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June 28, 2006

Sportsnet.ca - Sportsnet sources have confirmed that defenceman Bryan McCabe has agreed to return to the Toronto Maple Leafs, though the contract has yet to be signed.

Furthermore, Sportsnet has learned that the Maple Leafs did not impose a deadline for Bryan McCabe to declare his intentions, other than the obvious, July 1 - the gateway for players such as McCabe to investigate free agency.

The Leafs are hosting an alumni tournament on Thursday, and there's a strong possibility the McCabe agreement will be made official at this event.

The Leafs and McCabe agreed to terms a few weeks ago on the contract, but McCabe had yet to sign it, leading to speculation that McCabe did not want to stay in Toronto because his wife wanted to move back to Long Island, where her family resides.

McCabe had his best season ever last season, with 19 goals and 49 assists in 73 games.

 

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Maple Leafs' McCabe to accept deal

TSN.ca Staff
6/28/2006 8:01:59 PM

The waiting is over for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Sources say defenceman Bryan McCabe, who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on Saturday, has informed the NHL club he is accepting the five-year deal worh $5.75 million a year that was essentially negotiated a few weeks ago.

McCabe had told the Leafs he needed some more time to settle some personal matters before making the commitment. The Leafs gave McCabe a deadline of Thursday to let them know whether he would accept the offer or not and sources says the Leafs received that commitment today.

A formal announcement is expected in the next day or two.

McCabe earned $3.458 million US last season when he was third among all NHL defencemen in goals (19) and points (68). Both were career highs.

McCabe has 95 goals and 243 assists in 781 NHL games. He previously played for the New York Islanders, who drafted him 40th overall in 1993, the Vancouver Canucks and the Chicago Blackhawks.

Chicago traded him to Toronto in October 2000 for Alexander Karpovtsev and Toronto's fourth-round choice (Vladimir Gusev) in the 2001 entry draft.

 

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McCabe finally agrees to deal

June 28, 2006

Sportsnet.ca -- Defenceman Bryan McCabe has re-signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Sportsnet confirmed.

"I'm very pleased to be continuing my career with the Leafs, and to be a member of one of hockey's most storied franchises," McCabe said. "This team has the opportunity to win, and Toronto's terrific fans make it a great place to play."

“Bryan is one of the premier defencemen in the game, and as a key member of our team keeping him in Toronto was one of our top priorities this off-season,” Ferguson said. “He also brings us valuable leadership both on and off the ice. We’re pleased that he’ll continue to be a cornerstone for our team in the future.”

The Leafs are hosting an alumni tournament on Thursday at 11 a.m., at which time both McCabe and Leafs GM John Ferguson will be available to the media and are expected to make a public announcement.

The five-year deal is believed to be worth $5.75 million per season. McCabe earned $3.458 million last season when he was third among all NHL defencemen in goals (19) and points (68). Both were career highs.

The Leafs and McCabe agreed to terms a few weeks ago on the contract, but McCabe had yet to sign it, leading to speculation that McCabe did not want to stay in Toronto because his wife wanted to move back to Long Island, where her family resides.

Sportsnet has learned that the Maple Leafs did not impose a Thursday night deadline for Bryan McCabe to declare his intentions, as was reported by other outlets, other than the obvious July 1 deadline - the gateway for players such as McCabe to investigate free agency.

 

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The waiting is over for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Defenceman Bryan McCabe has accepted the team's five-year deal worth $5.75 million a year that was essentially negotiated a few weeks ago.

"I'm very pleased to be continuing my career with the Leafs and to be a member of one of hockey's most storied franchises," McCabe said in a release. "This team has the opportunity to win, and Toronto's terrific fans make it a great place to play."

McCabe would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

He earned $3.458 million last season when he was third among all NHL defencemen in goals with 19 and points with 68. Both were career highs.

"Bryan is one of the premier defencemen in the game, and as a key member of our team keeping him in Toronto was one of our top priorities this off-season," Leafs GM John Ferguson said. "Bryan is among the most skilled players at his position in the NHL. He also brings us valuable leadership both on and off the ice. We're pleased that he'll continue to be a cornerstone for our team in the future."

McCabe had initially told the Leafs he needed some more time to settle some personal matters before making the commitment. The Leafs gave McCabe a deadline of Thursday to let them know whether he would accept the offer or not.

McCabe has 95 goals and 243 assists in 781 NHL games. He previously played for the New York Islanders, who drafted him 40th overall in 1993, the Vancouver Canucks and the Chicago Blackhawks.

Chicago traded him to Toronto in October 2000 for Alexander Karpovtsev and Toronto's fourth-round choice (Vladimir Gusev) in the 2001 entry draft.