The Toronto Maple Leafs captain has been used and abused since he arrived in Toronto and took on the (overcast) role of franchise #1 defender.

What should we expect for the Toronto Maple Leafs top media punching bag under Mike Babcock?

For starters, we can expect a decreased role which, if it comes to light, should immediately make Dion Phaneuf more valuable to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Let’s forget the amount of money that Phaneuf makes because, without being up against the salary cap and contending, it really doesn’t matter. Right now – in this stage of the rebuild – his salary is a moot point.

Phaneuf has struggled in the role he’s been given – his dCorsi60 is -2.65 or worse over the last three seasons – whereas Jake Gardiner and Morgan Rielly have outplayed the recent roles they’ve been given. There’s an argument to be made that both Gardiner and Rielly could handle a bit more of an increased role – perhaps taking some of the load off of Dion Phaneuf.

If Mike Babcock can effectively deploy Dion Phaneuf in a lighter capacity then the entire team’s play will be better. Phaneuf doesn’t need to be out against the opposing team’s top competition every shift – it’s been proven over the years he can’t handle it. Some of that 5v5 time should be going to Gardiner and Rielly – together.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have no true number one defensive pairing, so they might as well send out their best possession defenders more often to shelter the struggling defenders, like Phaneuf.

Taking the forced shut-down role away from him from time to time could prove beneficial to his offensive contributions to the game as well. When Phaneuf broke into the league he was an offensive, two-way, defender. He had five straight seasons (his first five years) of at least 11 goals. In the last five seasons he’s had one season over 9 goals.

Forcefully becoming an overcast shut-down defender has limited his offensive game and required him to play well out of his comfort zone – which has resulted in decreased performance and value.

At this point it’s not about a new coach taking a crack at continuing to try and turn a 30 year old defender into something he isn’t – it’s about maximizing the value of the player you know you have.

If Dion Phaneuf gets used in a lower capacity I fully expect him to become significantly more valuable to the Toronto Maple Leafs – and potentially to other teams. A more competent system and a lesser role is only going to mean good things for Dion Phaneuf.

I still expect him to be the scapegoat, but at least it’s likely to be less warranted.