Do Leafs fans even like McCabe?

Question

McCabe was a great scoring defenseman, but starting from his overtime goal against Toskala last year vs. the Sabers, he has slid down hill. Now, he wants his signing bonus before he goes to Florida. I have my own opinions, but I want to know…

2005-2006 73 Games Played 68 Points

2006-2007: 82 Games Played 57 Points

2007-2008: 54 Games Played 23 Points

Do Leafs fans like McCabe?

Also, I understand that he was injured around January, but it still doesn’t explain his MAJOR downfall.

Answer 1

As a person, McCabe is rather colourful, seems to have a good sense of humour and is quick with his one liners. He seems to be a good guy.

On the ice, he sometimes has a bit of trouble living up to the pressure of playing in Toronto. Notice his numbers were a lot better when his icetime and paycheque were a lot lower. Most Leaf fans base their loyalty on yesterday's game, if it wasn't good they'll let you know. When they do, McCabe seems to tighten up and will compound his mistakes. So everything seems to snowball for him.

If Florida is indeed his destination, I think things should work out well for him playing with a lot less pressure, albeit without the recognition he enjoys in Toronto. In all likeliness, if McCabe, Chris Bosh and Roy Halliday were in the same restaraunt in Toronto at the same time, CB4 and Doc would be able to have a nice quiet dinner while McCabe would be constantly signing autographs and answering questions.

To answer your question, do Leaf fans like him? I guess it's a love/hate thing based on last night's game.

Answer 2

Ha Ha @ not even McCabe likes McCabe. I am  a Leafs fan and I am tired of him and Sundin.

Answer 3

Do those points include scoring on his own net and give aways at the point?If not,jack them up another 10.

Answer 4

nope they hate him lol he scores on his own net

Answer 5

they liked him befor he signed that big deal but this past year he made us loose two game against sabres and canadians so what is there to like about him and also all leafs fan i think would take kaberle over mccabe any day

Answer 6

I used to work with a guy, a good friend actually, who was a big Leafs' fan. Everytime McCabe's name was mentioned he would grab his head and groan. Don't know which was funnier, the fact that I was hanging with a Leafs' fan or his hystronics. lol

Answer 7

He is not a horrible defenseman, but he is directionally challenged. He forgets where his own net is . I really do not want him on the Panthers. But maybe a change of scenery will help him get his bearings and figure out what net he needs to shoot on. I am not sure if Leaf Fans like him or not. I am sure they want to strangle him sometimes. I am sure his teammates do also.  

Answer 8

McCabe used to be my favourite player behind Sundin.  Now, all I can think of when I hear his name is how he scored on his own net, how his defensive play is horrendous, and how his monstrous salary is killing the Leafs.  

Is McCabe an ok defensman? Yes he is.  Is he worth almost 6 mil and 30 minutes of ice time a night? h**l no!  

The only thing McCabe ever had going for him was his offensive play.  He can't play defensively.  And since his offensive game has disappeared, what are we paying him for?

And I have lost absolutely all respect for McCabe with how he's refusing to leave T.O.

McCabe needs a change of scenery.  

Answer 9

when i hear McCabe's name, this is what comes to mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMWLFca67...

Answer 10

Well my cousin's a Leafs fan and McCabe's one of his favorite players. Although living in Western NY he doesn't see alot of Leafs gms outside of Leafs/Sabres and gms on Versus or HNIC.  

Answer 11

If ever a guy needed to get out of town, it's McCabe.  He may well be a nice guy who's polite to old ladies and dogs.

With that being said, he's been found out.  He scored a bunch of points in the season post-lockout on point shots before teams figured out to put someone up on him.  

Beyond that, he's too slow.  His game was effective pre-lockout, but with the emphasis on speed, the faster game got beyond him and he began to turn the puck over.

If he were making $1.5mm per season, you could justify that salary for a 2nd/3rd line defenceman.  At over $6mm, no chance.  The salary cap simply doesn't allow you to keep a guy like that.  

The Leafs have to get young, and fast.  McCabe is neither.  I wish him well in Florida if that's the deal.  

Answer 12

I am a Leaf fan and I like Bryan McCabe. During the lockout, Bryan was the Leafs Union Rep and took some heat for that. He has played injured the last two years.

The Leafs players, dubbed the Muskoka five by the media, who refused to waive their no trade contracts during the attempted yard sale last year took a lot of bad press from the fat and balding denizens of the gondola. Bryan was the hardest hit of the five. He missed a third of the season with injuries but still finished in the top 100 scoring defensemen in the league. At his rate of scoring he would have finished top 50, if he had played 80 games.

When both Toskala and McCabe were healthy Leafs played at a rate that would have put them into the playoffs.

So why do the wise hate him?

The signing bonus is owed him. Florida won't pay it if Toronto keeps him until September 1st. Not McCabe's call at all.

The drop off is due to a full drop off in Leaf's scoring over the past two years. Most of Bryan's scoring in 05-06 & 06-07 was on the power play.Leaf's power play numbers as a whole collapsed in 07-08. Not due to Bryan but due to lack of production from Tucker, Blake, Kilgour, etc.

No more Allison and O'Neil also had an effect as the Leafs went from a high scoring team to a more defensive team.

Good luck to Bryan in Florida. Lots of fun with Wade and Bryan.  

Answer 13

Yes, I like McCabe.

He is one of my favourite defenseman....I know, laugh if you must.

I think McCabe is a good defenseman. You have to remember, if a player makes it to the NHL, they must be talented in some way.

Also, I think the media exposes his mistakes too much and only sticks in them making him seem like a mistake-prone player; which, yes, he is sometimes, but doesnt every player make mistakes?

McCabe also does make a lot of good plays, which don't get that noticed because the media(in Toronto, atleast) only waits for his mistakes. They scrutinize him endlessly.

I think McCabe is a worthy defenseman to have on any team despite his mistakes.

Answer 14

Nobody likes Bryan McCabe. Not even Bryan McCabe.

Answer 15

Please , did you see the guy embarrass his self and Canada trying to play international hockey. Did you know during the lockout he went to play in Europe and was a bench-warmer? Sure he'd be a great 3rd maybe, maybe second liner but that's it. His salary hurts the team.