McCabe out 6-8 weeks

[UNC Tar Heel Fan]

This has got to be a big blow to the Leafs as McCabe is out:

MONTREAL - Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Paul Maurice already had plenty of reasons to be angry after watching two and a half periods of listless play from his team, but his mood really soured after watching his top minute-munching defenceman go down for at least the next six to eight weeks.

Bryan McCabe suffered three broken bones in his left hand when he was thrown into the boards by Montreal's Andrei Kostitsyn in the third period of Toronto's 4-1 loss Saturday to the Canadiens at the Bell Centre.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=225315&hubname=

[MAS]

I don't care what anyone says, this is going to hurt the team.

McCabe has been eating about half a game and has been very solid of late. Its gonna be hard to replace him

[Crowned]

McCabe has played rather well lately, it's a big loss.

[The-Insider]

This team has played themselves right back into the thick of the hunt for a playoff berth with some good hockey. In any case, McCabe was putting in long minutes of solid defensive hockey.

Last year we got I think 32 games with our top 6 intact (probably zero where they were all truly healthy. Almost half way through the year and we've yet to see all 6 together.

Howard Berger is reporting, " Staffan Kronwall -- is ironically also out with a broken hand."

I guess the Leafs are calling up Stralman if Carlo Colaiacovo is not ready yet.

[Tor-Rap-Tor]

Ya Stralman is the likely player to be called up but Walser may be also a good candidate...

[Snayr]

Does anyone know what Maurice was complaining about last night? Sounded to me like he was complaining about the hit on McCabe? It wasn't even a big hit, just awkward. Perhaps he's just frustrated *shrugs*

[Tor-Rap-Tor]

Does anyone know what Maurice was complaining about last night? Sounded to me like he was complaining about the hit on McCabe? It wasn't even a big hit, just awkward. Perhaps he's just frustrated *shrugs*

I think he was complaining that there wasn't a penalty called because Andrei Kostitsyn had a free hand on McCabe's shoulder and interfered with him by pulling him and making him fall awkwardly into the boards and then right after that we were scored on, while McCabe was writhing in pain on the ice...

I have seen penalties called for a lot less...

[Snayr]

I also saw a lot go without being called last night. Refs were brutal... Kostitsyn barely touched him though... Was a fluke break. Nadda you can do about it. Tough break for you guys.

[bryant08]

Ya Stralman is the likely player to be called up but Walser may be also a good candidate...

Walser won't be called up at any point this season unless the entire defense goes down. With the Marlies, he's basically their version of McCabe, but he plays a worse defensive game, and doesn't have what it takes on the back end to play in the NHL. He's got a bomb from the point, and knows how to play the PP, but not much else. Stralman is a smooth skater with the puck, can play the PP, and has some defensive ability. His only negative is his physicality. Beggars can't be choosers though. Stralman will eventually develop into a top 4 d-man for sure IMO. I wrote a piece for www.hockeyleaks.com, where I found bits and pieces that compared his game to Lidstrom's.

[Tor-Rap-Tor]

-= original quote snipped =-
Walser won't be called up at any point this season unless the entire defense goes down. With the Marlies, he's basically their version of McCabe, but he plays a worse defensive game, and doesn't have what it takes on the back end to play in the NHL. He's got a bomb from the point, and knows how to play the PP, but not much else. Stralman is a smooth skater with the puck, can play the PP, and has some defensive ability. His only negative is his physicality. Beggars can't be choosers though. Stralman will eventually develop into a top 4 d-man for sure IMO. I wrote a piece for www.hockeyleaks.com, where I found bits and pieces that compared his game to Lidstrom's.

I agree, Stralman appears to be the real deal but comparing him to Lidstrom, is maybe going a little far, if he is as good as Kaberle or even close, he will have been a great pick for us and as far as Walser goes, I only mentioned him because of his booming shot from the point and in limited playing time, on the power play, he may have been effective but I agree Stralman is the best choice and I think he will be a good one in time and could see him soon taking White's place on D and bumping Colaiacovo to the third paring...

Kaberle-McCabe
Stralman-Kubina
Colaiacovo-Gill