Maple Leafs Defenseman to Have Breakout Season?
The Leafs secured Jake McCabe just days ahead of the last trade deadline.
"We've acquired Jake McCabe, Sam Lafferty, a conditional 5th round pick in 2024, and a conditional 5th round pick in 2025 from Chicago in exchange for a conditional 2025 1st round pick, 2026 2nd round pick, Joey Anderson, and Pavel Gogolev"
Recent developments suggest that McCabe might be gearing up for a career-best season.
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Is This McCabe's Breakout Season?
Projections indicate that Jake McCabe may be headed for the most fruitful season of his professional life.
As he gears up for his inaugural full season in a Leafs jersey, expectations are high for him.
Teaming up with exceptional offensive players should offer him ample opportunities to leave his mark on the game.
"When he joined the miserable Blackhawks, his numbers took a dive, as expected, but before that, he was a legitimate two-way force with a strong defensive profile.
A full offseason/season with the Leafs staff should get him back to that level, all for $2M for the next two seasons."
A full offseason/season with the Leafs staff should get him back to that level, all for $2M for the next two seasons."
McCabe's Career So Far
At 29, McCabe was originally drafted 44th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2012. Throughout his career, the defenseman has participated in 504 games, amassing 124 points for the Sabres, Blackhawks, and now the Maple Leafs.
In his career, he played 11 playoff games, exclusively with the Leafs. While he only managed two assists against both the Lightning and the Panthers, his contribution was pivotal to the Leafs' initial playoff round success.
While he's more of a defensive player, scoring isn't his strongest suit.
Having blocked 151 shots in 76 games, McCabe finished the season 21st in the league in this specific category.
It's clear that effective shot-blocking is a critical factor for playoff success.
With two years remaining on his four-year contract, carrying a $4M AAV (with 50% retained by the Blackhawks), McCabe is well-positioned to have a great year in Toronto.
As seen on Hockey Patrol - Maple Leafs Defenseman Will Prove Doubters Wrong This Season
| POLL | ||
2 SEPTEMBRE | 50 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Defenseman to Have Breakout Season? Do you think McCabe will score 30 points or more next season? | ||
| Yes | 29 | 58 % |
| No | 21 | 42 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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