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Signing Jack McCabe is one of the worst things the Toronto Maple Leafs could do

The Toronto Maple Leafs don't need to commit to any more elderly players

By James Tanner

Apr 30, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe (22) and Boston Bruins center Charlie Coyle (13) battle in front of goaltender Joseph Woll (60) during the third period in game five of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
Apr 30, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe (22) and Boston Bruins center Charlie Coyle (13) battle in front of goaltender Joseph Woll (60) during the third period in game five of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images / Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
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A smart, creative team would trade Jack McCabe, not re-sign him, but is there any indication that the Toronto Maple Leafs are a smart and creative team?

I think that door shut in May of 2023, so I'm not holding my breath, but the Toronto Maple Leafs should really think long and hard before they commit to another elderly defenseman.

In this week's 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman mentioned that the Leafs might be working on a McCabe extension. This is one of his worst ideas.

This would be a terribly misguided idea.

Signing Jack McCabe is one of the worst things the Toronto Maple Leafs could do

McCabe will turn 31 this season, and when you consider that the Leafs already have longterm committments to Rielly (same age as McCabe), Tanev (34) and Ekman-Larsson (33) it shouldn't take much to convince you that this is a bad idea.

In the NHL, players tend to start to decline as they approach 30 with the process speeding up once they do. Some players - Sidney Crosby is 37 this year - age gracefully and remain elite long past what can be considered normal, but those are the exception, not the rule.

Jake McCabe is not a star player, but a merely very good second-pairing defenseman with a limited offensive profile. Unfortunately for McCabe and the Leafs, players who can stave off the effects of time with offense tend to have a better go of it in their 30s than players who make a living by preventing scoring.

The most likely situation is that McCabe has already had his best NHL season. The Leafs have him for one more season at a baragin basement price of $2 million because of double-retention when he was traded from Chicago, but if they commit to paying him long-term at age 32 that would be insane.

32 year old defensive players are likely the wrost investments an NHL team can make. Teams should be putting their money on players with upside who can offer the value of potentially out-performing their contract and provide team-friendly contract years.

Jake McCabe is likely to decline. He's already not a star (which means teams should be wary about signing him to start with). The Leafs have three other committments to older players.

For these reasons the Leafs should not consider extending him. What they should do is trade him. As a gritty playoff-style defender who can play the right side, who also is on a very team-friendly contract, McCabe would be a huge trade chip. Someone like the Oilers would pay dearly for such a player.

Taking a pakage of futures for McCabe and combining it with their own current assets could give the Leafs a shot at trading for the top pairing defenseman in his mid-twenties that they are (or should be) extremely desperate to add to their lineup.

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That is what a smart, progressive, creative team would do.

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