Photo credit: TSN

Jake McCabe’s new extension includes a very interesting structure that the Leafs are using for the first time that allowed them to lower his cap hit.

On Monday, the Maple Leafs signed McCabe to a five-year extension, using a very specific contract structure. The structure is something that is quietly becoming used across the league. They went with a deferring salary structure.

Carolina made noise when they first used it on Seth Jarvis’ extension at the end of August. In years two and three of McCabe’s deal, the Leafs have deferred money, helping drop the cap hit from $4.7M to $4.51M, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

In addition to deferring salary, McCabe’s contract also includes much of his salary paid out in signing bonuses, including most of his salary in the first year of his deal. However, the final year of his deal does not include any signing bonus money.

Acquired ahead of the 2022-23 deadline, McCabe has become a fan favourite with his physical style of play and his presence immediately helped solidify the Leafs’ top-four. Signing McCabe means the Leafs have their top four defensemen signed until the end of the 2027-28 season.

All was quiet on his extension until this past weekend when Brad Treliving and his agents, Brian and Scott Barlett ‘hunkered down’, according to Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period. With his extension completed, the Leafs can now turn their attention to other pending free agents like Mitch Marner, John Tavares and Matthew Knies.

Since being acquired, McCabe has skated in 103 games for the Leafs, and has tallied 9 goals and 36 points to go along with 182 blocks and 279 hits while averaging slightly more than 20 minutes per game. Over his 12-year career, the former second-round pick has skated in 586 games and registered 33 goals, 155 points and 981 blocks to go along with 1089 hits.