Post by Rayven on Apr 27, 2007 0:59:13 GMT -5
www.islesinfo.com/Rumors.html
April 25, 2007: The first rumor of the offseason has generated some discussion across the net, and it is a very interesting one. Elliot Friedman, a columnist for the CBC in Canada, suggested in an article recently that the Toronto Maple Leafs should consider a move of D Bryan McCabe back to Long Island in exchange for enigmatic C Alexei Yashin. In order for this to happen, McCabe would have to waive a no trade clause in his contract. Both players have four years remaining on their current contracts.
Here is the excerpt of the Friedman article:
"All right... Here’s where it gets interesting. I am convinced Bryan McCabe didn’t want to come back to Toronto. His wife is from Long Island, and went through a life-threatening childbirth last year. It’s perfectly understandable that after something like that, the family wanted to stay closer to her home. I get the sense that McCabe kept asking for things he never thought he’d get, like five years, $5.75 million a season, a no-trade, then a no-move.
Somewhere, he figured the franchise would say no. But the reply was “yes, yes, yes,” and suddenly, he wasn’t getting a better deal anywhere else.
If I was Ferguson, I would go to McCabe and say, “If we can get you to the Islanders, will you go?” (Somehow, I figure the answer would be yes.) Then, I would go to Garth Snow and say, “Garth, you’ve got Alexei Yashin for four more years and almost $30 million. Your coach hates him, your players hate him, I bet even you hate him. You guys can’t afford that. I’ll take him off your hands if you take McCabe off mine.” (I figure Snow would also say yes.)
Now, this is what the Leafs do with Yashin: They toss him in the minors. (He does not have a no-trade clause.) Yes, you’d still have to pay him all of his money, but if there’s one team that can afford a $7 million minor-leaguer, it’s the Marlies. Maybe someone might even buy tickets to see him. The key part of this: he wouldn’t count against the NHL cap. Suddenly they would have an extra $5.75 million a year of McCabe money that they were locked into for the next four seasons.
Suddenly, a team strangled by bad contracts – Raycroft, Kubina, McCabe – has some breathing room and flexibility. That is what the Maple Leafs need now."
A Look at the Two Contracts:
Bryan McCabe: has four years remaining on a contract that will see him earn $5.75 million a season. He currently has a no-trade clause and a no-waiver clause. Contract ends in 2011. It was originally a 5 year deal worth $28.75 million. He has $23 million remaining on the contract. He will turn 32 this summer.
Alexei Yashin: has four years remaining on a contract that will see him count for about $6.8 million off the salary cap annually. Contract ends in 2011. It was originally a 10 year deal worth $89 million. He has about $30 million remaining on the contract. Yashin does not have a no-trade clause and does not have a no-waiver clause. He will turn 34 early in the 2007-08 season.
islesinfo.com comment: There have been some rumors that this deal has actually been discussed. But I wouldn't hold out on it actually coming true. I'm assuming McCabe's no-waiver clause means he cannot be sent to the minors, which is why he suggests acquiring Yashin. According to the new CBA, any player who signs a contract under the age of 35 can be sent to the minors and his contract will not count against the salary cap. This has never really been an option to the Islanders, since owner Charles Wang keeps a tight personal cap for the Islanders, so it wouldn't be like all of a sudden Wang would spend that $7 million on somebody else just because that money is freed off the cap.
But for the Leafs, money may not be an object. Basically they could send Yashin to the AHL's Marlies and pretty much write that money off, never looking back.
It's a bit confusing because you see how players fight so hard to avoid the two-way contract. Take Sean Bergenheim for instance. He was cast off to Europe this season because he wouldn't accept the Islanders two way contract offer. But the fact of the matter is, even if he signed a one way deal with the Islanders, that's just monetary. He STILL could be sent to Bridgeport. The likelihood of that happening though is slim because of the guaranteed money the Islanders would be paying him. It just gives observers on first glance the belief these players can't be demoted, when actually they can if the team is willing, or rich enough to do it.
But there are always unique situation, and this Yashin/McCabe one is one of them. Normally, you would think there would be a lot to lose for Toronto GM John Ferguson, Jr. to make this type of deal. Acquiring Yashin could be something easily viewed as a GM begging to get himself axed. Especially if McCabe comes to the Islanders, performs well, and Yashin either struggles or is in the minors. But if they decided to use that money elsewhere Ferguson could avoid a backlash.
In the end, it would be a good deal for the Islanders. Though it's certainly not a slam dunk. McCabe is making not much less than some of the elite defensemen in the NHL. Is he in that class? It's debatable. But imagine a power play combination of Marc-Andre Bergeron and McCabe. What goaltender is going to stop those Bombs? You are probably talking top five power play with those two manning the back line. Plus McCabe would be happy considering his wife is from Long Island. Toronto could decide to test Yashin on the wing with Mats Sundin and see what happens. If it doesn't work out, they can free up cap space by sending him down and hope to acquire someone at the trade deadline.
Personally, I would do the deal. But still, I can't see it happening. Just too much red tape. I'm just not so sure Toronto would consider this move as much as their media, and the Islanders would like them to.
April 25, 2007: The first rumor of the offseason has generated some discussion across the net, and it is a very interesting one. Elliot Friedman, a columnist for the CBC in Canada, suggested in an article recently that the Toronto Maple Leafs should consider a move of D Bryan McCabe back to Long Island in exchange for enigmatic C Alexei Yashin. In order for this to happen, McCabe would have to waive a no trade clause in his contract. Both players have four years remaining on their current contracts.
Here is the excerpt of the Friedman article:
"All right... Here’s where it gets interesting. I am convinced Bryan McCabe didn’t want to come back to Toronto. His wife is from Long Island, and went through a life-threatening childbirth last year. It’s perfectly understandable that after something like that, the family wanted to stay closer to her home. I get the sense that McCabe kept asking for things he never thought he’d get, like five years, $5.75 million a season, a no-trade, then a no-move.
Somewhere, he figured the franchise would say no. But the reply was “yes, yes, yes,” and suddenly, he wasn’t getting a better deal anywhere else.
If I was Ferguson, I would go to McCabe and say, “If we can get you to the Islanders, will you go?” (Somehow, I figure the answer would be yes.) Then, I would go to Garth Snow and say, “Garth, you’ve got Alexei Yashin for four more years and almost $30 million. Your coach hates him, your players hate him, I bet even you hate him. You guys can’t afford that. I’ll take him off your hands if you take McCabe off mine.” (I figure Snow would also say yes.)
Now, this is what the Leafs do with Yashin: They toss him in the minors. (He does not have a no-trade clause.) Yes, you’d still have to pay him all of his money, but if there’s one team that can afford a $7 million minor-leaguer, it’s the Marlies. Maybe someone might even buy tickets to see him. The key part of this: he wouldn’t count against the NHL cap. Suddenly they would have an extra $5.75 million a year of McCabe money that they were locked into for the next four seasons.
Suddenly, a team strangled by bad contracts – Raycroft, Kubina, McCabe – has some breathing room and flexibility. That is what the Maple Leafs need now."
A Look at the Two Contracts:
Bryan McCabe: has four years remaining on a contract that will see him earn $5.75 million a season. He currently has a no-trade clause and a no-waiver clause. Contract ends in 2011. It was originally a 5 year deal worth $28.75 million. He has $23 million remaining on the contract. He will turn 32 this summer.
Alexei Yashin: has four years remaining on a contract that will see him count for about $6.8 million off the salary cap annually. Contract ends in 2011. It was originally a 10 year deal worth $89 million. He has about $30 million remaining on the contract. Yashin does not have a no-trade clause and does not have a no-waiver clause. He will turn 34 early in the 2007-08 season.
islesinfo.com comment: There have been some rumors that this deal has actually been discussed. But I wouldn't hold out on it actually coming true. I'm assuming McCabe's no-waiver clause means he cannot be sent to the minors, which is why he suggests acquiring Yashin. According to the new CBA, any player who signs a contract under the age of 35 can be sent to the minors and his contract will not count against the salary cap. This has never really been an option to the Islanders, since owner Charles Wang keeps a tight personal cap for the Islanders, so it wouldn't be like all of a sudden Wang would spend that $7 million on somebody else just because that money is freed off the cap.
But for the Leafs, money may not be an object. Basically they could send Yashin to the AHL's Marlies and pretty much write that money off, never looking back.
It's a bit confusing because you see how players fight so hard to avoid the two-way contract. Take Sean Bergenheim for instance. He was cast off to Europe this season because he wouldn't accept the Islanders two way contract offer. But the fact of the matter is, even if he signed a one way deal with the Islanders, that's just monetary. He STILL could be sent to Bridgeport. The likelihood of that happening though is slim because of the guaranteed money the Islanders would be paying him. It just gives observers on first glance the belief these players can't be demoted, when actually they can if the team is willing, or rich enough to do it.
But there are always unique situation, and this Yashin/McCabe one is one of them. Normally, you would think there would be a lot to lose for Toronto GM John Ferguson, Jr. to make this type of deal. Acquiring Yashin could be something easily viewed as a GM begging to get himself axed. Especially if McCabe comes to the Islanders, performs well, and Yashin either struggles or is in the minors. But if they decided to use that money elsewhere Ferguson could avoid a backlash.
In the end, it would be a good deal for the Islanders. Though it's certainly not a slam dunk. McCabe is making not much less than some of the elite defensemen in the NHL. Is he in that class? It's debatable. But imagine a power play combination of Marc-Andre Bergeron and McCabe. What goaltender is going to stop those Bombs? You are probably talking top five power play with those two manning the back line. Plus McCabe would be happy considering his wife is from Long Island. Toronto could decide to test Yashin on the wing with Mats Sundin and see what happens. If it doesn't work out, they can free up cap space by sending him down and hope to acquire someone at the trade deadline.
Personally, I would do the deal. But still, I can't see it happening. Just too much red tape. I'm just not so sure Toronto would consider this move as much as their media, and the Islanders would like them to.