Making a Move for Dion Phaneuf

I think we all can say that this team has officially hit rock bottom, and it doesn't seem like they will be picking themselves up anytime soon. Let's face it, no matter how often the coach says they have to keep at it, no matter how often players tell you it is time to start from "square one" (a phrase I despise), this season is over as long as the inability to score goals persists. The Rangers are comprised of a squad of players that lacks the ability to finish, and if they someway find themselves in the playoffs come April, there is a snowball's chance in hell they come out of the first round victorious.

Now it is time to put this season behind us, realizing there is no use in attempting to make the playoffs at this point, and wait for GM Glen Sather to rebuild. While the major problem right now may be offense, Slats needs to start on the blueline. Wade Redden and Michal Rozsival are obviously dead weight on the Rangers salary cap, and at least one of them needs to be unloaded to begin the rebuilding process. I would say Chris Drury as well, but he has a no movement clause and is not going anywhere until it is waived, which I do not see happening. Redden has actually not looked terrible this season and I believe that benching last night against the Hurricanes was unnecessary. However, his salary is much to large for what he contributes and the same goes for Rozsival.

Well today, our friend Joe Fortunato at Blueshirt Banter brought up the possibility of acquiring Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf. At age 24, Phaneuf is one of the more established blue-liners in the game and certainly knows how to use the body. He is solid in his own end and great on offense. Dion has a cap hit of $6.5 million, the same as Redden, but is much more effective. He already has nine goals on the season, 21 points total. This would end up being one of Glen Sather's better trades in his tenure with New York.

The reason Joe picked Phaneuf out of all defensemen in the league is because there is a strong rumor out there that GM Darryl Sutter will have Phaneuf traded by the trade deadline in March. The Flames are falling apart and descending in the standings. They just cannot capture wins, and supposedly Dion cannot stand to be a part of the club anymore and has requested a trade. Phaneuf and Sutter have denied the rumor, but various general managers around the league claim they have spoken to the Flames about acquiring the 6-3 stalwart on defense.

It may not be easy, but it is worth a try and would be a move that would benefit the team in the future. If it means trading away Bobby Sanguinetti in a package with current NHLers, then so be it. We are all sick and tired of watching this soft as cotton defense take the ice night in and night out, and Phaneuf would certainly do his part in toughening it up. In fact, I could even see him dropping the gloves with Carcillo after the whole Gaborik incident. I think the fans here would get to like him quickly--the only problem would be convincing Sean Avery after what happened between the two last season, but tough, they would have to settle their differences.

Read Joe's Article Here
(Photo courtesy of Reuters)