For the last little while, when I have been reading newspapers such as the Toronto Star, sports columnists who have been giving their predictions about the Leafs' roster for next season tend to leave out Bryan McCabe, placing him on the 'reserve' list.
Personally, I feel that this is entirely unwarranted.
McCabe has consistently been an offensive force during his time with the Leafs, regardless of what anybody has to say on the situation.
Since his acquirement by the Leafs in October 2000, McCabe has had 3 seasons with over 50 points, and has had 4 seasons with at least 15 goals. And anybody can agree that for a defenceman, these are more than respectable numbers.
Indeed, the 2007-2008 NHL season was a struggle for McCabe, both offensively and defensively, but when one considers the play of the team overall, it is easy to see that this lack of production is not necessarily his fault.
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With a team playing barely .500 hockey, it is nearly impossible to perform up to your true potential.
Just look at Jason Blake for example, Blake is an excellent offensive talent. However with a team that cannot produce offensively, it is hard to for an individual player to be successful.
Saying this, I do not agree with the contract that McCabe was given in 2006. I believe that a 5-year contract worth approximately $29 million is too much money for a player such as McCabe, regardless of what kind of season he had just come off of.
As good of a defenceman as McCabe is, he is no Chris Pronger or Nick Lidstrom. Furthermore, the fact that he was given a no-movement clause in his contract is absolutely ridiculous. I am not a fan of the the no-trade clause, and a no-movement clause makes even less sense.
Even though his contract is what I would consider to be an overpayment, the Leafs are left with only 3 options when it comes to Bryan McCabe. The first option, is to buy out his contract. However with such a large contract to begin with, it will still hurt the Leafs' cap space to a significant degree.
The second option is to find a suitable trade for the D-man. However with his no-movement clause, would McCabe ever choose to leave Toronto at all?
The third option, and the one I believe to be the most suitable for the situation, is to let McCabe play, and see if he can improve upon the lackluster season he had last year.
Regardless of the fact that last year was a bad year for him, McCabe is a good defenceman that can be a useful member of the Leafs next season. I firmly believe that given the opportunity, McCabe will return to the kind of defenceman he has been in years past.
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about 1 month ago
Bryan McCabe: Can He Still Be Useful to The Toronto Maple Leafs?
Sure he can!
If the guy that wears the Leafs' mascot costume "Carlton" the bear ever needs a night off, MLSE can get McCabe to wear the costume. At least Bryan will be doing SOMETHING good for the team!
about 1 month ago
McCabe, had a very good season defensively last year.
Of course he will be an asset to the leafs this season.
To think otherwise is just foolish.
The crap stirred by the press in Toronto is just that crap.
He was offered a no trade contract and signed it.
Christ I wish people would blame the correct person on this no trade issue.
MLSE and JFJ were the ones making these offers.
So go string them up not the players who negotiated a good deal.
about 1 month ago
The media in Toronto wanted him McCabe out so the Leafs could purchase another new toy. You give a no movement you have to deal with the ramifications or buy out the player, not bully him in the media for wanting to stick to his contract.
Jason Blake's shot total was not down with the Leafs last year from his final year in New York but here they needed him to carry the puck and work it into the zone, with Toronto it was a different story and that's why his numbers declined.
He was never going to fit any club's offense as well as New York. Yashin was also on a big run before he got hurt that year and got Blake the puck where he needs it most off right wing with his left handed shot.
about 1 month ago
Bryan McCabe and the Maple Leafs - Can this relationship work? Good Question! If, "BIG IF" Bryan were to return to the quality of play that he had before he signed the big money, no movement clause contract, I think most people, including Leaf fans including myself, would agree that he would be an asset.
However, since MLSE feel he was and is a part of the attitude problem that turned into the "Muskoka Five" uprising, it would be embarrassing for them to make a 180 reversal and welcome him back as a part of this team after the stance that has been taken.
As in any relationship dispute, things have been said that won't quickly be forgotten regardless of what Bryan's agent says. I think Bryan could get back to the level he was at before the big contract but not as a Maple Leaf. Just how important is the money to Bryan and therein lies the problem.
The suites in MLSE have made things look to the Leaf fans and media, let's not forget the media, that Bryan's hockey career is just about money and not about the team. I think Bryan's future as a hockey player will have to be with another team as the stench of this situation will linger as long as he is in Toronto.
Just how important is the money, Bryan?
from about 1 month ago
Unfortunately for the Leafs, McCabe has some physical skill but he is lacking a more important asset, the asset that sets premier players apart from average. His is not a smart player. His point totals have gone down not just because of poor team play but also because he uses basically the same play all the time. The other teams are aware and take the one-timer slapshot lane away. Just like in baseball when they figure out a batters weakness the batter has to learn to hit the pitch or his numbers slide. McCabe hasn't adjusted. In terms of team he showed he wasn't quite with it when he stated last season that the Leafs were only one or two players away from being a good team. Not an astute obsevation, unless he was talking about players like Crosby and Malkin. And finally his defensive lapses speak for themselves, and do not indicate smarts. I would suggest that McCabe himself may have wanted to go to a new team but thought he would be handed several million dollars and then would be able to pick his own team. RL.
about 1 month ago
The leafs and John Ferguson jR gave McCabe the contract ? Am I missing something here? Leaf fans and MLSE loved McCabe before he signed a contract MLSE approved of ? Leaf fans should stop listening to the media and start thinking for themselves!! leaf fans should ask the question,if we were offered 7.5 million a season with a no-movement clause would you take it? of course leaf fans would take it !!! leaf fans would'nt say to MLSE "NO I'LL TAKE 5 MILLION I'M NOT WORTRH 7.5 " so it comes down to the fact is McCabe a good defenceman "YES " Quit blaming the players for the contracts they got,start blaming the people who gave them !!!!!!!
about 1 month ago
Yeah McCabe has made some bone head moves but hes not that bad. I like McCabe, I see the guy make great defensive plays all the time. But some knob decided to give him an outrageous contract. Thats the problem with the leafs; stupid contracts!
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