Erik Johnson vs. Dion Phaneuf

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hockeykid87

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I had a little mini-argument with a friend about these two guys (that's right Matt, I brought it here lol). I said that I thought Erik was going to be the Norris Trophy owner later in his career, and he said Phaneuf will be. Which is understandable, because Phaneuf is an outstanding defenseman. But don't take away from Erik, he only had 5 goals this year (to go along with 28 assists) so he has the offensive abilities. I did not know however that Dion had 60 points this year.:eek:

Also, Dion plays for a canadian team, so he gets more attention, he also likes to destroy people when the have their head down. Erik is the main building block of the Blues IMO, he is a great D-man with awesome offensive potential. I can see him putting up maybe 50 points this next season. All in all, i think they will have around the same amount of Norris Trophys when they retire, with Phaneuf maybe having a few more.

What do you think?
 
okay well on a serious note... I would pick Dion Phaneuf

The guy is a beast, he's no class act thats for sure... but he's making 6.5 mil/year for a reason
 
They are both great defensemen and will be at the top of the league in 5 years. With that said, I think Johnson has a higher ceiling than Phaneuf. Johnson has huge offensive potential and plays a sound defensive game. I love watching Phaneuf but he favors the big hit too often and as many times as he lands it, is as many times as he looks goofy when the player blows by him. I wasn't really impressed with Phaneufs defensive game from the games I watched, but when he delivers a hit, he really destroys. I think Johnson plays a smarter defensive game than Phaneuf, and I think that will be the deciding factor 5 years from now when this question pops up again. Think of Erik Johnson to be Chris Pronger with less of a temper and more smarts.
 
I could see both taking a Norris trophy. Before his injury Johnson was looking very good in his rookie year with St Louis.
 
isles4life said:
They are both great defensemen and will be at the top of the league in 5 years. With that said, I think Johnson has a higher ceiling than Phaneuf. Johnson has huge offensive potential and plays a sound defensive game. I love watching Phaneuf but he favors the big hit too often and as many times as he lands it, is as many times as he looks goofy when the player blows by him. I wasn't really impressed with Phaneufs defensive game from the games I watched, but when he delivers a hit, he really destroys. I think Johnson plays a smarter defensive game than Phaneuf, and I think that will be the deciding factor 5 years from now when this question pops up again. Think of Erik Johnson to be Chris Pronger with less of a temper and more smarts.
Click to expand...

I'm not sold that Johnson has a higher ceiling; it's tough to compare offensive potential since they never played in the same leagues as youths - but both Johnsons' rookie year were significantly weaker than Phaneuf's (admittedly Erik was about 8 months younger for that season). Remember that in his first 3 years in the NHL Phaneuf has been the leading goal-scorer amongst defencemen by a wide margin (about 10 ahead of second). As for defensively, Phaneuf has never had a minus season. He needs work, but he became more than hitting this past season - he plays well in his own end, and was getting big minutes at big times both defensively and offensively. He also doesn't miss many hits that put him out of position anymore (consequently he makes fewer big hits).

As mentioned, the Johnson's are younger, and in two or three years we might see a better comparison, however for now, until on of the Johnson's has a 20G/40A season it's not even close.
 
JoeyStorm said:
Getting hit by Dion Phaneuf is like Street Fighter's Ryu giving you a Shoryuken

that is all....
Click to expand...

ryu-shoryuken-xm.gif
:laugh:
 
Phaneuf got his first nod for the Norris in his third year and will keep getting nods until he wins it. My guess is he will win at least 2 by his careers end. Hits like Stevens and scores like Bourque. His D Game will only get better. He is HOF material!!!

I hope i'm right...I have a Ultimate Trios Jersey /25 with Bourque/Lidstrom/Phaneuf and a Phanuef SPx RC that I just can't part ways with.
 
I can't really comment on Johnson (Erik. that is) but Phaneuf's defensive game improved over the course of last season. He doesn't put himself out of position nearly as much to make the big hit and when in front of his own net he has improved his play without the puck, getting his stick into lanes and such. He has a long way to go but his defensive game has really improved since his first game.

But my favorite part of Dion's game is when he decides to carry the puck up ice and he just bulls his way into the offensive zone. He creates space and confusion among the opposition which could result in a scoring chance. Few other D-men can do that.
 
I have had a lot of Flames fans tell me Phaneuf is a tad overrated. He's not nearly the god he's made out to be by some.

As for Johnson, lets not forget that he was playing for the BLUES! They were 28th in scoring and he managed to put up 33 points along with missing 15 or so games to injury. Defensively, Johnson's ceiling is heigher. Offensively, I doubt his ceiling is as high as Phaneuf but he is putting up some rather impressive numbers at such a young age on an inept team like St Louis.
 
Phaneuf is a young Jovanovski - fun to watch and miserable to play with. Cannon from the point and can lay people out but plays a dumb style of hockey and can't move the puck.
Erik Johnson has all the tools and no toolbox - he's a meathead and is consistantly lazy in his own end and with the puck.

Both of these guys are going to have to mature a ton before they are in any Norris talk and unless all of the defensemen in the league dry up sometime soon - I don't think either are going to be in the hunt.
 
Taking Boogard down with a hit isn't the most difficult thing to do. The guy can barely skate. He'd win every fight he got in if he could actually stand up
 

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