Hockey Trade Rumors

Every one in their right mind in Leaftown was filled with the feeling of regret this past summer when Fergy Jr. (I hate JFJ, it is too comparable to a person which he does not deserve to be classed with, I’ll forget this within the week) but he may not last long.

Consider this…

…McCabe is eating a HUGE chunk of the salary CAP and is a total defensive liability. Kubina who was brought in to mirror McCabe’s output as best he could on the 2PP, is languishing with minimal production without serious PP time. Both eat 5 million of the CAP.

But I have heard and read, many times, from Hockey Pundits that Kubina would perform with Kaberle and there is a huge desire on part of both friends to play on line together.

Yes this would break up one of the most successful PP duos in the league, but that be a plus or a minus. Toronto survives on the PP alone, and that won’t last. It is argued that Kubina may be able to produce just as well as McCabe. Maybe better, maybe worse. But here is a difference, Kubina is not a total defensive liability and McCabe is. So, while he may not produce as much offense, he certainly provides at least some defence, and is also far less penalty prone. Yes it can be argued that McCabe’s penalties ‘help’ the team and are to stop ‘scoring attempts’, but that seems to be the only thing he can do to play defensively, cheat, and take a penalty.

Now that debate being what it is, this is why I think McCabe would be the one to go. Kubina’s salary does not match his production, and never will until he gets some reall PP time, and that can’t happen with McCabe. So, they probably couldn’t trade him if they wanted, save for some devine intervention. If Kubina can produce, then you don’t want to get rid o f him anyway. Now Kubina does not have a no-trade clause, but his current under-production and salary effectively creates one. McCabe has a well publicized no-trade claus, and most people think that that is where the argument ends. BUT, it is nearly as well publicized in the FISHBOWL that is Toronto, that McCabes wife wanted to, and nearly had him sign with the Islanders. And it was widely suspected he might sign there this summer, or accept a trade to there in the future. He did not sign I suspect, because he did not see the Isles going anywhere. But here is the sad truth, the Isles are going somewhere fast, and a lot faster than the leafs.

Trading McCabe to the Isles, is the best possible scenario I can see happening. First, it is a trade that would be supported by his wife. Second, he moves to a ‘better’ team which should make him happy, if he truly cares about winning and not money. Third, he has huge job security, as not only guarenteed by his contract, but the well stated fact that the Isles owner likes longterm contracts. He can’t really lose, unless the team suddenly implodes, which is highly unlikely.

Now this serves, the leafs hugely as well. The one argument against this Idea, would be that he would be going to a conference rival. Fine. At least he is gone, and then we can use his penalty proneness against him. Now we are out from under a ‘unmoveable’ contract to a liability player, leaving us with a suitable replacement to fill his place, whom, if he produces, could be moved in the future if so desired.

Now the Isles sit somwhere around the 41 Million mark against the CAP, not including bonuses. So It goes without saying that T.O. would need to take something back in return.

It has been reported that the Isles are looking for some Offensive help, and took a pass on Bondra, but McCabe could be at least part of that answer.

In return, Toronto could accept an number of higher paid underachievers from the Isles roster, to make up the difference, so long as they are not locked into longterm contracts. Miroslav Satan, is one answer, making roughly 4.5 and really underproducing in Long Island. He could also be that elusive winger to play with Sundin, whom a leafs trade is intended to free up space for. Or Toronto could try to land Brendan Witt, who they eyed in the summer as well, and could be that solid defensive answer the leafs are missing. Other Notables would be Zhitnik, York, Chris Simon, Poti, Hunter, Bates, or any number of them that would match CAP requirements.

The Bottom line is the Isles are a great suitor for the leafs to dump McCabe, and it very well could save Fergy Jr.’s job if he could undo the blunder of a deal he made when he re-signed McCabe to such a stupid, nonsensical, nowhere-near-business-savvy-deal.

Toronto should accept whatever short-term garbage they can to make this trade happen. And in doing so, maybe missing the playoffs, tanking the season, and going for the draft pick they should have gone for last year.

It is time for a major shake-up, in the big-move Brian Burke style.

The trick is getting the Fishermen to take the BAIT.