NHL Injury Update: Jake McCabe sidelined as Toronto Maple Leafs’ injury list grows

The Toronto Maple Leafs, Jake McCabe, a lower-body injury, Craig Berube, and the Atlantic Division have once again become pivotal in the discussion about the team’s season. Toronto is already experiencing a lot of pressure to perform better since the entire situation with injuries is happening at a very bad time for them, and the team of players is still in search of stability.

Now, the Maple Leafs, with several significant players out, have no other choice but to change their line-up once more in order to keep themselves in the race for the playoffs with the tightly packed standings.The head coach, Craig Berube, announced on Monday that the defenseman Jake McCabe is going to be out for about a week as a result of his lower-body injury that he sustained during Saturday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Islanders.

McCabe had headed for the exit during the third period of the game and was a no-show for the rest of the game, which generated immediate concern due to his great significance to Toronto’s defense.

Why Jake McCabe’s absence hurts an already short-handed Toronto Maple Leafs defense

The injury to McCabe is an added burden to the already distressed Toronto, which has quite a number of regulars on injured reserve. William Nylander, Dakota Joshua, Chris Tanev, Brandon Carlo, Brandon Mermis, and goalie Anthony Stolarz are all out nursing different kinds of injuries.

Berube mentioned that Tanev is still thinking about the surgery choice for the groin problem, and Carlo seems to be the nearest one to come back, as he has already started practicing after the foot operation on Monday.

McCabe, now 32, remains one of the most dependable blue-liners of Toronto's lineup this year. He has participated in all 41 matches played so far, scored three goals, and assisted 13 times for a total of 16 points.Berube communicated some very nice news, and among them was the mention of Carlo, who might be back already on Tuesday to play the Florida Panthers. Nylander is still day-to-day, and Stolarz is on the ice but with no definite timeframe for his return.The Leafs currently occupy the last position in the Atlantic Division with a record of 19-15-7, hence, even a week without Jake McCabe will be a major loss to the team. Toronto needs to have the injured players recover quickly and be stable in terms of lineup to not fall too far back.Also Read: NHL Trade Rumors: Kiefer Sherwood, Elias Pettersson linked to Vancouver Canucks moves as Boston Bruins target Matias Maccelli