Maple Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe leads the NHL in a surprising category
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Known for being tough as nails, Jake McCabe is arguably Toronto's most important defenseman, and his ranking in blocked shots is starting to show everybody why.
With Chris Tanev having been out of the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup, it's fellow defenseman Jake McCabe that has managed to step up on the Leafs blueline, and in a big way.
McCabe leads all NHLer's in blocked shots with 94, according to Moneypuck. Blocked shots are a key stat that has been a source of dominance for Tanev, who finished 6th last season.
McCabe has been one of the heaviest playing defenders in the NHL this season, having taken on a greater workload with injuries to the Leafs on defense, including to Tanev and Brandon Carlo, making McCabe not only playing more, but meant to take the role of both players defensively.
The ability to play a physical game and be relied upon for Toronto's defense, and it's been key for a Leafs roster that hasn't stuck at full health and has dealt with consistent holes.
Jake McCabe quietly takes on defensive leadership role in Toronto
With two of the Leafs top defensive defensemen in Chris Tanev and Brandon Carlo out of the lineup, Jake McCabe has been able to emerge reliably in the defensive end.
One example of McCabe effectiveness came last Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins in which McCabe had one of the more dominant performances of the season while being on the ice for five of Toronto's six goals.
Toronto's current blueline has been led currently by their more offensive-minded defensemen in Morgan Rielly and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, with McCabe leading defensively.
As the league's top blocked shots leader, McCabe isn't just playing hard in his own end, he's leading in putting his body on the line for his team and being able to break up oppositional puck movements.
The effort McCabe is playing with is a boost for a Leafs roster that is demanding from head coach Craig Berube to be more physical and engaged, and McCabe is one player executing the style of play Berube wants.
Being the rock of the Toronto Maple Leafs back-end, Jake McCabe has been the type of player that is playing the way the team is meant to be, and has stepped up as a quiet leader on the Leafs roster.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 30|1432 ANSWERS Maple Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe leads the NHL in a surprising category Are you surprised Jake McCabe is leading the NHL in blocks? | ||
| Yes | 418 | 29.2 % |
| No | 1014 | 70.8 % |
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