Leafs decline and McCabe is not worth a third round pick

I don't think he has played on the right side in the nhl so I am not sure if he can handle it or not. The Sabres are thin on the left side for this year they have a couple of prospects that are close but I don't think they plan on using either of them playing big minutes in the NHL this year. If they were to move him I think it would be for someone up front maybe Kerfoot would be close in value

Did you happen to read the description?

Thanks for the feedback!

McCabe's easily worth a 3rd. Very under-rated for what he does. Tops in blocked shots and other possession metrics for Sabres D

McCabe has only played on the left. Good trade idea but Sabres probably decline only because they presently have only 2 left D who can play in the NHL. McCabe and Dahlin. Bryson is close in Rochester but needs another year. McCabe is the type of Dman the Leafs could use though; kind of like Muzzin but less skilled offensively. Makes gigantic hits from time to time.

Appreciate the feedback. I understand the Sabres would decline the trade listed above; I wasn't actually suggesting that. This was just to find out if he could play on the right (because I agree with you, he would be useful to the Leafs) and what a potential trade could look like if so.

Brandon Montour's available. Plays the right side.

Oh, I've heard lol. Not a fan of that fit with the Leafs or the number that he's likely about to sign for.

Dude we don't need him. Lehtonen is a good stop-gap, and then after next year Liljegren and Sandin will be ready for 20+ minutes a night. The only reason we pick up a RHD this offseason is if it's someone who will seriously tip the scales.

Wouldn't be so sure that those 2 Swedes starting playing 20+ miniutes a night. Sandin maybe. Liljegren hasn't proven much.

There is so much conjecture here.

Lehtonen has never played a game in North America. There is no guarantee with him, though I think it's likely he's at least solid.

Liljegren was barely ready for 10mins a night this season. Why should we assume he's ready for 20 in not much more than a calendar year? Sandin as well. He performed much better than Liljegren and is for sure an NHL'er, but to just bank on the idea that he'll be ready for 20mins a night playing top 4 on his offside at the age of 21/22 is ridiculous.

That 'only reason' mentality is absurd. There can be a multitude of benefits and drawbacks to any move a team makes and, had McCabe been able to play on the right, acquiring him could have proved to be a favorable move for the Leafs (depending on the cost, of course).

0 interest in moving McCabe, especially for a 3rd to a rival

Good thing I didn't suggest that then

You skipped over the important part

No, what I'm saying is by 2021-2022 we won't need McCabe. For next year we do the same thing we did this year (we were a top-5 team winwise when Rielly was healthy under Keefe) and by then Sandin will definitely be ready, and hopefully so will Liljegren,

He's a rental, so we wouldn't have had him by 2021-22 anyways unless they chose to re-sign him - which I will touch on later.

Going to be tough to do the same thing next year. Barrie will be gone and they'll have an untested guy in his place. They could definitely use more help/depth.

And again, you're banking on the notion that two young guys will be ready for top 4, 20min roles, one of which will be playing his offside... that's optimistic to say the least.

I am also an optimist however, and I hope that Sandin and Liljegren will be ready for those roles by season after next. I'm just not willing to be unprepared for the worst, though. Hence why I was inquiring about McCabe. Had he been able to play the right and be had for a decent cost, I think he would've been a good trade target. The idea was that he'd have lower value trade wise because he's a rental, and wouldn't interfere with their plans for the expansion draft (Seattle wouldn't take a soon to be UFA). And if it didn't seem like Sandin/Liljegren would be ready for that role after next season, they could try to re-sign McCabe after the ED.

It all seems a moot point though, because it's been pointed out that he's never played the right side.