Impressions of, and questions concerning--D, Jake McCabe

Published by hockeybuzz, 5-2-2019

Defenseman--Jake McCabe DOB: October 12, 1993 (Age, 25)
Draft: 2012, second round (44th-overall)
How acquired: Drafted by Buffalo
Last contract signed: June 30, 2016
Final year of contract: 2018-19 (RFA with arbitration rights)

2018-19 Stats:  59 games | 4 goals | 10 assists | 14 points | -4 | 18:57 ATOI

Buffalo Career Stats:  274 games | 14 goals | 47 assists | 61 points | -19 | 19:26 ATOI

What we wrote preseason:  There's a lot to be said for Jake McCabe that won't show up on the scoresheet. The very fact that head coach Phil Housley has him next to first overall pick Rasmus Dahlin to start camp says a lot about the type of leadership McCabe exudes and the trust Housley has in him to start Dahlin's career off on the right foot.

McCabe is a fierce defender who's made (and still makes) his mistakes although he's always had a penchant for bouncing back nicely from them. He's also paid his dues and has gotten a good handle on the speed of the NHL while focusing on the defensive aspects of his game ever since he turned pro. When you put it all together, pairing a defensive-minded young vet like McCabe with an offensive-minded rookie like Dahlin seems like a good way to start things off at camp.

Right now there are 15 defensemen at camp and by the end of it only eight or so will by vying for spots in the lineup. McCabe will be in the d-corps somewhere and as of right now he looks to be starting out the season on the bottom-pairing, which is a good sign for Buffalo. The 24 yr. old has shown that he can be a solid second-pairing defenseman so having him here means there are some quality defensemen in front of him. 

What we wrote mid-season:  Up until his injury in late November, McCabe was probably having the best season of his still young career. McCabe is pretty good on his skates and loves to play a physical game and he also has a penchant for creeping into open space in the offensive zone. If he can ever be a little more accurate with his shot, the 25 yr. old might get close doubling his career high of four goals set in his rookie year. McCabe plays a solid all-around game and can carry a lot of weight on the blueline when he's on the ice. Although not a top-pairing d-man, when he is on his game he's a solid second-paring defenseman who can anchor a penalty kill and he very much looks the part. McCabe does have has his moments, but most of the time he recovers from them, sometimes in the very same sequence. That's a good trait to have for a player and so far this year he seems to be coming into his own.

Impressions on his play this year:  On more than a few occasions McCabe was one of Buffalo's best defensemen and his physicality is a desperately needed ingredient in their lineup. McCabe was moved up and down the depth chart and looks like he could be settling into a nice 4/5 role for Buffalo this season and moving forward. Ideally the Sabres can add to their top-four and have him play a permanent role on the bottom-pairing with his usual two-plus minutes of average ice-time on the kill. 

There's a lot to like about his game although he's still a work in progress at 25 yrs. old which, for a second-rounder, isn't all that disconcerting. He's strong on his skates, can level an opponent with a body check, is solid in his own end and can still creep into open space for a scoring opportunity. However, despite McCabe's tendency to find that open ice, his shot needs a lot of work..

The good news is that he'll not be expected add much more offense moving forward as he's becoming more defensively-focused with the additions of Rasmus Dahlin and Brandon Montour. It's something he's pretty good at as his minus-16 over his four full seasons with Buffalo are the best of any player who's played 200 or more games. With all that said, what may be cause for concern is the last two seasons where he spent significant time on injured reserve with only 53 and 59 games played, respectively. 

Questions moving forward:  Is his rugged style of play catching up with him already? Can the Sabres find another top-four d-man for next season to keep McCabe in that bottom-pairing role? Are the Sabres interested in signing him? If so, what will the cost and term be? Is he trade bait in a package deal for a top-six forward? Will he be working on his shot over this off season? If he can stay on the ice, is he worthy of a letter?

Contract info via CapFriendly, stats via sabres.com and hockey reference.com.