Leafs’ $16M Jake McCabe confirms contract negotiations have started as D-man enters final year

By Abhilasha Aditi

Modified Sep 21, 2024 06:35 GMT

Jake McCabe is starting extension talks with the Toronto Maple Leafs as he enters the final year of his contract. The 30-year-old defenseman joined the team from the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2023 trade deadline. He is currently on a four-year, $16 million contract, which ends after the 2024-25 season.

While discussions about teammates Mitch Marner's and John Tavares' contracts dominate the news, Jake McCabe has confirmed that he has also begun talks with the team on a new deal.

“We've talked a couple times,” he mentioned about his talks with GM Brad Treliving, per TSN's Mark Masters.

McCabe expressed his desire to stay in Toronto, saying,

“I love it here, and I think they enjoy my game too. That’s why you have agents and now it’s training camp time, so I’m just looking forward to being with the fellas and ramping up our game.”

Last season, Jake McCabe had his best year yet, hitting career-highs in goals, points, plus/minus, and hits. He recently changed agents to the Bartlett group, who previously negotiated teammate Bobby McMann’s contract. This shift suggests he is preparing for a significant new deal.

Auston Matthews praises Jake McCabe as a vital leader for the Maple Leafs

Jake McCabe's teammates appreciate his style of play. Simon Benoit noted his calmness and toughness.

"That would be great," Benoit said (via sportsnet.com). "I played with him pretty much all last year. He showed me some great things. You can see on the ice, how calm he is..."

Captain Auston Matthews also praised McCabe, noting his leadership qualities and positive impact on the team.

“He’s very important,” Matthews said. "As far as leadership grows, he's one of the more vocal guys in the room and on the bench, and it's something we really appreciate."

"I've known Caber a really long time. Amazing person. Amazing teammate. And he's a guy that's always gonna have your back on the ice. It's been awesome having here. So, hopefully that'll continue past this season. But we'll see," Matthews added.

McCabe says he wants to improve his leadership skills during training camp. He is open to talks during the season but focuses on his performance and adjusting to the new coaching style.