Written by Barry Scanlon at Lowellsun.com
The news that NHL defenseman Dion Phaneuf had been traded Tuesday from Toronto to Ottawa in that nine-player blockbuster got me laughing.
Granted, it’s not a typical reaction, but I have my reasons.
In the spring of 2005, there were rumors the coveted defenseman would join the Lowell Lock Monsters for their American Hockey League playoff run.
Phaneuf, now 30, hasn’t lived up to this National Hockey League hype, though he’s still a quality player. Prior to joining the NHL, however, he was considered a franchise-type player.
With Phaneuf, even a 19-year-old Phaneuf, Lowell may have had enough talent to win the Calder Cup.
During the first round of the playoffs, I was in Hartford. Minutes before Game 1, a reporter from the Hartford Courant leaned over and asked, “Where’s Phaneuf?”
Damn it. Phaneuf had joined the team and I didn’t even know it. It was a reporter’s worst nightmare. My mind raced. I had asked team officials and was told Phaneuf wouldn’t be joining the Lock Monsters. My legs were killing me from running my first Boston Marathon days before. Now my head was pounding.
After the game, which Hartford won without Phaneuf on the ice, Lowell head coach Tom Rowe wasn’t in the greatest mood.
After a couple of questions about the game, I got around to asking about Phaneuf.
Upon hearing the name, Rowe roared. A big laugh from a big guy. A laugh probably heard blocks from the Hartford Civic Center.
“He’s not coming! He was never coming!” Rowe said, still laughing.
Confused, I told him what the Courant reporter had said. Rowe had told the reporter the day before that Phaneuf would likely be in the lineup. Gamesmanship. A little playoff head game.
Rowe said there were serious discussions between the team and the Calgary Flames, which owned Phaneuf’s rights, to have the defenseman begin his professional career with the Lock Monsters.
To continue reading this article, click here.
