Maple Leafs' Jake McCabe avoids serious injury but advises young NHLers - Sportsnet.ca

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake McCabe appears to have avoided serious injury after taking a stick to the eye Tuesday night but called on players to be more careful regarding high sticks. The Leafs’ blueliner met with reporters after Thursday’s gameday skate sporting an ugly bruise around his left eye and let on he was a tad annoyed by the injury when asked. “A little bit, yeah, I’ll be honest,” McCabe said. “I think guys can take better care of their sticks for sure. But obviously, it’s an accident. You know, I’m not going to fault him for that. “But just a general consensus. I’ve gotten a couple high sticks the last three, four games, and they seem to be from younger players. So, keep your stick down.” McCabe left Tuesday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets after Kent Johnson caught him up high while attempting to brace for a hit along the boards. A bloodied McCabe was forced to leave the game but said Thursday he was feeling much better. “Certainly panic for a couple seconds, and was able to open it up quick and see that I could see still,” he said describing the injury.

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Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake McCabe exited Tuesday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets with an injury and did not return, the team confirmed. McCabe left the game midway through the first period after he was high-sticked by Blue Kent Johnson. Johnson’s stick made contact with the left-side of McCabe’s face and around the eye area. The 33-year-old defenceman lay on the ice for significant length of time before going to the bench with the assistance of the Maple Leafs’ medical staff. Johnson received a double-minor for high-sticking for the play with the game tied 1-1 but the Maple Leafs failed to score on the power-play. Toronto would go on to beat the Blue Jackets 6-2. Following the game, Leafs head coach Jim Hiller told the media McCabe was left out as a precaution. “I bumped into him, seems to be doing OK,” said Hiller. McCabe’s injury adds pressure to an already weakened Maple Leafs blueline that is already missing Chris Tanev. Tanev is considered week-to-week with a lower-body injury. The 6-foot-1, left-shot blueliner has yet to record a point this season with the Maple Leafs and has a minus-1 rating while averaging 20:10 of icetime this season.

NHLThe NHL off-season saw significant names switch teams while a veteran head coach, Mike Babcock, is back in the spotlight. Goalie Bobrovsky joins Leafs, Brady Tkachuk to Panthers, Gallagher heads West to CanucksJoshua Clipperton · The Canadian Press · Posted: Sep 21, 2026 11:32 AM EDT | Last Updated: September 21Listen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. From left: Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (Maple Leafs) and forwards Brady Tkachuk (Panthers) and Brendan Gallagher (Canucks) were among the notable players switching teams during the off-season. (CBC Sports composite: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images via Reuters, Marta Lavandier/Associated Press and Darryl Dyck, Canadian Press)The NHL off-season saw significant names switch teams. A veteran head coach, meanwhile, is back in the spotlight. The Canadian Press looks at the notable changes to postal codes ahead of a new campaign.

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