Few NHL players achieve the ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup. Many play their whole careers without ever making it to the Finals. Some never even make the playoffs!
Which brings us to Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Jake McCabe.
Drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in 2012, Jake McCabe has proven to be a capable NHL defender but has never ended a season with a winning record. Now in his 8th full NHL season, that is quite the somber statistic. McCabe was asked about his situation recently, and he didn't really hold back.
"I don't really give a s— about my personal stats, to be honest with you," he said. "It's all about the team and all about winning. I've lost a lot in this league, and it's getting pretty old. So I wouldn't say that I'm by any means satisfied if I'm playing good or not. It depends on how we're doing as a team."
Going from a long, fruitless stint in Buffalo to Chicago in the summer of 2021, McCabe likely didn't foresee the Blackhawks becoming one of the worst teams in the NHL. Alas, they did.
So, McCabe went from one ugly situation to another. Tough break.
Perhaps the Blackhawks can find a trade partner willing to pay the price for McCabe's services, which would finally get this guy into a playoff game. After all, his game belongs in the postseason. McCabe plays a hard, disciplined game and can be nightmare fuel to play against.
The talk of the town is over what's happening with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, but McCabe could be a quiet, low-key solid trade acquisition for a contender looking for veteran presence on the back-end.
For now, however, he's stuck with the bottom-feeding Blackhawks.
Source: Mark Lazerus - The Athletic
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