The Toronto Maple Leafs former captain Dion Phaneuf is back in the news and once again connected to the blue and white, but not how one might think.
The Toronto Maple Leafs had a familiar face at Scotiabank Arena to take in the game between the Buds and the Calgary Flames. Dion Phaneuf wasn’t just there to watch his former clubs do battle, but had ulterior motives.
On Thursday night’s edition of Insider Trading, Bob McKenzie revealed that there has been an interesting development with the former Leafs defenseman. Phaneuf has been and will continue to shadow the President of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Brendan Shanahan.
With Phaneuf still a free agent, there were many who wanted to see the Leafs bring back the captain. It would certainly be an intriguing signing, especially with the injuries to Toronto’s blueline. That isn’t, however, why Phaneuf has been getting cozy with Shanahan.
Toronto Maple Leafs and Dion Phaneuf
McKenzie reported that Phaneuf would still like to play, but has been in Toronto to learn about “the business of hockey”. Shanahan has graciously allowed Phaneuf to spend time with him in order to learn about how Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment runs.
Phaneuf’s backstage business tour will continue this weekend. He is scheduled to visit the NHL’s Hockey Operations department in order to gain a new perspective on the game.
While this might seem unorthodox, it’s important to remember who occupies some of the biggest roles in the game.
Shanahan was a former left-winger who had a Hall of Fame career that included winning three Stanley Cups. It’s not only the elite level players who have made their way into new positions.
Former enforcer, George Parros accrued 1092 penalty minutes in his nine-year career while averaging just 5:56 of ice-time. He now ranks as the head of the Department of Player Safety for the NHL. While these are just two examples, the list of former players who have adopted roles in the sport is too numerous to mention.
Though Phaneuf has not officially retired as a player, he may sense that the end of his career is near. He certainly hasn’t been offered a satisfactory NHL contract as yet, if he’s even been given any offers at all.
It appears as though Phaneuf is preparing for the next chapter of his life, whenever that is to come. That phase may begin in Toronto if he manages to impress the president and demonstrate that he has a unique value in the game. Then again, since both he and his wife, Elisha Cuthbert, are Alberta natives, Phaneuf might be more interested in latching on to one of the teams in that province.
Until Phaneuf is ready to trade in his stick and skates for a suit and tie, we hope to see him get the opportunity he’s looking for in the NHL. Even if it is brief, at age 34, he likely has enough in the tank to be a solid third-pairing option in the league.