Key Player's Miraculous Return to Practice Brings Good News for Leafs

During last Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe ended up taking a puck to the neck in a scary scene that led him to leave the game.

Craig Berube was hopeful and luckily it seems it was nothing serious, as McCabe found himself back on the ice for practice Tuesday, a huge return for Toronto's improved defense.

The return of McCabe will be huge as he's been part of Toronto's elite defense alongside his pairing with Chris Tanev. The veteran Tanev has turned McCabe into a stout fearless defender who has no issues stepping in front of a shot.

McCabe has also been decent offensively chipping in 5 assists and being a big part of Toronto's offense by keeping the puck in the zone, and making sure the pressure stays on.

McCabe was acquired by the Maple Leafs from the Chicago Blackhawks in 2023 along with Sam Lafferty for a package that included prospects Joey Anderson and Pavel Gogolev. It's a trade that Toronto undoubtedly has won so far into McCabe's tenure.

For his career, McCabe has 157 points in 600 games spent with Buffalo, Chicago and Toronto and averages 138 blocks per season for his career an often overlooked stat that helps teams immensely.

McCabe's return will be great for a Toronto team looking to pounce on a struggling Nashville team that is currently 7-12-6 and sits 30th in the NHL even after a huge free agency spree that saw them sign Steven Stamkos, Brady Skjei, and Johnathan Marchessault.

In closing, Jake McCabe's return to practice after a scary incident is huge sigh of relief for both the Maple Leafs and their fans. McCabe is a big part of Toronto's success and it's hard to imagine where the team would be without him.