Calgary Herald: It was one thing when Mike Keenan chucked ace defenceman Dion Phaneuf up front for a couple of power plays during Thursday’s game against Chicago.
But it’s something else for Keenan to be considering — or least threatening — to give Phaneuf a regular shift as a winger. That’s the way it looked at Friday’s practice before the team jumped a plane for Denver, with Phaneuf working the left side on a line with Jarome Iginla and Craig Conroy.
Phaneuf certainly has the tools to be an effective forward, but the gesture is also a damning reflection on the recent play of left-wingers Alex Tanguay and Kristian Huselius. It’s a message form the boss to them, too. While Phaneuf does everything with purpose and a lot of anger, Huelius and Tanguay tend to be far more subtle and timid.
Matt’s Two Cents: While Dion Phaneuf combines both speed, skill and offensive prowess, it would be unwise to put him on forward. With Calgary’s defense comprising of Adrian Aucoin, Anders Eriksson, Cory Sarich, Robyn Regehr and Rhett Warrener, the Flames would be forced to call up a defenceman or put a forward on the blueline. And with Miikka Kiprusoff already struggling to regain the form of his 2004 Vezina winning season, the Flames cannot afford to put one of their biggest and best defenceman as a forward. It would be a ridiculous move.
In essence, this is Mike Keenan sending a message to some of his underperforming forwards, mainly Kristian Huselius and Alex Tanguay. Huselius has a mere two assists in his last six contests while forward Tanguay has been held pointless in his last five games. “Iron Mike” has high expectations for the two forwards who make a combined 8M, so it’s no wonder that the grizzled coach has a problem with two of his “star” players.
However, don’t be surprised if we do see Dion Phaneuf line up with Craig Conroy and Jarome Iginla in a game; he was seen practicing with the two in a Sunday morning skate. Putting a blueliner on as a forward would certainly light a flame under Huselius and Tanguay. (No pun intended)
