Well, it was only a matter of time, but word is out tonight that Bryan McCabe is providing the buds with a list of teams he would be willing to go to. Of course the PA has gotten involved and threatened all kinds of action in the event there was any coersion on the part of the.

McCabe’s agent, little Goodenow (Ian Pulver) is of course saying there is a chance that McCabe could be back with the TML.

Lets hope cooler heads prevail in this matter. Lets also hope that it wasn’t Cliff opening his trap and letting the cat out of the bag that this was happening which will in turn blow the whole thing.

Unlike how has said Cliff has blown this, Cliff appears to be doing it right:

“That’s controlled by Bryan,” Fletcher said. “I’m not going to start talking to teams until he tells me what teams he is willing to go to.”

Here is the quote from the pa too:

“We will certainly not sit idly by if the Maple Leafs take a position which is unreasonable and unfair to Bryan McCabe,” NHLPA executive director Paul Kelly said on Frirday. “In our view, telling him not to show up and stay home, we would view that as utterly unreasonable …. we would undoubtedly file a grievance and pursue that one aggressively on behalf of Bryan.”

The really good news is that Cliff is realistic on the return:

“Fletcher does not expect to get much value back in return for a defenceman who scored five goals and 23 points in 54 games last season.

“With him dictating where he wants to go, probably not much,” said Fletcher. “We will probably have to take back a matching contract and some players in the deal.”

you can read the whole article here

DARREN DREGER, the newest insider is reporting this afternoon that in their latest discussions with Bryan McCabe, leaf management have given the impression that if McCabe doesn’t agree to waive his no trade clause, then McCabe will be told to stay home.

A history bufff I am not, but has this ever happened before where a player with a no trade clause, won’t waive it and the team then refuses to play him? I would love to hear of a similar story.

Dreger (hey, whatever happened to Bob Mckenzie?) states that the McCabe camp would file a grievance with the players union. I would love to see this play out (pun intended). There is no way any judge would force a team to play a player. I can’t imagine anything happening to them as long as he is being paid. McCabe’s damages would be clear, he is not able to continue playing so to further his career/skills once his contract expires. However, one can’t force one to work, and conversely I can’t imagine you can force a team to play a player. What a slippery slope that would start…

I for one don’t understand why McCabe would want to stay here. The fans and media are all over the guy. The team is going to be rightfully blown up in favor of a youth movement and to top it all off, he isn’t from here. All else being equal why not tell the Leafs the teams he would accept a trade to and get on with your life.

McCabe earned (thanks to JFJ) a no movement clause (and I can’t imagine one ever being “earned” in Toronto again for more then 1 yr”) and he has the right to do with it as he pleases. Sounds to me like he is getting bad advice form Goodenow’s bitter little buddy, his agent Ian Pulver.