Leafs’ Jake McCabe out week with lower-body injury

McCabe exited Saturday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Islanders in the third period and did not return.

The Eau Claire, Wisconsin native joins an already lengthy group of wounded Maple Leafs. Forwards William Nylander and Dakota Joshua, defensemen Brandon Carlo, Chris Tanev and Brandon Mermis, and goaltender Anthony Stolarz are all on injured reserve. Among these players, Carlo appears closest to returning after undergoing foot surgery.

McCabe, 32, has been a sturdy, reliable presence on an otherwise turbulent Leafs team this season. He has played all 41 games for Toronto so far, notching three goals and 13 assists for 16 points while averaging a tick over 22 minutes of ice time.

Last season for the Leafs, McCabe had two goals and 21 assists for 23 points in 66 games played, while averaging about 21 and a half minutes of ice time. He also contributed four assists over Toronto’s 13 postseason games.

McCabe is in his third full season with the Leafs being acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2023 trade deadline. He is currently in the first season of a five-year, $22,565,510 contract he signed with Toronto at the beginning of last season.

Initially a second-round draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres in 2012, McCabe spent his first six full NHL seasons in Buffalo before signing with the Blackhawks as an unrestricted free agent ahead of the 2021-22 season.

Despite having earned points in each of their last six games, the Leafs find themselves tied for last place in the Atlantic Division, with 45 points through 41 games. They will host the Florida Panthers on Tuesday before hitting the road to play the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday.