Maple Leafs must prioritize extending valuable defenseman Jake McCabe

For years now, the criticism of the Toronto Maple Leafs has been their inconsistency and lack of puck movers on the blue line, and this off-season, they looked to change that with the additions of Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and potentially Jani Hakanpaa. With those significant moves in the books, one reporter has now called for Brad Treliving to make another significant move and lock in Jake McCabe for the foreseeable future.

At 30-years of age, Jake McCabe had a career high with 28 points a season ago in Toronto, while also posting a +20 goal differential, becoming a key piece of a Maple Leafs blue line that went through their fair share of ups and downs.

His current deal was signed with the Chicago Blackhawks back in 2021, carrying with it a $4 million AAV (with Chicago retaining half of that in the final two years of the deal), as he heads into unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2025 unless Toronto make a move now.

According to those around the team, McCabe is beloved within the locker room too, as Elliotte Friedman reported that with the team facing a 3-1 deficit against the Boston Bruins, the veteran defenseman was one of a few to step up and lead them back to a Game 7.

It's unclear what the market for Jake McCabe will be, but with Timothy Liljegren and Oliver Ekman-Larrson making $3 million and $3.5 million respectively, that is the likely estimate for someone that will be 32 when he next hits free agency.

Right now, Daily Faceoff project McCabe to play on the third pairing with Simon Benoit, so while some would suggest paying $3-4 million AAV for a third pair defenseman isn't wise, he brings experience, leadership and a career year in 2023/24 to the table, and it's something that this team can't go without.

Source: Hockey DB
Jake McCabe stats