The Toronto Maple Leafs are clearly thinking defense first, with Brad Treliving as the general manager.
With that in mind, I think the Toronto Maple Leafs should try to re-sign defenseman Jake McCabe to a contract extension.
The Leafs defenseman will be turning 31 in October. He is still capable of playing a hardnosed style, which Treliving loves.
A possible extension is not out of the question. For McCabe, it could be his last contract. The Leafs just signed 34-year-old defenseman Chris Tanev to a six-year deal, so a long-term extension to keep McCabe in Toronto shouldn't be too difficult.
Toronto Maple Leafs Should Extend Jake McCabe
McCabe, acquired by trade with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2022 at 50% retained, has a salary that cost $2 million against the Leafs salary cap. Keeping McCabe long-term would have to start in the $4.5 million to $5 million a season range. That shouldn't be a problem if the NHL salary cap continues to rise at its new pace ($4.5 million). (Salary cap info from puckpedia.com)
I think an extension for McCabe gets lost in the shuffle, with everyone concentrating on possible extensions to Mitch Marner and Leafs captain John Tavares. Although extending Tavares and Marner is a hot topic of discussion, I don't think McCabe should be forgotten about, as he can still play in the Leafs top-four and play 19-20 minutes a night.
Hopefully, the Leafs will offer him an extension and not wait until he becomes an unrestricted free agent (UFA) after this season.
In his first full season with the Leafs last season, McCabe had his most productive season in the NHL. He registered eight goals (career high) and 20 assists for 28 points (career high). McCabe averaged 20:39 minutes of ice time last season and finished with 129 blocked shots and 219 hits.
(All stats from hockey-reference.com)
McCabe should benefit even more under new head coach Craig Berube. If McCabe can stay healthy and play a minimum of 80 games this season, I think he will be able to register ten goals and 30+ points. Playing under Berube, I think McCabe will get more power play time as well.
He is the type of defenseman that both Berube and Treliving love on their team. So, a contract extension should be expected. The best part for Treliving is he might be able to keep the cost down by offering McCabe a longer-term contract.
If the Leafs offer a 5–6-year deal, I think they'll have to pay more than $5 million a season. However, if they offer a 7–8-year deal, they might get McCabe for $4.5 million a season or less.