The Toronto Maple Leafs have re-signed Jake McCabe to a five-year deal with an average annual value (AAV) of $4.51 million, and I can’t help but feel puzzled.
It’s not about the price—it’s the timing. Why do the Leafs feel the need to commit to McCabe long-term now? They seem to have a habit of locking up contracts during the regular season rather than waiting to assess the situation properly.
Currently, the Leafs have four defensemen over the age of 30 locked into contracts for the next four years: Morgan Rielly (who turns 31 in March), Jake McCabe (31), Oliver Ekman-Larsson (33), and Chris Tanev (34). All of these players will be 32 or older when McCabe’s new deal kicks in next season, and they’ll all remain under contract until 2028.
Do the Leafs really believe they have the best top-four defensemen in the NHL, justifying the need to secure them for the next four years? While paying $20 million for the four of them might look solid now, how many of those years will all four perform at a high level? Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if the team ends up buying out three of those contracts before 2028 rather than seeing them all still play effectively.
McCabe’s contract just feels too long and too pricey for what he brings. I’m not trying to bash the deal, but I don’t understand why the Leafs are so intent on sticking with the defensive group they have. The defense is fine this season, yet they’re still allowing an average of 3.11 goals per game despite strong goaltending.
Why offer this kind of long-term deal to McCabe right now? I feel like Timothy Liljegren, with his $3 million over the next three years, would be a better investment than spending $4.51 million annually on a 31-year-old defenseman.
The Leafs seem to be making the kind of deals you used to see in the old NHL, where players were rewarded later in their careers for past performances. In today’s league, big contracts and longer terms should be given to players in their 20s, not their 30s. Yet, the Leafs are choosing to invest in players who are more likely to decline as these contracts progress.
I don’t dislike McCabe—he’s a solid player. But the term on this deal is simply too long for someone who, at best, will be a No. 3 defenseman. The Leafs would be better off saving the cap space freed up by John Tavares’ expiring contract to go after a true No. 1 defenseman next year.
