Bryan McCabe: Beyond the Criticism

Ever since signing his new contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Bryan McCabe has become public enemy number one with the fans and especially the media. While John Ferguson Jr. took most of the blame for the team that was assembled this year, Bryan McCabe took a lot of the blame for the Leafs' on ice performance. Many will remember the infamous October 17th edition of the Toronto Sun newspaper that had McCabe's picture on the front page with the headline reading "Brian McKlutz." Just when it looked like things couldn't get any worse for McCabe this season, he broke his left hand in three places in a 4-1 loss to the Canadiens. McCabe would ultimately miss 23 games with the injury. Many Leaf fans actually didn't mind, some even had a ridiculous idea that somehow the Leafs would be a better team with Bryan McCabe watching from home. They were wrong, very wrong. With Bryan McCabe out of the line-up this season the Leafs have a record of (7-13-3). With Bryan McCabe dressed and playing this season the Leafs have a record of (23-17-7) He doesn't look so bad now does he?