McCabe Resigns

[Eazy_b97 1]

I remember the 04 playoffs w/ McCabe...It was like Tom Poti on drugs

Do you remember the '04 playoffs or do you remember the 2 games against Philly? There is a difference. First series him and Leetch were playing great, I believe near the top of the league in scoring (for the playoffs). Second series Hitch broke down Quinn and that ate up the pairing. Even then it was more in Philly than Toronto, where the Leafs didn't play well overall.

[gavin 0]

Maybe I'm watching a different game but McCabe is the best of the top defenceman available for the Leafs, salary aside.  When you look at the fact that the way Chara was exposed against Buffalo, Redden is always on the ice when they get eliminated, Jovonovski is no better than McCabe and Blake is too old.

If you're saying that Jovo had anything to do with Vancouver getting eliminated (I mean not making it) this year, think again. Vancouver is always eliminated or fails to make it in spite of Jovonovski.

I think it is because his nickname is 'Special Ed'.

:D

[Eazy_b97 1]

Then I don't really think you were watching the games that closely. I'm not even a big McCabe fan to be honest. He did have a good series vs. the Sens though. Better than Chara and Redden at least. Played top minuted and helped shutdown the Sens along with Belfour. I still would have preferred them to look elsewhere for another D, but he hasn't been brutal in all of the playoffs. It was the second year in a row Hitch broke down Toronto's top pairing and ate Quinn alive in the process.

[theone96 0]

The Leafs did what they always do, they overpaid for potential. McCabe can grow to become a better player, but since he makes so many mistakes he could fall off too. He is a good defenseman but not in the top 5-10 in the NHL, but he is paid like he his.

[Perry94 0]

The Leafs did what they always do, they overpaid for potential. McCabe can grow to become a better player, but since he makes so many mistakes he could fall off too. He is a good defenseman but not in the top 5-10 in the NHL, but he is paid like he his.

what are you talking about? the leafs don't pay for potential, they pay for people who are going downhill, and they're damn good at it

signing McCabe was one of the rare good signings they made

[theone96 0]

The Leafs did what they always do, they overpaid for potential.  McCabe can grow to become a better player, but since he makes so many mistakes he could fall off too.  He is a good defenseman but not in the top 5-10 in the NHL, but he is paid like he his.

what are you talking about? the leafs don't pay for potential, they pay for people who are going downhill, and they're damn good at it

signing McCabe was one of the rare good signings they made

That is kinda what I meant, they overpay their own guys thinking that they will get better and then wait forever, of course it does not happen (ie. Antropov). Of course everyone knows about how oldtimers come to TO to finish their careers.

In the second half of the yr the other teams figured out the one timer play and McCabe was no longer an offensive thread.

Lets not even talk about how he was so lost at the olympics.

While the Leafs may be a better team with McCabe (cuz they got no other D-men, other than Kabrele), they still over paid him.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Antropov was an RFA and has been through all of his contracts. He didn't get anymore of a raise than was necessary from the CBA's.

Theo- I was thinking more about the "Leetch had a bum ankle and could do very little defensively and any good McCabe had done was quickly crossed out as he made mistakes of unethical poportions during some games."

I know you saw Leetch in his prime, and he isn't at that level, but he was still very good here, at both ends. He couldn't contain Primeau, but what dumbass put him up against him? McCabe won't be a top 5 paid D-man at the end of the year. Pronger, and Niedermayer are already ahead. Jovo, Redden, Chara will also all get more. Blake has a shot too, but he's a fair chunk older. I expect by the 2-3 year mark of the deal his salary will be even further down the chart.

[cassius 0]

Way too much money for McCabe.

He is good offensively, but he doesn't deserve 5m a year for 5 years.

[Neal 41]

I wonder if D are going to be paid more than forwards under the new cap? A top quality D who can play major minutes has more influence on the outcome of a game than the equivalent forward, just because the D is on the ice more and has the puck in your own end more. A D is going to have the puck in more situations that can cost your team than a forward, so I guess I'd rather have my D be of the best quality I can get and then underpay a little for my forwards.

Of course this assumes you've to goaltending...