The Buffalo Sabres announced that defenceman Jake McCabe will miss the next five to six weeks after sustaining an upper-body injury.
Injury Update: Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe will miss five to six weeks with an upper-body injury.
— Sabres PR (@SabresPR) March 4, 2019
Jake McCabe Injured
McCabe was injured during the second period of Saturday’s 5-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. This is the second straight season where McCabe has missed a big chunk of time at the end of the season due to a shoulder injury.
So far this season, McCabe has scored four goals and 10 assists for 14 points to go along with 35 minutes in penalties. His possession numbers were 47.8 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of -2.6 percent in 55 games.
McCabe has spent his entire six-year career with the Sabres. He has 14 goals and 47 assists for 61 career points in 270 career games. He was originally drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the second round, 44th overall in the 2012 NHL Draft.
What This Means for the Future
With McCabe’s timeline for recovery, he will likely miss the rest of the regular season for the Sabres. The Sabres currently sit nine points out of the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. McCabe was playing on the top pairing for the Sabres. He is having a solid year including matching a career high of four goals in 55 games. With one of the Sabres top defenceman out of the lineup, expect Marco Scandella to see time on the top pairing moving forward. Casey Nelson could also see some action as well with McCabe out of the lineup. Scandella has four goals and seven assists for 11 points in 51 games this season. This will probably end any slim chance the Sabres had at making the playoffs this season.
McCabe is in the final year of his three year deal with the Sabres. He is a restricted free agent at the end of the season. The 25-year-old defenceman will likely be re-signed in the off-season.
SAN JOSE, CA – OCTOBER 18: Jake McCabe #19 of the Buffalo Sabres in action against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on October 18, 2018 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
