“Was Sad When We Lost Him”: NHL World Hails Leafs Defenseman’s ‘Class Act’ for His Teammate

As the trade deadline of 3rd March reached, the NHL teams successfully traded their best possible chances among each other. Toronto Maple Leafs have done an incredible job to strengthen their squad and have made their fans ecstatic with their choices. As a part of the trade, the Leafs acquired Jake McCabe and Sam Lafferty on Monday. Whereas pretty unexpectedly, they also went for former Leaf player Luke Schenn and welcomed him back to where it all started fifteen years ago.

But it wasn’t the team management who won the hearts of the fan in the last couple of days, it was McCabe. He stole the show for NHL fans with his generosity. The Maple Leafs Insider shared the news with the people, and later the Maple Leafs Fans Facebook account re-shared it with the fans. What did he do? Let us find out what he did to receive all this appreciation from the fans.

Jake McCabe showed a respectful gesture to Luke Schenn

As reported by the Maple Leafs Insider, The two players from Blackhawks and Luke Schenn from Canucks were acquired by the Maple Leafs earlier this week. However, as McCabe and Lafferty were the first ones to join the team, the two got the chance to pick their jersey numbers foremost. Unfortunately, in this process, two of these three players got unlucky as they didn’t get the number they wanted. To begin with, as the Leafs have retired the #6, McCabe didn’t get his regular number. Instead, he settled with #2. But isn’t that Schenn’s regular number?

Yes, it is. But as he joined the team a day later, the #2 was already acquired. Henceforth, he decided to settle with #22. However, he was pleasantly surprised when McCabe decided to swap the numbers with Schenn before appearing in their first game for the Leafs.

The big gesture was welcomed by the 33-year-old defenseman with open arms and got his regular number back on his jersey. Moreover, he is back to the complete circle with the same team, and the same jersey number after 15 years of NHL career.

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On the other hand, when the team later stepped out in the match against Calgary Flames, they registered a victory by 2-1 with their new changes involved. The NHL fans loved the new trades, and this gesture by McCabe and showered applause through their comments on the Facebook post. Let us have a look at a few of their comments on the post.

The NHL fans felt incredibly respectful of this generous gesture by Jake McCabe

This lovely gesture by the 29-year-old defenseman won several hearts of the Leafs as well as Schenn’s fans. People showered back their love for McCabe with their thankful comments. As the fans commented on the gesture, a fan recalled something similar to what he did in the past. He wrote, “He did the same thing for Pominville when he returned to Buffalo changing from 29 to 19. He’s a class act. I was sad when we lost him.” 

Whereas the other fans also wrote their hearts out in the comments section. Let us have a look at them. They wrote,

“Class move. And glad Luke is back where it all started and wearing the number 2. Thanks Jake McCabe.”

“Awsome great teammate already. Go Leafs Go”

“Class act by Mc Cabe considering Luke had this # for a long time Go Leafs Go.”

“‘RESPECT’ Did the right thing…………..”

“It’s a small gesture that will pay a big dividend. Kudos Mr. McCabe.”

McCabe did it out of respect or for just what he believed in, only he knows. But the gesture won the hearts of all the NHL fans. What are your thoughts on this ultimate teammate gesture by Jake McCabe? Let us know in the comments section.

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