While the buzz over talks with top forwards Mitch Marner, John Tavares and Matthew Knies unsurprisingly received a lot of the headlines, it’s defenceman Jake McCabe whose deal may now be the closest to getting done.
Contract talks certainly haven’t affected his game. If anything, McCabe has stepped up his play early this season as he’s moved over to his off side (on the right) and formed a strong pairing with newcomer Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
OEL-McCabe has unexpectedly been coach Craig Berube’s go-to duo in tough-match defensive situations. And they lead the Leafs in ice time on the back end.
No, this column isn’t meant to scare anyone that McCabe’s asking price is getting away from Toronto. But these first seven games of 2024-25 have certainly highlighted his value as a rugged, dependable second-pair D, to the point that it’s worth taking a closer look at what it will take to get this extension done.