing slump, many are wondering if the team will try to bolster its lineup for a playoff push.
Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf, however, is not one of them.
Phaneuf joined Brady & Lang on Sportsnet 590 The Fan Tuesday and said, while there’s always a possibility changes could be made before the NHL trade deadline, he likes the dynamic of the current Leafs roster.
“As players it’s out of our control. We’re really happy with the group that we have,” Phaneuf said. “On and off the ice we’re a close group of guys. We’re young, we went through a lot together, especially the last half of last year; I feel we really came together as a team.
“With the additions we made over the summer, everyone really fit in well, Phaneuf added. “No one likes when guys have to leave the room … We don’t know what management’s looking for, we don’t know what they’re going to do, but all we’re concerned about is the team we have in our room and who we have right now.”
One of the players who is fitting in well this season with the Leafs is 21-year-old rookie defenceman Jake Gardiner. Phaneuf said he has a lot of respect for Gardiner, knowing all too well the obstacles a young defenceman must face when starting off in the league.
“I think Jake has had a great year,” Phaneuf said. “I think you look at the way he’s matured over the year he’s really playing good minutes for us. “As a d-man that came into the league at a young age, I know how hard it is when you come in. It’s a real tough position to come in at a young age and that’s why you see a lot of guys spend time in the minors; it’s tough to do.
“When I watch Jake and the way that he’s reacted through the year and adapted to the game, he’s like a sponge. He picks things up really quickly and I like his work ethic. I’m really happy to see him having the year that he is. I think he’s just going to keep getting better and he’s got a real great career ahead of him.”
The Leafs look to snap a three-game losing streak when they visit Phaneuf’s old team, the Calgary Flames on Tuesday.
Watch the game live on Sportsnet Ontario and West with coverage starting at 8:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. MT.
Last week, the Leafs dropped two close games to the Winnipeg Jets and the Philadelphia Flyers before being embarrassed by the Montreal Canadiens at home on Saturday.
“Sometimes, slides happen like this,” Phaneuf said. “We’re going to rebound. We know what’s at stake. We know where we’re at. We lost two close ones and then we had an off night and that happens.
“We’ve worked hard all year to put ourselves in a good position and to be in the playoffs, and to be in the top eight and be in the playoff race, and we’re fighting for position right now of where we want to finish.”
Heading out on a Western Canadian road trip is a tough thing to do when the team is mired in a slump, but Phaneuf believes the Leafs don’t need to change their approach.
“Guys have been around, guys know what to expect,” Phaneuf said. “You definitely don’t go out there thinking you’re behind the eight ball just because you travel. We travel well. We know what we have to do to be ready.”
Phaneuf honoured to be a part of Sundin tribute
There is a lot of responsibility that comes with being the captain of a storied franchise like the Leafs, but Phaneuf — who is in his second season as the Leafs captain — doesn’t wilt under the pressure and views it more of an honour than a burden.
Phaneuf said he was inspired by the tribute to the previous Leafs captain, Mats Sundin, on Saturday and was proud to be a part of the ceremonial faceoff with Sundin and former teammate Tomas Kaberle.
“It’s a huge honour to even be out there to watch that ceremony of that jersey being raised, to see the highlights of when he was a Leaf. He did a lot for the city of Toronto off the ice and to be mentioned in the same sentence as him is a huge honour,” Phaneuf said. “He’s definitely a guy I look up to.”
