Jake McCabe has remained the Leafs' defensive backbone

Jake McCabe became Toronto’s most reliable all-around defenseman after joining in 2023. He served as a defensive anchor, often tasked with limiting top opposition players, while also contributing offensively and bringing physical intensity. He excelled on the penalty kill and finished his first season of a five-year extension with a $4.5 million annual cap hit. In 80 games, he recorded five goals and 20 assists and posted a +3 rating, one of the few positive plus/minus totals on the team. Toronto’s defense struggled for much of the season, yet McCabe led Leafs skaters in average ice time at 22:24 and remained a regular on the top penalty-killing unit. His plus/minus peaked at +27 on January 10 before declining as defensive structure worsened, but staying positive reflected consistency and impact.

"Jake McCabe has firmly established himself as the Toronto Maple Leafs' best all-around defenceman since arriving in Toronto via trade in 2023. Before the acquisition of Chris Tanev, McCabe was the steady anchor holding the Leafs' blue line together defensively, often tasked with shutting down the opposition's top players night after night."

"The Wisconsin native brings far more than just defensive reliability. McCabe is capable of contributing offensively, excels on the penalty kill, and plays with the kind of physical edge Leafs fans have come to appreciate. At 32 years old, he has just completed the first season of his five-year contract extension that carries an annual cap hit of $4.5 million, a deal that already looks like strong value for Toronto."

"In 80 games, McCabe recorded five goals and 20 assists while finishing with a +3 rating, notably one of the few Leafs to end the season on the positive side of plus/minus. While plus/minus can sometimes be misleading, McCabe's result becomes far more impressive when considering the circumstances. Toronto struggled defensively for large portions of the season, yet McCabe still managed to stay above water while leading all Leafs skaters in average ice time at 22:24 per game."

"Earlier in the season, McCabe was among the NHL's leaders in plus/minus, sitting at an impressive +27 on January 10. As the team's defensive structure deteriorated in the second half, his numbers inevitably dipped as well. Even so, maintaining a positive rating under those conditions speaks volumes about his consistency and defensive impact."

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