Maple Leafs D Jake McCabe has been activated from IR.
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Maple Leafs’ Jake McCabe returns vs. Devils after 4-game absence, officially activated from IR
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2025, 11:38 ESTUpdated: Jan 16, 2025, 14:02 EST
Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake McCabe will return to the lineup after missing the past four games with an upper-body injury. McCabe was officially activated from injured reserve Thursday afternoon.
McCabe suffered the injury on January 5 after getting into a fight with Philadelphia Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway. McCabe said Hathaway did not reach out to him after the incident.
“I missed a week and a half, I’ll be alright,” McCabe said when asked about any potential rust.
Jake McCabe returns to the lineup tonight against the Devils. McCabe said Garnet Hathaway did not reach out after the fight on January 5th.
The 31-year-old has been an essential part of the Maple Leafs’ season and addressed the team’s three-game losing streak.
“I think we know what we’re capable of here, we know how to get out of a skid,” McCabe said. “It’s allowed us to avoid it. Different players stepping up at different moments. Goaltending, special teams, whatever it may be. We’ve been finding ways to win this year even when we haven’t had our best stuff, so that’s a big part of it.”
McCabe has formed an effective shutdown pairing with Chris Tanev, and it appears he’ll likely be placed alongside the 35-year-old shutdown defender Thursday.
John Tavares was placed on injured reserve Thursday, while Fraser Minten was called up from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. McCabe spoke about Tavares’ impact on the Leafs, after the former captain was designated week-to-week.
“I think next man up, obviously. That’s the catchphrase for most people or most teams in this situation and we’re no different. It gives guys who are slotted down the lineup more of a chance, whether it’s on special teams, taking important faceoffs, playing with different guys. It gives some other guys some bigger opportunities to step in and have a little more icetime. I like the depth on our team here.”
Toronto’s rush defence has suffered in McCabe’s absence, and he emphasized shutting off the Devils in transition, with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt as particular players to focus on.
“A lot of guys who can move out there, obviously. Hughes and Bratt stand out as far as threats off the rush, so we want to move laterally, making sure we’re having good gaps and defending as a five-man unit, taking away their time and space.”
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