OLD FOES NEIL, PHANEUF DO BREAKFAST
New teammates quickly warm to their former Battle of Ontario rival
How quickly sworn enemies can become great pals.
Just a few days earlier, thenToronto Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf and Senators enforcer Chris Neil were having words on the ice. Neil says he tried to goad Phaneuf into a fight, in keeping with the Battle of Ontario rivalry between the clubs.
But Wednesday morning, the two were sharing breakfast at the team hotel. Neil, always an early riser, was the first player in the dining room and Phaneuf, the newest Senators defenceman, was next to arrive.
“That’s part of pro sport, you play against guys, you battle against them, you respect them and a few days later you’re in the same room,” Phaneuf said, as he spoke to reporters ahead of his first Ottawa game, against the Red Wings. “It’s a different situation, having played my last game against my new team but the guys have been great here, they’ve really welcomed me and I’m really excited to get going.”
Neil says it won’t take long to get used to having Phaneuf in No. 2, red, instead of No. 3, blue.
“It was good to sit around, and swap some stories, it was awesome,” Neil said. “He’s going to come in, he’s going to fit in great. Obviously, any time another guy puts on an opposition jersey, you play hard against him. It doesn’t change.
“But when they’re on your team, you go to war with them. You do anything for them out there. I don’t look for anything less. It’s good we’ve got him on our team now.”
Arriving at the hotel here Tuesday night, Phaneuf, conspicuous with his blue and white Maple Leafs hockey bag, was greeted by Senators management and staff. Profusely, he thanked Senators general manager Bryan Murray for trading for him. Phaneuf has already changed gears, along with the colours, declining to speak much about his time in Toronto, preferring to talk about how excited and proud he is to be a member of the Senators. (I counted 16 “I’m excited” references in his media scrum).
“I had a couple of flights to get here yesterday, a lot of time to think and I’m excited to be a part of this team,” Phaneuf said at Joe Louis Arena, after the morning skate.
While Phaneuf did not know the trade was coming down, he said all players know it’s possible when they submit their list of teams they’re willing to be traded to. And Ottawa was on that list (although some players cite teams they don’t expect to get dealt to).
“You don’t see it a lot, especially in today’s game, between a division rival,” Phaneuf said. “When I found out — there’s the original feelings you have — you’re saying bye to some great teammates, a real solid organization. I can’t thank the (Maple Leafs) organization enough for everything they did for me over my time there. And my teammates … but as soon as I got over the initial feelings, I was excited to be here.” Son long, Jared Cowen: Phaneuf is the new No. 2, a number from his youth.
He joked with defenceman Marc Methot about acquiring Methot’s number 3, Phaneuf’s number with Toronto and Calgary, but said he has too much respect for Methot to do that.
The new number represents a “fresh start and a new chapter of my career and life,” Phaneuf said, looking very relaxed on his first day in his new digs. Cowen was part of the package going to Toronto in the Phaneuf deal. Ceci pumped: Defenceman Cody Ceci was asked how long it would take to find chemistry with his new partner, Phaneuf.
“Hopefully not too long,” Ceci said.
“We don’t have very many games to screw around here. We need to win a lot of games in these last 30 or so. Hopefully, we can get it going right away and be effective for the team.” Ryan digs 9: With Milan Michalek gone, winger Bobby Ryan would love to instantly switch to jersey No. 9, from his current 6. However, the organization frowns on mid-season changes because of the merchandising turmoil. Ryan will look to get back to his old Anaheim number next season, and says he would help fans switch numbers along with him. Great Dane: The trade worked out well for another member of the Phaneuf family. Dane Phaneuf, Dion’s kid brother, plays hockey for the University of Windsor Lancers, and didn’t have far to go to see Phaneuf play Wednesday.
“It’s pretty special I get to have him here tonight to be at my first game as an Ottawa Senator,” Phaneuf said. D-Boss red-faced: Red Wings star forward Dylan Larkin is finding out that video lasts forever. Recently a video surfaced of a 13-year-old Larkin, talking it up with his teammate while shooting pucks in his friend’s Michigan basement. In the video, Larkin calls himself “D-Boss,” and says he’s going to put on a “snipe show” with his favourite “whip” (stick). Naturally, his older Wings teammates are giving it to him pretty good.
Larkin, 19, says he’s done talking about the gone-viral-vid, but when asked about it Wednesday he tried to be a good sport.
“It’s a lot of laughs,” he said. “Funny. It’s a bit embarrassing watching it, but I guess you just have to laugh it off.”