The Maple Leafs have signed defenseman Jake McCabe to a five-year extension, the workforce announced on Monday. It retains the blue liner off subsequent summer season’s UFA market and makes him price $4.51M in opposition to the wage cap by means of the 2029-30 marketing campaign. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet experiences the overall worth of the deal is increased than the cap hit signifies as a result of deferred cash within the 2026-27 and 2027-28 campaigns. McCabe’s company, Bartlett Hockey, confirms the overall worth of the contract is $23.5M, equating to an AAV of $4.7M.
It’s hardly surprising information. Friedman reported at the start of September that McCabe and the Leafs had begun extension talks, which McCabe confirmed at the start of coaching camp. Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos added shortly earlier than the common season began that the 2 sides have been near a deal, though the ultimate contract is shorter than the six-year, $30M pact he predicted.
For the previous couple of years, Toronto has benefitted from McCabe’s companies at a bargain-bin worth. He signed a four-year, $16M contract ($4M AAV) with the Blackhawks in free company in 2021, however with the workforce squarely in a rebuild, they traded him and depth ahead Sam Lafferty to the Leafs earlier than the 2023 commerce deadline. Chicago retained half of McCabe’s wage within the deal, which means he’s price solely $2M in opposition to Toronto’s cap.
Even his full $4M cap hit would have seemingly been beneath market worth for McCabe, who’s averaged north of 20 minutes per recreation in a Maple Leafs sweater. Final season was the 31-year-old’s greatest as he posted a career-high 28 factors (8 G, 20 A) in 73 video games and a +20 score.
His possession metrics again up these numbers, portray the image of an especially priceless two-way, top-four defender. McCabe’s utilization trended towards the defensive zone at even energy, however even nonetheless, the Leafs managed 50.6 % of shot makes an attempt with him on the ice final season and 51.6 % of anticipated targets. He was additionally considered one of their most bodily concerned gamers, ending third on the workforce in blocks (129) and second in hits (219).
McCabe is off to the same begin this season. He’s averaging 21:09 per recreation, which is on tempo for a career-high whereas including three assists and a +6 score in 9 appearances. He has 17 blocks and 19 hits, rating second on the workforce in every class, and the Leafs are controlling 55.4 % of shot makes an attempt and 54.7 % of anticipated targets at even energy with him on the ice.
He’ll by no means be a major issue on the scoresheet, however he’s not an offensive legal responsibility. He could be deployed in power-play conditions if mandatory and is sweet in transition. Having him beneath contract by means of his age-36 season may very well be dicey, however for now, simply north of $4.5M is an especially reasonably priced cap hit for what his all-around recreation offers.
The Maple Leafs now have $66.23M in cap area tied up in 15 gamers for subsequent season. Assuming a projected cap improve to $92.5M, that offers them roughly $26.27M in area to fill eight roster spots, together with new offers for UFA forwards Mitch Marner and John Tavares and RFA Matthew Knies.
