The Ice Sheet: Dion Phaneuf Gets Flaming Hot Contract Extension

Every day from Monday to Saturday, The Ice Sheet will take a look at the biggest stories in the league that happened on the ice and elsewhere the night before.

If you had to build a franchise around one of the league's young players, and it couldn't be either Sidney Crosby or Alexander Ovechkin, you would probably go with Calgary defenseman Dion Phaneuf. Rarely does a club get the chance to utilize a defenseman that is the complete package of size, toughness, grit, strength, shooting power, and offensive acumen.

Therefore, you can be sure the Flames knew they had something special in their modern day Scott Stevens-like stalwart, and they were going to do everything in their power to keep the boy around.

How about a big nice contract extension for six years at about $6.5 million per season? Yeah, that ought to do it.

I'm excited about the prospect of playing another six years in Calgary," said Phaneuf. "In fact, I never thought I would be playing anywhere else. I am proud to be a member of this organization and will continue to concentrate on the job at hand - making and advancing in the playoffs this year and for years to come."

Maybe, just this once, we'll see a smile from the guy with the perma-sourpuss on his face?Once again, it should be pointed out, we see an NHL club blow their wad and sign a very young player to a monster contract. Phaneuf hadn't even finished his first professional contract, and was a few years away from unrestricted free agency, yet the Flames felt the need to give the guy everything he could ever want.

Are teams THAT afraid of a Restricted Free Agent offer sheet from another club? How many GM's are really nutso to give up a boatload of draft picks AND insane money to sign another team's RFA? Well, besides Kevin Lowe, that is.

Why I am inclined to agree with Calgary's position in this ... Phaneuf really is the type of defenseman one might mortgage a few first round picks for. Draft picks, especially to a team that finishes with a good regular season record, are akin to a Power Ball lottery ticket. What are the chances that low first round pick would turn into a Phaneuf-like player, or even just a good player? Even if said draft pick was a decent player, the benefits wouldn't come until years down the road, given how few prospects make a positive impact right out of the gate.

----------

During the Bill Wirtz era, the Chicago Blackhawks did everything possible to alienate their legendary alumni. Despite the fact that the likes of Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull played for the Indian Heads for many years, you never saw them play any type of ambassador role for the Chi-town club.

During the Rocky Wirtz era, we're seeing many of the mistakes made by Bill Wirtz completely erased and eradicated. Home games on TV? *gasp*. Yes, and now the Hawks have been reaching old to their former stars and mending fences. Tony Esposito, the quiet brother, is the latest to be welcomed back like Kotter.

First it was Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita making peace with the Blackhawks. On Wednesday, it was Tony Esposito.

The legendary goaltender became the latest ex-Hawk to be named an official ambassador of the team since John McDonough took over as club president in November. Hull and Mikita will be honored together March 7 when the Hawks play the San Jose Sharks at the United Center, and Esposito will have his night at a March 19 game against the Washington Capitals.

''It's a great honor to be asked back into the Blackhawks family,'' Esposito, who now lives in Tampa, Fla., said in a statement released by the team. ''In my heart, I have always been and always will be a Blackhawk.''

The Hawks have a long and (mostly) storied history. Utilizing the good credit of their old stars can only give the Hawks some cheap marketing punch.

----------

Another game, another goal for Alexander Ovechkin, the dynamo who is pretty much taking the MVP race by the horns.

With the win, the Capitals are now first(!) place in the South(l)East Division. Quick, call the Vatican! I think we have a real-life miracle in the works. *gulp*

Given how the Capitals might pull off the incredible and make the playoffs, someone may want to suggest a recipe for crow pie. I get the feeling that I might be eating some :/

Back to Ovechkin, our own James "Bond" Mirtle does some number crunching, asking the simple question: Is Ovechkin's 2008 goal scoring exploits putting him among the best goal-scoring seasons of all time? Go over to his blog to find out. Be sure to ask about the free Globe and Mail coffee mugs.

----------

Gratuitous YouTube Embed: If I made as much coin as Dion Phaneuf, I'd certainly walk with a spring in my step.