Bryan McCabe's trip to Sweden has ended on a sour note. The Maple Leafs' second all-star team defenceman left the HV-71 team in Jonkoping yesterday, prior to being listed as a healthy scratch in a game against Sodertalje.

"That was part of the reason I left," McCabe confirmed last night upon arriving back at his off-season home in Long Island. "I didn't go all the way over there to sit or to be made an example of because we're losing."

McCabe would have come home this Saturday anyway, after HV-71 played the IMG Worldstars and begun its Christmas break. But adjustment difficulties with the 2003 Swedish Elite League champions and the overall style of play had led to a management decision to bench McCabe yesterday. He had one goal and 30 minutes in 10 games and was minus-12, while the team remained mired near the bottom of the standings. HV-71, which had lost nine of its 10 games since McCabe arrived, defeated Sodertalje 3-0 yesterday.

"They wanted me to stay around a week and practice before the IMG game, but I wanted to come home and see my wife," McCabe said. "There was a disagreement about that."

Dag Larsson, manager of sports for HV-71, told Swedish reporters that McCabe was not in breach of contract for bolting early. It's unclear if McCabe will return to Sweden after Christmas if the National Hockey League season is cancelled.

"I haven't made that decision yet," McCabe said. "On the whole it was a good experience. I missed playing the game and they gave me the chance to get back."

McCabe had gone to HV-71 in a package deal with former Leaf teammate Anders Eriksson, who remains with the team.

McCabe, the Leafs' NHL Players Association rep, will have lots to keep him occupied in the next week as the collective bargaining talks reach the critical stage.

"We're pretty interested in what the owners will come back with on Tuesday," McCabe said. "We've offered them (a 24% rollback), something very significant."