Is it just me, or is Jake McCabe pretty bad?

[William Hylander]

He doesnt do anything at an above average level. I hated him in the playoffs, you'll notice him because he has no stand out qualities aside from an occasional hit. But even then he doesnt seem to do it at a level above let's say muzzin.

Does he stop zone entries effectively? Does he have a good first pass? Does he handle the offensive blue line well? Does he box out the slot and block slot passes effectively?

Answer to all of these is no, hes not a muzzin replacement.

 

[ponder]

I think McCabe is a guy who needs a “big brother” defensive partner like Jake Muzzin who can kind show him the ropes a little bit the way Muzzin showed Holl. You can see his bad team pedigree and how he’ll just start running around. He’s not good for the $4 million man that he’s paid to be. But he also can’t be beat with that 50% retention. You can’t get a better guy at $2 million or less…

I guess one question is can you package him off at some point for a team that needs cheap defense. But we get some trading chips back to do something else… if it doesn’t work out.

A trade I could see happening sometime before the deadline is:

McCabe + Domi + sweetener (2nd round pick, or Niemela, or something like that)
for
Legit 3D on an expiring contract

The idea being:

For the other team
- McCabe being signed next year at a solid price is good
- Domi can be flipped for a 2nd (as he was last deadline)
- ... and then they get another pick or prospect from us

Overall a solid return for a rental 3D.

For the Leafs
- McCabe + Domi is $5 mil AAV, so that's enough room to fit a legit 3D (with maybe minor retention by the other team)
- Domi is decently replaceable internally, by someone like Robertson or Holmberg

So overall, we could get a significant upgrade on D without having to give up anything super hard to swallow.

 

[TheOne]

I'm not willing to blame the defense until either

A one of these goalies puts up a 900 save%

B allows less than 3 goals and steals a game.

Woll wasn't terrible last night but Samsonov owes this team 2 games

Wollput up .9% last night.

 

[Stephen]

A trade I could see happening sometime before the deadline is:

McCabe + Domi + sweetener (2nd round pick, or Niemela, or something like that)
for
Legit 3D on an expiring contract

The idea being:

For the other team
- McCabe being signed next year at a solid price is good
- Domi can be flipped for a 2nd (as he was last deadline)
- ... and then they get another pick or prospect from us

Overall a solid return for a rental 3D.

For the Leafs
- McCabe + Domi is $5 mil AAV, so that's enough room to fit a legit 3D (with maybe minor retention by the other team)
- Domi is decently replaceable internally, by someone like Robertson or Holmberg

So overall, we could get a significant upgrade on D without having to give up anything super hard to swallow.

Yeah almost like reversing the McCabe and Lafferty trade and turning it into the Ekholm trade. That sort of team building direction.

Our best bet will probably be to monitor a defensively oriented Western Conference team on decline and pick them for parts when the deadline comes.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Wollput up .9% last night.

No he didn't 1 save short.

A trade I could see happening sometime before the deadline is:

McCabe + Domi + sweetener (2nd round pick, or Niemela, or something like that)
for
Legit 3D on an expiring contract

The idea being:

For the other team
- McCabe being signed next year at a solid price is good
- Domi can be flipped for a 2nd (as he was last deadline)
- ... and then they get another pick or prospect from us

Overall a solid return for a rental 3D.

For the Leafs
- McCabe + Domi is $5 mil AAV, so that's enough room to fit a legit 3D (with maybe minor retention by the other team)
- Domi is decently replaceable internally, by someone like Robertson or Holmberg

So overall, we could get a significant upgrade on D without having to give up anything super hard to swallow.

The glass man needs to prove he can stay healthy first

 

[Fogelhund]

Did I not read somewhere that Gio and Lily have not been on the ice for a goal against?

As a pairing, they have not had a goal scored against them.

Lily has been on the ice for one 5v5 goal against... and that was his fan on the pass moment... otherwise, nadda.

Gio has been on the ice for two goals against... one when paired with Rielly, one paired with Brodie.

The Brodie/Rielly pair has been excellent, and the Gio/Lilly pairing has been very good.

It's really just the McCabe/Klingberg pairing that's a mess. One goal scored for when they are on the ice, FIVE against.

No he didn't 1 save short.



The glass man needs to prove he can stay healthy first

Woll was 0.900 last game...

 

[SprDaVE]

McCabe will figure it out. I think he's trying a little too hard to get a goal that sometimes he puts himself in a terrible spot but overall he hits, he's aggressive and he can move the puck. I don't know why he doesn't get more love there. He just doesn't have a good defensive partner because Klingberg is all offense in his game and soft defensively.

McCabe just needs a different partner and I think he'll be better for it. But he also needs to keep his game more simple which is where he excels, and use his physicality to make a difference.

This team doesn't need to blow it up or make a big acquisition defensively. It just needs a shake up internally, and also some good goaltending will help as well. It'll be ok.

 

[Fogelhund]

McCabe will figure it out. I think he's trying a little too hard to get a goal that sometimes he puts himself in a terrible spot but overall he hits, he's aggressive and he can move the puck. He just doesn't have a good defensive partner because Klingberg is all offense in his game and soft defensively.

McCabe just needs a different partner and I think he'll be better for it. But he also needs to keep his game more simple, which is where he excels, and use his physicality to make a difference.

This team doesn't need to blow up or make a big acquisition defensively. It just needs a shake up, and also some good goaltending will help as well. It'll be ok.

When you look at the stats... and just the stats... possession, Corsi, shots for/against... It's hard not to think we shouldn't give. McCabe/Lilly and Gio/Klingberg a longer runway.

Defensive Pairs - Natural Stat Trick

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

As a pairing, they have not had a goal scored against them.

Lily has been on the ice for one 5v5 goal against... and that was his fan on the pass moment... otherwise, nadda.

Gio has been on the ice for two goals against... one when paired with Rielly, one paired with Brodie.

The Brodie/Rielly pair has been excellent, and the Gio/Lilly pairing has been very good.

It's really just the McCabe/Klingberg pairing that's a mess. One goal scored for when they are on the ice, FIVE against.


View attachment 754275


Woll was 0.900 last game...

Ok so they added a shot because originally Chicago was listed at 30 shots.

Still stand by #2 at some point they need a game where they don't require a minimum of at least 4 to win.

 

[Buds17]

When you look at the stats... and just the stats... possession, Corsi, shots for/against... It's hard not to think we shouldn't give. McCabe/Lilly and Gio/Klingberg a longer runway.

Defensive Pairs - Natural Stat Trick

I'd be in favour of shifting to these pairings as well for the time being. The issue here IMO may be in deciding which duo receives "2nd pairing minutes"? While my inclination would be to go with Giordano/Klingberg, that pairing also brings the possibility of stretching Giordano beyond his means.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

I don't know how anyone can watch Jake McCabe play and think "Gee, the Leafs have done a real good job assembling a Stanley Cup winning defense".

McCabe stinks.

Through three games he's been one of the worst defensemen in the league. He's a useless turd. He was a bad defenseman when they traded for him.

And he's still a bad defenseman today.

It's not like McCabe has ever been good either. He's never had a full season with above average stats. At this point it's safe to say McCabe is just another example of Dubas overrating, and overpaying for, another team's trash players.

Another bad trade added to the long list of smelly trades Dubas made during his tenure here.

It's 3 games not even 5% of the season

 

[ACC1224]

Ok so they added a shot because originally Chicago was listed at 30 shots.

Still stand by #2 at some point they need a game where they don't require a minimum of at least 4 to win.

They'll need to play much better defensively for that to occur.

 

[6ix]

I legitimately can’t think of a thing this guy does well.

Can’t finish high danger chances when he’s had them.

Horrible pinches every game.

Doesn’t really hit.

Doesn’t clear the crease.

Another Dubas dandy…

 

[AvroArrow]

Yeah he hasn’t looked that great but there is no way he’s had only 3 hits. Those stats are wildly inconsistent.

NHL still uses stone age technology to record stats. Some dude from the home team with a pencil, I've seen countless incidents, literally every game, of clear hit/shots/saves not being recorded. No clue why, maybe it has something to do with all the gambling the NHL is promoting but it's weird.

 

[TakeTheBody]

He's paid like a bottom tiered defenseman. Relax, not all of them are top level defense. Especially this team, Brad has flipped our depth. We now have most of our better players up front. He does need to make a move on the blue line, no question. Are you missing Holl?

 

[VanW27]

Like is so often the case with this defense core, it isn't that he's bad, it's that he's being asked to do more than he's suited for.

He's a quality 4, physical, decent mobility, can PK and chip in a bit offensively. But we're asking him to be a 3 that's carrying a OFD partner who roams around the defensive zone like he has no idea what position he plays.

A Lilly, Klingberg switch would be the easiest solution. Get McCabe a partner that can actually defend and Klingberg into more sheltered minutes. But it's not a great look on Brad to have his 4 million UFA signing immediately hidden on the 3rd pair, so I'd imagine they'll fight it as long as possible.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

He's paid like a bottom tiered defenseman. Relax, not all of them are top level defense. Especially this team, Brad has flipped our depth. We now have most of our better players up front. He does need to make a move on the blue line, no question. Are you missing Holl?

No he's not he's paid like a top 4 It's just that Chicago is paying half.

But he's being paid 4 million .

Also NOBODY is missing Holl.

 

[6ix]

He's paid like a bottom tiered defenseman. Relax, not all of them are top level defense. Especially this team, Brad has flipped our depth. We now have most of our better players up front. He does need to make a move on the blue line, no question. Are you missing Holl?

Doesn’t matter what he’s being paid when a 1st rounder was used to get him. Only the Foligno for a 1st was worse. That still makes me lol.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

They'll need to play much better defensively for that to occur.

Samsonov has an 839 save% that will obviously improve but 839 is not a defense problem.

839 means your goalie isn't pulling his weight, he's allowing goals that shouldn't beat him.

Samsonov NEEDS to be better.

 

[ACC1224]

Samsonov has an 839 save% that will obviously improve but 839 is not a defense problem.

839 means your goalie isn't pulling his weight, he's allowing goals that shouldn't beat him.

Samsonov NEEDS to be better.

Depends on the quality of shots. Not all shots are equal.

He does need to be better though, as well as the defense

 

[hotpaws]

Like is so often the case with this defense core, it isn't that he's bad, it's that he's being asked to do more than he's suited for.

He's a quality 4, physical, decent mobility, can PK and chip in a bit offensively. But we're asking him to be a 3 that's carrying a OFD partner who roams around the defensive zone like he has no idea what position he plays.

A Lilly, Klingberg switch would be the easiest solution. Get McCabe a partner that can actually defend and Klingberg into more sheltered minutes. But it's not a great look on Brad to have his 4 million UFA signing immediately hidden on the 3rd pair, so I'd imagine they'll fight it as long as possible.

no one's asking him to be something he isn't , there just asking him to play like Schenn did with Rielly but on the 2nd pair

also his partner isn't the problem with his play , McCabe has been bad all on his own and the problem is Dubas paid a 1st and a 2nd for what amounted to be a mediocre 3rd pairing D and a dime a dozen 4th liner which led to greater expectations

 

[VanW27]

no one's asking him to be something he isn't , there just asking him to play like Schenn did with Rielly but on the 2nd pair

also his partner isn't the problem with his play , McCabe has been bad all on his own and the problem is Dubas paid a 1st and a 2nd for what amounted to be a mediocre 3rd pairing D and a dime a dozen 4th liner which led to greater expectations

Rielly is a top end defenseman in the NHL, Schenn was asked to be a stable presence next to that.

Klingberg has been a bottom pair offensive specialist for the last 2 years and if not for his resume prior to that he'd have likly been a sub 1 million reclamation project 7th D, very well may be next offseason. It's not at all the same.

 

[hotpaws]

Rielly is a top end defenseman in the NHL, Schenn was asked to be a stable presence next to that.

Klingberg has been a bottom pair offensive specialist for the last 2 years and if not for his resume prior to that he'd have likly been a sub 1 million reclamation project 7th D, very well may be next offseason. It's not at all the same.

Klienbergs been fine overall and the situation is exactly the same since all we're asking McCabe to do is what he's supposed be which is make simple safe plays with the puck while playing sound defensively and we're asking him to do it against lesser competition than Schenn .

 

[capfit9]

I’M GENIUS, according to ME

 

[mydnyte]

it's not just you ...he looked good when he first came over, and then fell apart vs Florida and was exposed. personally, i'd try to deal him and Brodie both to teams that can uses them, and then call up CBJ and see which of their D on the block we could pry loose.
I doubt they would be interested in either Brodie (too expensive) or McCabe (not as good as the guys they are looking to trade) so, we'd need to unload them first, or look for a 3-way