Bryan McCabe Deal on the Table for Maple Leafs?

Cliff Fletcher and the Maple Leafs have been on Bryan McCabe since the NHL Entry Draft, to try and add him to the list of Leaf vets that have been kicked off the team. However with McCabe holding strong by not waiving his trade clause, it began to look very unlikely the he would be starting the season with anyone but Toronto. But recent reports are that the D-man has reconsidered his outlook on the situation and may decide to waive the no trade clause if he feels a deal may be the right fit for him.

After the McCabe camp had announced his decision to possibly waive his no trade clause, GM’s around the league have been calling the Leafs about his services. Teams interested in McCabe are rumoured to be Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Montreal, Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Florida.

Apparently one of the six teams showing interest has already put an offer on the table to the Maple Leafs GM Cliff Fletcher to add the veteran Defenseman to their squad for next season. With the Maple Leafs desperately looking to move Bryan out of town, why hasn’t the deal already gone through, who is the team, and what does the deal include for the Maple Leafs?

Well those answers have not come out yet, however the reason believed to be why the deal has not been accepted yet could be one of two things. The first reason could be Bryan does not feel that the team would be a good fit for him and would rather be traded elsewhere, perhaps to more of a contender (Ottawa, Montreal, Pittsburgh or even Tampa) or closer to home(Ottawa, Montreal, Pittsburgh). If it is this reason in which McCabe is unhappy with the deal and is holding off on it, you would have to think the offer would not be from Ottawa, Montreal, or Pittsburgh considering that all three are the biggest contenders from the list and are closer to home. So you would think the team with an offer on the table would be either Florida, Tampa, or Atlanta.

The other reason in which the deal reportedly on the table has not gone through may be because the Leafs themselves believe that they could get more for McCabes services else where, and do not believe it is in the best interest for the team. This is a less likely scenario seeing as the Leafs are very eager to move him and his 6.15 Million dollar cap hit next year, and have also stated that they don’t believe that Bryan will be considered as a must have and don’t expect too much in return for him. If this is the case, expect to see McCabe on his way within the next week, once the Leafs find out if or if they can’t get a better deal on the table.

The only question left answered is what is included in the deal, and i don’t believe that will be answered until or if a trade has been announced. I believe that only three teams of the six are possible suitors for the big D-mans services. Those being the Penguins, Canadiens and the Senators. McCabe’s value has decreased significantly after last season, so Leafs Nation better not be expecting someone big in return because your only setting yourself up for more disappointment.

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