Jake McCabe didn’t start the year well, but teaming up with Chris Tanev changed everything. Last season, he was Toronto’s top defenseman, and they even traded a first-round pick to get him. The team made sure he’d stay by extending his contract for five more years.
At first this year, things were slow for McCabe. But once Tanev joined him on the ice, his performance improved dramatically. Before they teamed up, McCabe played more minutes and had an xGA of 7.3—meaning opponents could score more easily when he was playing. Now with Tanev’s help or maybe some wisdom from the veteran, McCabe has become much better.
McCabe already has five assists this season and seems more confident in offense. Last year he scored eight goals —his personal best—and there’s still time to match that again if he keeps pushing forward with Tanev by his side. Playing fewer 5v5 minutes allows Craig Berube to use McCabe where he’s most effective: penalty kills! This lets Tanev handle things while McCabe can take risks if needed.
Team Dynamics:
Berube loves experimenting but also sticks to what works well. When a pairing like McCabe and Tanev clicks, why change it? Morgan Rielly and Oliver Ekman-Larsson have also gotten better together over time; OEL seems younger than ever! Fans might think it’s surprising how quickly Tanev made such an impact on the Leafs after joining them this offseason.
The Leafs knew they’d get something special with Tanev—but not quite like this! What do you think about these changes?
