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By Ray Slover

updated 9:19 p.m. ET July 7, 2008

Ray Slover

Oh, to be a fly on the wall in Cliff Fletcher's office.

In addition to all the standard machinations of being boss of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Fletcher is dealing with a flurry of rumors regarding defensemen.

Will the Leafs pursue a deal for Mathieu Schneider, who appears to be the odd man out in the Anaheim Ducks' defense corps?

Will the Leafs trade Pavel Kubina?

And what in the world will happen with Bryan McCabe?

Given the flood of defensemen on the Leafs roster now -- is the count really nine? -- and hefty price tags for Kubina and McCabe, Fletcher will have to do something to thin the ranks. He wants to carry seven.

And Kubina and McCabe don't figure in the mix -- if Fletcher can find buyers.

McCabe in particular is a flashpoint for the Leafs. Fletcher & Co. reportedly asked him to waive his no-movement clause back around the draft. He refused. And now there's talk the Leafs might tell him to stay home if they can't peddle him -- and convince him to OK the deal -- before training camp begins.

That's a lead balloon for the NHL Players' Association. In an online column this week, Howard Berger of Toronto Radio Fan 590 addressed the growing conflict between McCabe and the Leafs. In an interview with Berger, NHLPA exec Glenn Healy draws the proverbial line in the ice.

"I think this situation can be resolved amicably, and there is plenty of time for that to happen," Healy told Berger. "The Leafs have a summer to look at all the options and come up with a solution that is viable to both sides. They do not have the right to destroy Bryan McCabe's career. They gave him as restrictive a contract as there is in the NHL today. If they want to go to the most extreme of situations and tell him they will pay him to stay at home, the artillery will be released from our end. The P.A. will back Bryan to the grave, I guarantee it."

McCabe could be more receptive to a deal. One need only point to Dan Boyle's situation with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning, right or wrong, decided they had to move him. So, he said OK and was on his way to San Jose. The scenario is similar to that of the Leafs and McCabe.

Trouble is, McCabe has three years left on his deal at $5.75 million per year in cap hit. The actual cash out is $6.15 million next season and $4.15 million in the final two seasons of the five-year, $29 million contract he signed on June 29, 2006. There are teams that could swallow that pill, but might hesitate because McCabe has value on offense but is considered a liability on defense.

Here's another problem: McCabe's no-movement clause means he cannot be traded, waived for a claim by another team or assigned to the minors without his consent. The clause does not protect him from a buyout.

And unlike Boyle, McCabe isn't drawing trade interest. At least six teams reportedly were on the hunt for Boyle, who turns 32 on July 12. McCabe, 33, is cheaper but not as enticing -- even though he would be a top-four defenseman on just about any team.

McCabe has a signing bonus due on Sept. 15. Teams are more likely to come calling once the Leafs shell out that $2 million wad.

Kubina, by the way, has two years left at $5 million per in cap hit. He won't be an easy sell, either. The Leafs are not eager to peddle him and get little in return. It's likely the same story with McCabe.

McCabe and Kubina are among eight defensemen now on the books, along with Tomas Kaberle (an untouchable All-Star), Anton Stralman, Jeff Finger, Staffan Kronwall, Carlo Colaiacovo and Ian White. The Leafs also are negotiating with Jonas Frogren, Stralman's defense partner on the Swedish national team. And then there's the Schneider rumor and any prospects coming up through the Leafs organization.

Something's gotta give. Will it be McCabe or Fletcher? For his sake, McCabe should relent and go somewhere he will be appreciated. Better still, he should, like Boyle, take a deal with a team that is close to winning.

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