Jake McCabe has been everything — and more — for the Maple Leafs since he joined the organization just over a year ago.
The 30-year-old has arguably been one of Toronto’s most important defensemen this season. He’s appeared in 73 of 81 games this season, averages over 20 minutes of ice, and has the second-most hits on the team (219), behind fellow defender Simon Benoit.
To say McCabe’s face has taken a beating would be quite an understatement. In February, there were countless moments when the defender was exiting the ice with his face in pain, whether from a hit, a blocked shot, or a high stick.
The same happened on Saturday night against the Detroit Red Wings when the defenseman blocked a slap shot with his face. After staying down for a moment, he immediately went to the Maple Leafs dressing room with his face dripping blood.
Whenever Toronto’s players are asked about McCabe, they immediately highlight the defender’s strong grit
“[McCabe’s] pretty tough. Have you seen his face lately?” Benoit said with a smile on Tuesday. “He’s a good guy too. He’s really tough. He likes to play hard. And he plays that type of game that not many players play anymore, so having him around is really nice.”
When McCabe’s face continued to take a beating in February, Ryan Reaves told him that once they got through the month, March would be smooth sailing. Little did the both of them know that Saturday would be the worst.
“[I wasn’t] anticipating April coming in hot, and man, his face is taking a beating, but he’s a warrior,” Reaves added on Monday. “That’s why he plays good minutes for us.”
Toronto has one more game remaining against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night, which will wrap up their regular season. The team will return home before heading back over the border for a first-round playoff matchup against the Boston Bruins.
They’re a team that McCabe has gotten to know very well this season.
The defenseman’s game is what defines playoff hockey. You need players to do whatever it takes to win games, and McCabe, according to another tough player in Reaves, has the toughness and strong play needed to have success in the postseason.
The 37-year-old enforcer says the defender means “everything” to the Maple Leafs.
“He plays in every situation. He blocks pucks, he blocks them with his face, he goes and gets zipped back up and comes right back on the ice and does it again. He can play on the power play. He’s been one of our best defensemen all year at five-on-five, so just all around, very underrated defenseman in this league, I think.”
cf1808c0-6a82-4298-9049-3eb2eae105b0
Related
‘We Have 12 Healthy Forwards’: Will Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews Be In The Lineup Against Lightning For Final Chance at a 70-Goal Season?
‘It’ll Be A Real Test And We Have To Be Prepared’: Maple Leafs to Meet Bruins in the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs After Loss to Panthers
‘Hopefully He Gets It, I Prefer It Wasn’t Tonight: Panthers Look to Stop Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews From Reaching 70 Goals Against Them
News from THN.com
Buffalo Sabres Fire Coach Don Granato: Three Potential Replacements
Oilers’ Jack Campbell Has Found Peace in the AHL
With Five Days Left in the NHL Regular Season, There’s Plenty to Play For
News Related-
The best Walmart Cyber Monday deals 2023
-
Jordan Poole took time to showboat and got his shot blocked into the stratosphere
-
The Top Canadian REITs to Buy in November 2023
-
OpenAI’s board might have been dysfunctional–but they made the right choice. Their defeat shows that in the battle between AI profits and ethics, it’s no contest
-
Russia-Ukraine Drone Warfare Rages With Dozens Headed for Moscow, Amid Deadly Winter Storm
-
Trump tells appeals court that threats to judge and clerk in NY civil fraud trial do not justify gag order
-
Can Anyone Take Paxlovid for Covid? Doctors Explain.
-
Google this week will begin deleting inactive accounts. Here's how to save yours.
-
How John Tortorella's Culture Extends from the Philadelphia Flyers to the AHL Phantoms
-
Tri-Cities' hatcheries report best Coho return in years
-
Wild release Dean Evason of head coaching duties
-
Air New Zealand’s Cyber Monday Sale Has the 'Lowest Fares of 2023' to Auckland, Sydney, and More
-
NDP tells Liberals to sweeten the deal if pharmacare legislation is delayed
-
'1,000 contacts with a club': Tiger Woods breaks down his typical tournament prep to college kids in fascinating video