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.”