'He's Mr. Steady': Leafs D Jake McCabe Reflects on Tavares' Impact and Leadership
Photo credit: JOHN E. SOKOLOWSKI-IMAGN IMAGES
Maple Leafs defender Jake McCabe shared his thoughts on the impact that veteran John Tavares has had on him as Tavares sits on the cusp of a special milestone.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are coming off of a hard-fought overtime victory against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night, snapping a three-game losing skid with a 4-3 win that required resilience and leadership.
Maple Leafs Veteran John Tavares Calls Game
Veteran forward John Tavares played the hero once again, scoring the overtime winner, his 499th career NHL goal, to lift the Leafs to victory.
The tally adds to an already remarkable career resume of 499 goals, 627 assists, and 1,126 points in 1,193 NHL games. Tavares continues to show why he remains one of the league's most consistent and respected players.
John Tavares' Steadiness and Leadership Rubbing Off on His Teammates
Veteran defensemen Jake McCabe spoke about the impact Tavares has had on him personally, as well as his appreciation for his steady presence.
As shared by Dave McCarthy in his article "Tavares scores 499th NHL goal in OT, Maple Leafs top Sabres to end 3-game skid":
"He's certainly made me a lot better professional just being around him, watching how he goes through his process -- it's quite impressive."
McCabe went on to praise Tavares' relentless work ethic and the influence he has on the locker room:
"I know we always talk about it, but he's Mr. Steady every single year. To have that in your room as a leader is super crucial for our team. We certainly don't take it for granted. Not even just 499 goals -- he's one of four people to have 500 points with two different teams. It's pretty amazing company he's sharing there."
Maple Leafs' Hard-Fought Victory Led by Tavares
Saturday's win was a crucial one for a Maple Leafs team searching for stability and confidence.
Head coach Craig Berube praised the group's effort, describing it as a "gritty win" and emphasizing the physical, determined play that helped them pull through -- a tone clearly set by Tavares.
What's Next for the Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs will be back in action on Tuesday, when they host the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Arena. Toronto will look to build on their recent victory -- and with John Tavares just one goal away from the 500 mark, it could be another memorable night.
Previously on Maple Leafs Daily
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 27 | 333 ANSWERS 'He's Mr. Steady': Leafs D Jake McCabe Reflects on Tavares' Impact and Leadership Is John Tavares the most underrated star in NHL history? | ||
| Yes | 248 | 74.5 % |
| No | 85 | 25.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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