Jake McCabe Opens Up On Why He Decided to Stick around in Toronto For the Foreseeable Future
Photo credit: Marc DesRosiers - USA Today Sports
Maple Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe has officially opened up on why he opted to re-up in Toronto for 5 more seasons.
Ahead of Monday's all-Canadian affair between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Winnipeg Jets, the organization re-upped Jake McCabe to a five-year extension worth $23.5 million. The deal was structured in a way where they deferred some money, which brought down his AAV to a respectable $4.51 million.
McCabe's extension was on the forefront of Brad Treliving's mind since before the season started. While Mitch Marner and John Tavares will control the media attention regarding their expiring contracts, McCabe's contract was just as important and maybe even more so, as the blueline has been something that has been an issue in Toronto for several seasons before this one.
McCabe has helped solidify the back-end, which has generally been a problem over the last several seasons. Acquired ahead of the trade deadline in early 2023, the Maple Leafs struck a deal with the Chicago Blackhawks acquiring the gritty defenseman, forward Sam Lafferty, and 2 conditional fifth round picks for package of picks and prospects.
McCabe spent the first 8 years of his career in Buffalo before a quick pit stop in Chicago that then led him to Toronto. A big reason for why McCabe wanted to get a deal done was stability for him and his family:
"It's really exciting for me and my family," McCabe shared Monday after the team's morning skate. "We've loved our time in Toronto thus far, and to be able to sign for another five years is super exciting for us. Having a young family, stability was really important to me," McCabe said. "I didn't want to have my kids moving around a bunch later in my career to who knows what situation."
Since his arrival, the defensive defenseman has scored 9 goals and 36 points in 103 games in parts of 3 seasons while carrying a plus-38 rating, 182 blocked shots, and 279 hits all while averaging 20:27 TOI. His purpose on the team is not lost on his teammates or his new head coach, Craig Berube, who was quoted as saying:
"I think it's great. He's a team-first guy, a hard defender, hard to play against. He's the type of D-man you want in your hockey team."
The 31-year-old defenseman has found a new home in Toronto and will look to do whatever he can for his team to make the playoffs, get past the first round, and hopefully hoist Lord Stanley's Cup come June.
Previously on MapleLeafsDaily
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 29 | 2042 ANSWERS Jake McCabe Opens Up On Why He Decided to Stick around in Toronto For the Foreseeable Future Which Maple Leafs' contract is the best bang for it's buck? | ||
| Jake McCabe | 645 | 31.6 % |
| Max Domi | 552 | 27 % |
| Chris Tanev | 600 | 29.4 % |
| Other | 245 | 12 % |
| List of polls | ||
MUST READ
TRENDING NOW
