Maple Leafs pair McCabe and Tanev have exceeded expectations so far

Many factors can be attributed to the success of the Toronto Maple Leafs this season. But the biggest improvement and surprise was the team’s defensive play. The team has allowed the third fewest goals allowed per game at 2.61 and their penalty kill puts them in the top 15 at 82.7%.

When you get the stops you need, but also have the players commit to playing a responsible game, it helps immensely, as both have been in question for the Maple Leafs in the past. One thing that is becoming visible is that they have a legitimate second duo that has a significant impact on their success. Discussions surrounding Chris Tanev and Jake McCabe continue to come to the forefront as they are one of the main reasons the team is where they are.

Both players have instantly become players that head coach Craig Berube can count on as they play important minutes and make plays in key situations. The pair are one of the team’s many positives this season.

The Maple Leafs’ best duo

While Tanev seemed to have played well with top defenseman Morgan Rielly to start the season, he was eventually separated and found a new defensive partner in McCabe. Since then, they have easily become the Maple Leafs’ best defensive duo. Tanev’s signing came with some question marks due to his age, but they are already starting to reap the rewards of his calming presence on the back end. With McCabe re-signing with the club, this is another key addition to the fold at a bargain price.

So far, both men have faced tough competition and excelled in keeping the best players off the scoresheet and giving the team favorable results. When Bérubé brought them together at the end of October, he immediately took note of their success and congratulated them greatly.

“They have good chemistry together and defend well with physicality, sticks and shot blocking,” Berube said of the duo according to Mark Masters of TSN. “They take the pucks out under pressure. You know, that’s one thing I’ve really noticed about them is they’re good at absorbing hits, using each other on breakouts and making little plays to get out the puck from our zone. Teams attack hard on the forecheck, but they do a good job of stopping the puck and finding a way to get it out.

Even McCabe attributed their success to reading others as well as being able to mitigate chances in their own zone. The numbers definitely confirm it. Both Tanev and McCabe are among the leaders in blocked shots, with Tanev second overall with 74 and McCabe 34.^th with 46. Both have done a great job getting into the lanes, but better yet, they are allowing minimal scoring chances and goals against. (from “Chris Tanev and Jake McCabe become a formidable D pair for the Toronto Maple Leafs”, Toronto Sunshine – 11/20/24)

Among defensemen who have played at least 200 minutes at five-on-five, Tanev and McCabe have allowed the fewest goals against with four. Digging deeper, they are second in scoring chances against (80) and high danger chances against (26). To make things better, they haven’t allowed a high-danger goal since their formation. That alone is impressive.

Even though they get a lot of starts in the defensive zone, they still have an impact offensively, as they have a 71.43 field goal percentage. Even though they have 11 points so far, the production may not be there, but the contributions are and that continues to be a factor for the Maple Leafs.

Tanev-McCabe success could translate to playoff run

Defensive depth is always important in the playoffs as we have seen in the past and a dominant second pairing with a shutdown element always makes the difference.

When you look at the last two Stanley Cup champions, the Vegas Golden Knights and the Florida Panthers, no specific defensive duo stood out, but they had a well-balanced unit where they all played a reliable game and arrested. All three pairs brought that offensive element and were paired with a player who plays a solid defensive game. This balance becomes all the more crucial as everyone plays their role.

Jake McCabe, Toronto Maple Leafs (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

As the Maple Leafs begin to forge this mindset and identity, Tanev and McCabe are leading the way and could very well translate their strong regular season play into the playoffs. Both players play with this intensity where they finish their checks, play intelligently in their own zone and sacrifice their bodies in order to limit the opponent’s chances. Every team needs to have that duo they can count on in tough situations and this duo does that to limit the damage.

The Maple Leafs’ other duos also look solid, but this is a duo that continues to get results beyond the scoresheet. They have shown that their intensity and stopping play can make life difficult for the opposition, as this is something that can greatly contribute to success. Come playoff time, that’s something that can pay off when the games matter even more.

There is no doubt that McCabe and Tanev are the ones leading the blue line with their overall play. The Maple Leafs were keen to try and find a pair that could do it all and effectively end things in their own zone. Well, they have one now. This is probably the best they’ve had in recent years, as they’ve exceeded expectations as a duo early this season.

Statistics from Natural Stat Trick.