The Hockey Herald

by Patrick Storto

Ever since signing his new contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Bryan McCabe has become public enemy number one with the fans and especially the media. While John Ferguson Jr. took most of the blame for the team that was assembled this year, Bryan McCabe took a lot of the blame for the Leafs’ on ice performance. Many will remember the infamous October 17th edition of the Toronto Sun newspaper that had McCabe’s picture on the front page with the headline reading “Brian McKlutz.”

Just when it looked like things couldn’t get any worse for McCabe this season, he broke his left hand in three places in a 4-1 loss to the Canadiens. McCabe would ultimately miss 23 games with the injury.

Many Leaf fans actually didn’t mind, some even had a ridiculous idea that somehow the Leafs would be a better team with Bryan McCabe watching from home. They were wrong, very wrong.

With Bryan McCabe out of the line-up this season the Leafs have a record of (7-13-3).

With Bryan McCabe dressed and playing this season the Leafs have a record of (23-17-7)

He doesn’t look so bad now does he?

That’s because McCabe is not a bad player or defender by any means. He is the villain because of his salary, but people know it sounds better when they criticize his play. But it’s not so much the money that McCabe brings home that upsets fans, it’s the amount his contract reduces the team’s spending capabilities that upsets them.

McCabe is not the bad guy here. The market for defenders is going up at a steady rate and by the time McCabe’s contract expires it will likely be a third of what defenders are making.

He is one of the best players in the league when it comes to playing the point and any NHL team would love to add him to their powerplay. The Leafs powerplay has suffered this season and it mainly has to do with the fact that McCabe missed 23 games. It is obvious that McCabe is not playing at 100% right now, as he hasn’t really been able to put a whole lot of power into his shot lately. His goal the other night was a shot that wasn’t even directed at the net, but a lucky deflection had McCabe his first goal in 24 games.

This just goes to show what type of player Bryan McCabe really is. He is not willing to sit out games even when he is injured, especially when he knows he can still help out. McCabe’s passion for the game is rivaled by only Sundin and Tucker when it comes to the Maple Leafs. He wears his heart on his sleeve every game. Whether it’s a loss or a win, McCabe is always the first one out to answer questions and he accepts the criticism when it comes his way….and it comes often.

McCabe made an early comeback and sacrificed his health to help out the team. The Leafs in turn request for him to accept a trade, and was the only one of five players on the team with a NTC who gave the team some options. Again he puts the team first and will obviously do anything necessary to help the Maple Leafs.

If Sundin decides not to return for another season with the Leafs, Bryan McCabe has my vote to be the next captain.

Related posts:

1. McCabe Plans To Stay In Toronto
2. McCabe could have surgery on left hand
3. Bryan Mccabe broken wrist – out 6-8 weeks
4. Devils shelve the Leafs for a second straight year
5. McCabe and his wife want to stay