Maple Leafs’ Jake McCabe suffered a serious head injury in yesterday’s game versus the Flyers, and NHL insider Darren Dreger has recently provided an update.

Late in the first period of the Maple Leafs’ 3-2 overtime victory over the Flyers on Sunday night, Jake McCabe got into Garnet Hathaway’s face after the Flyers forward came into contact with rookie goaltender Dennis Hildeby.

Jake McCabe knocked Garnet Hathaway to the ice and threw a few punches before they dropped the gloves.

However, things took a scary turn when McCabe lost his balance during the scuffle, falling backward and hitting his head on the ice. If that wasn’t enough, Hathaway’s knee connected with McCabe’s upper body as he fell.

 

Dazed from the hit, McCabe was tended to by the Leafs’ training staff before skating off on his own volition. The team would later confirm that he would not return for the rest of the game.

On Monday, NHL insider Darren Dreger discussed McCabe’s status, suggesting the defenseman likely has a concussion.

Darren Dreger said to expect limited updates from the Leafs until McCabe is fully checked out, but he added that it sounds like he’ll miss a bunch of games.

“It looks like it. That was the expectation as of last night. He had to go through protocol, and it looked pretty obvious it was a head-related injury… The suspicion last night was that it was concussion-related, but he requires more evaluation. We may not get true details today. If Craig Berube is available, chances are, he’s going to say more testing is required or he is day-to-day because that is all he knows in the moment. With that type of injury, assuming it is specific to the head, he might need a few more days before he is truly evaluated.”

– Darren Dreger

 

McCabe has already missed some time in December due to a puck to the head so it is not surprising the team will take its time with him. He will likely miss at least the games this week.

McCabe had been paired with Chris Tanev of late and that means a new partner for Chris Tanev will be needed. Conor Timmins projects to get into the lineup with McCabe out.