Jake McCabe Names Unexpected Standout at Maple Leafs Training Camp
Photo credit: Sergei Belski - Imagn Images
Maple Leafs' veteran defenseman Jake McCabe has identified an unexpected newcomer as the surprise of Leafs training camp.
Acquired in a trade from the San Jose Sharks that saw disgruntled enforcer Ryan Reaves going the other way, defenseman Henry Thrun has been a surprise at this year's training camp and his work ethic has been noticed by his teammates.
Veteran defenseman Jake McCabe is one of those teammates and has stated that the youngster has really stood out to him so far, primarily because of his skating and booming shot.
"He's a nice player, he skates really well, he's got a big shot. Obviously haven't seen him in game action or anything, but just from skating, he's a good dude and skates really well for a bigger guy. He's obviously very young, but he's already spent a couple of years in the NHL, so I like his game."
McCabe highlights his skating and shot as two premiere skill sets that have stood out so far when watching Thrun play, which could bode well for his chances at making the NHL roster as the 7th defenseman.
The Leafs' back-end for opening night should have McCabe, Simon Benoit, Brandon Carlo, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Morgan Rielly, and Chris Tanev as the top-6. Philippe Myers might have an inside track on being the 7th defenseman but that's a position Thrun could be vying for at the moment barring injuries.
Thrun was a 4th round pick during the 2019 draft and has spent the last 2 seasons playing a prominent role for the Sharks. In 111 games, he notched 5 goals and 23 points, blocked 137 shots, delivered 69 hits, and averaged 18:39 TOI.
At 6'2 and 210 pounds, Thrun is a mobile, defensive defenseman that should help the Leafs in a pinch. He won't need to command as much ice-time or as big of a role as he had in San Jose, which could bode well for his overall numbers and confidence.
In Toronto, he'll be surrounded by venerated rearguards like McCabe, Tanev, and Rielly, and so far, he's done a fantastic job in drawing attention from his teammates. Only time will tell if that will translate into a roster spot for the season opener.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 23 | 918 ANSWERS Jake McCabe Names Unexpected Standout at Maple Leafs Training Camp Will Henry Thrun make the Leafs opening night roster? | ||
| Yes | 267 | 29.1 % |
| No | 651 | 70.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
