THN: Leafs in conversations with Jake McCabe about an extension.

[Cap'n Flavour]

Funny enough, Zadorov's 5M salary is #64 in the league for defencemen (tied with Samuel Girard). So it's borderline #2/3 money. Personally, I'm not that fond of McCabe or really any of our defensemen but here we are.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

I know McCabe is at least half decent because I don't often find myself swearing at the tv at him.

I like McCabe too. But I don't like him $5M much. Not even $4M much.

Even though somebody will probably give him that.

Is McCabe really a top four defensemen in the league. He's never made any top one hundred list that I've ever seen. I suppose he could be one of the remaining twenty eight players left.

Just because I don't think he's all that good doesn't mean he actually isn't.

Clearly he's established a following among a large portion of the greatest fan base in the world. He plays a rugged style and doesn't screw up a whole lot. I just don't know if being not bad is good enough.

Is he really worth $5M and a top four role on a cup contending team.

 

[Nineteen67]

I know McCabe is at least half decent because I don't often find myself swearing at the tv at him.

I like McCabe too. But I don't like him $5M much. Not even $4M much.

Even though somebody will probably give him that.

Is McCabe really one of the top sixty four defensemen in the league. He's never made any top fifty list that I've ever seen. I suppose he could be one of the remaining fourteen players left.

Just because I don't think he's all that good doesn't mean he actually isn't.

Clearly he's established a following among a large portion of the greatest fan base in the world. He plays a rugged style and doesn't screw up a whole lot. I just don't know if being not bad is good enough.

Is he really worth $5M and a top four role on a cup contending team.

He’s making 4 mill now. I doubt he takes a pay cut.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

He’s making 4 mill now. I doubt he takes a pay cut.

But he's only been costing $2M for the Leafs and at that price he's absolutely worth keeping.

I don't see any opportunity for exceeding the cap hit at $4M-$5M. With the Leafs top heavy cap structure they need value contracts for those middle of the roster guys. McCabe is a good player so I'm sure someone will give him a long term retirement deal.

And if recent history is any indication that someone will likely be Treliving.

 

[SHANNYPLAN]

McCabe was our #2 last year behind Rielly and has been our second most important addition to the blue line in the Matthews era behind Jake Muzzin.

Brodie made $5,000,000/year and Muzzin made $5,625,000/year (both in their 30's).

McCabe at $5,000,000 to $5,350,000 would be fair for both sides.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

McCabe was our #2 last year behind Rielly and has been our second most important addition to the blue line in the Matthews era behind Jake Muzzin.

Brodie made $5,000,000/year and Muzzin made $5,625,000/year (both in their 30's).

McCabe at $5,000,000 to $5,350,000 would be fair for both sides.

I think it's more a conviction of the Leafs defense last year that McCabe was number two than a good faith showing of his actual place on a cup contending team.

 

[TMLAM34]

McCabe is easily a 3/4 on any team. 5 million for that alone is worth it the way the NHL is going and defencemen getting paid. Then you throw in the fact he can play both sides effectively and his hard nose approach to the game. I’m not complaining at 5 million.

 

[Roo]

McCabe was our #2 last year behind Rielly and has been our second most important addition to the blue line in the Matthews era behind Jake Muzzin.

Brodie made $5,000,000/year and Muzzin made $5,625,000/year (both in their 30's).

McCabe at $5,000,000 to $5,350,000 would be fair for both sides.

Completely agree, but it is the term that could be the concern. He is about to turn 31, so he will be 32 at the start of next season when this extension kicks in.

 

[Dreakmur]

McCabe was our #2 last year behind Rielly and has been our second most important addition to the blue line in the Matthews era behind Jake Muzzin.

Brodie made $5,000,000/year and Muzzin made $5,625,000/year (both in their 30's).

McCabe at $5,000,000 to $5,350,000 would be fair for both sides.

Both Muzzin and Brodie fell apart at age 32. McCabe will be 32 before this contract extension kicks in.

 

[therealkoho]

For the right price and term absolutely……..

The concensus among the media seems to be a "McCabe" type deal 5.75AAV but 6yrs

I like him but I'd be a lot more comfortable if the contract was scaled as such that it could be bought out reasonably in the 5th and/or 6th year and give him a 14 team LTC as a trade off for the out.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Our LTIR defensemen gonna be able to take group vacations in 5 years.

 

[Menzinger]

Both Muzzin and Brodie fell apart at age 32. McCabe will be 32 before this contract extension kicks in.

Though what happened to some players has no bearing on what will happen to another. Tanev just had one of stronger years of his career and he's 34.

 

[1specter]

Both Muzzin and Brodie fell apart at age 32. McCabe will be 32 before this contract extension kicks in.

Those guys had a lot of miles on them, especially Muzzin with multiple deep playoff runs and playing a very physical style since his LA days, and racking up some serious concussions. Not to mention when he came here he was basically carrying all the hard match-ups because we had nobody else. Brodie also has extenuating circumstances such as the recent passing of his father, his wife's ongoing MS complications etc which likely compounded a bad year for him last year. Brodie also had already played 9 NHL seasons BEFORE coming to Toronto (with pretty much top pairing usage the entire time), whereas McCabe just completed his 10th season.

 

[Dreakmur]

Those guys had a lot of miles on them, especially Muzzin with multiple deep playoff runs and playing a very physical style since his LA days, and racking up some serious concussions. Not to mention when he came here he was basically carrying all the hard match-ups because we had nobody else. Brodie also has extenuating circumstances such as the recent passing of his father, his wife's ongoing MS complications etc which likely compounded a bad year for him last year. Brodie also had already played 9 NHL seasons BEFORE coming to Toronto (with pretty much top pairing usage the entire time), whereas McCabe just completed his 10th season.

There's a reason McCabe has played fewer games.... he hasn't been able to establish himself as a legitimate top-4 defenseman until last year. I think it's dangerous to bet that last year is the new normal for McCabe instead of an aberration.

 

[1specter]

There's a reason McCabe has played fewer games.... he hasn't been able to establish himself as a legitimate top-4 defenseman until last year. I think it's dangerous to bet that last year is the new normal for McCabe instead of an aberration.

Strange comment, he broke into the league a bit later than the other two, so what? He still has ~10 seasons under his belt lol

 

[Dreakmur]

Strange comment, he broke into the league a bit later than the other two, so what? He still has ~10 seasons under his belt lol

10 seasons of not being a legit top-4 defenseman….

 

[Martin Skoula]

Hindsight is 20/20 I know but dealing McCabe to a cap strapped contender at 50% for a 1st + small add at the draft and signing Zadorov for the same money would have looked nice compared to having a 38 year old McCabe on the books.

Solberg-Danford in the system without downgrading the roster or cap structure would have been a good start to hedging our bets on going all-in on this window.

 

[rumman]

Though what happened to some players has no bearing on what will happen to another. Tanev just had one of stronger years of his career and he's 34.

So don’t use other players as a comparable and then use Tanev as a comparable, priceless………

 

[Menzinger]

So don’t use other players as a comparable and then use Tanev as a comparable, priceless………

The point is if you diversify the comparison, you won't get the same conclusion

Not that hard to grasp

 

[hockeywiz542]

NHL Rumors: The Latest on Jake McCabe and Toronto Maple Leafs

Defenseman Jake McCabe is a pending UFA, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are interested in re-signing the soon to be 31-year-old.

nhlrumors.com

Published on 10/08/2024

The Toronto Maple Leafs have several players worth watching this season. Players like Mitch Marner and John Tavares will steal the headlines with contract discussions.

However, the Maple Leafs have revamped their defense, and there is a player they would like to keep around who they acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks back in 2023, defenseman Jake McCabe.

TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston joined Toronto Radio on Monday and was asked about the status of contract negotiations between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Jake McCabe. Johnston responded that it was status quo, but both parties wanted to get a deal done.

** NHLRumors.com Transcriptions

Bryan Hayes: “What do you hear on Jake McCabe and the Leafs and his contract status moving forward?”

Chris Johnston: “Well, certainly there’s been a fair bit of discussion there about extending him. I mean, I don’t know that it needs to happen today, tomorrow, the next day. You know, he’s still got one more year until he’s unrestricted."

"But you know, he’s a player they like, and I think there’s some potential danger with that contract, just because of his age and some of the others they have with players, they don’t want to go necessarily, too long. And so it’s about finding the sweet spot."

"But you know, last I heard, it didn’t sound like there was a massive gap, or anything like that, between what the Leafs were thinking and you know what might work for Jake McCabe. And so I would say, I guess stay tuned on that one."

"But you know, certainly he wants to stay, and they want to keep him. And usually, when you have that kind of approach to negotiations, and you’ve got a pretty long runway here, I mean, it would totally natural to assume they’re going to be able to figure out.”

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

Absolute insanity to invest in a guy like this at this age. He doesn't even have a history here that maybe you have a soft spot for. LA had the foresight to move on from Muzzin, meanwhile the Care Bear Club is going to bend over for Jake McCabe.

 

[hamzarocks]

The leafs are the anti-vegas

Zero cut-throat approach, no advance planning and long-term roster building

MCabe getting 5-6M for ages 32-37
Tanev getting 6 years 4.5M for ages 35-40
OEL getting 3.5M for 35-38 age

We just sign our guy and don't look at shrewed deals before hand or alternate options.

These three deals have huge fail potential.

We should have been aggresive and sold on McCabe looking to acquire a younger player of a similar mould or signing a younger player in F/A this summer

We have Danford as our only NHL potential D-prospect but he is 3+ years away likely.

I would have liked to not get Tanev and instead bring Pesce, Roy or Walker and then trade for another D-man like Wil Borgen (give him 5 years 5M as hes only 27/28)

 

[therealkoho]

Geez do you

Somebody in 2024 unironically attempting to use +/- to put down one of our best defensemen is hilarious.

Remember when plus minus was king, the end all and be all, the big enchilada? Good times!

Leafs Central was quite the fun place

Chychrun was absolute trash on the sens, He has a good shot but he is a major reason why his team is always poor defending.
I am still shocked at how bad he was last year.

That blueline was continually hurt

 

[sena]

Geez do you

Remember when plus minus was king, the end all and be all, the big enchilada? Good times!

Leafs Central was quite the fun place


That blueline was continually hurt

I find + - to be far more important that people think. The top teams almost always lead in + and the best teams best players are heavy plus players. I do not think that it should be ignored

 

[mjd1001]

I find + - to be far more important that people think. The top teams almost always lead in + and the best teams best players are heavy plus players. I do not think that it should be ignored

I agree.

Is it the 'end all be all' as others are saying? No. If you want to use it as the only way, or even the PRIMARY way, to evaluate a player its not worth it.

But, when you use is as 'part of the picture' it is very much a good tool.
Disregarding it as a primary tool to evaluate a player does not mean you should disregard it as a smaller, but still valuable, statistic.