The Toronto Maple Leafs land Jake McCabe and Sam Lafferty from the Chicago Blackhawks

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Monday that the team acquired Jake McCabe, Sam Lafferty, a conditional fifth-round pick in 2024, and a conditional fifth-round pick in 2025 from the Chicago Blackhawks. In return, Chicago landed a conditional 2025 first-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick, Joey Anderson, and Pavel Gogolev.

The 27-year-old Jake McCabe will bolster the Toronto Maple Leafs' defense, which suffered a blow after the club announced that Jake Muzzin will miss the remainder of the season.

A defense-first blueliner, McCabe has been one of the best players on the Chicago Blackhawks this season, posting a +7 through 55 games with the club. While that number may not seem overly impressive, given the fact the Blackhawks have a 21-32-5 record, owning a positive plus/minus sounds impossible.

"NHL TRADE. #MapleLeafs acquire: D Jake McCabe, F Sam Lafferty, a cond. 5th Rd pick in 2024 and a cond. 5th Rd pick in 2025. #Blackhawks acquire: Conditional 2025 1st Rd pick, 2026 2nd Rd pick, Joey Anderson, and Pavel Gogolev. What do you think of the deal?" - Tim and Friends

"Jake McCabe, acquired by TOR, is a defence-first top-four blueliners who's held his own in some pretty unenviable circumstances. #LeafsForever" - @JFreshHockey

The move for McCabe gives Toronto a much-needed left-shot defenseman who can eat-up minutes for the club. The acquisition will likely make Rasmus Sandin the odd-man out of the Leafs' defensive rotation. However, additional depth heading into the postseason is never a bad thing.

The other player that was acquired in the deal, Sam Lafferty, should provide the Toronto Maple Leafs with some bottom-six scoring depth. Despite the Blackhawks' struggles this season, Lafferty has managed to post 10 goals and 11 assists in 51 games with the club this year.

"Sam Lafferty, acquired by TOR, is a speedy bottom six forward who kills penalties. Finishing has appeared out of nowhere this season, particularly shorthanded. #LeafsForever" - @JFreshHockey

The trade additions to an impressive trade season for the Toronto Maple Leafs

If the Toronto Maple Leafs flame out in the playoffs, fans won't be able to claim that GM Kyle Dubas didn't try. Not only did he make the trade for Lafferty and McCabe, but Dubas also acquired Ryan O'Reilly and Noel Acciari from the St. Louis Blues.

"RYAN O'REILLY IS A TORONTO MAPLE LEAF! His first two goals with the @MapleLeafs were just 37 seconds apart!" - NHL

O'Reilly's acquisition has already paid off handsomely for the Leafs, as the combination of Ryan O'Reilly, William Nylander, and Jonathan Tavares has been a force for the club.