The Toronto Maple Leafs were recently ranked near the bottom of the NHL in a poll of NHL executives about the quality of each team's management. This poll was done by the Athletic, and surprised exactly zero Leafs fans.
The Toronto Maple Leafs made a move Monday that ensures they won't be moving up the rankings any time soon.
Despite already have three other defenseman who will be at least 32 years-old next season, the Leafs have extended Jake McCabe for four more seasons at a cap hit of $4.5 million.
McCabe will turn 32 before this deal kicks in, and the Leafs will also have Morgan Rielly turning 32 next season as well. Oliver Ekman-Larsson will be 34 next year, and Chris Tanev will be 35.
The Toronto Maple Leafs sign Jake McCabe and it is a massive mistake
If this was one of the NHL's best blue-lines, you could understand this move. But it's not one of the NHL's best blue-lines, it's the most average blue-line in the league, and ranks approximately 15th in a league-wide ranking.
The Leafs were getting a great return on Jake McCabe with other teams paying half his salary, but now that he will more than double what he costs the Leafs, he won't be worth the money.
Don't get me wrong - Jake McCabe is a nice player. He's physical and doesn't make too many errors - he's a solid player. But he has almost no offensive game, and he's not getting any younger.
McCabe also has the occasional game where he is all but unplayable and makes you think he'd be more at home on a 3rd pairing. He can't play on a 3rd pairing at this price, and he's not going to get any better.
The Leafs have broken all three of what should be iron-clad salary cap rules with this deal:
3 Iron Clad Salary Cap Rules no team should ever break, ever:
— Editor in Leaf (@EditorinLeaf) October 28, 2024
1. Don't give term to non-stars or pay them over league min. unless its for 1 year or they have upside.
2. Don't give term to non-franchise players in their 30s
3. Don't give term to defensive players.
All this contract does is box the Leafs in and take away their flexibility. It prevents them from getting better but it doesn't make them any better today.
Jake McCabe was the Leafs best trade chip. He isn't a star, so losing him wouldn't affect the team's overall outlook very much, but he is the exact type of player other team's always overpay for. Plus, his current salary and pending UFA status would have made him even more desirable. (info puckpedia.com). The assets gained from trading him could have gone to improving the team.
McCabe could have refilled the Leafs coffers and let them make a move to improve their team. Now they are boxed in, have very few assets, and their team isn't good enough to compete.
The problem with this contract is that the Leafs current top-four isn't among the league's best today and now its locked in for four more years. This is a popular move and I'm one of the only people who doesn't like it, apparently, but I am telling you: this is a misguided move that time will not be kind to.