Sabres' McCabe will miss remainder of 2017-2018 season

Jake McCabe's season is officially done. On Tuesday the Buffalo Sabres announced that McCabe will undergo shoulder surgery and miss the remainder of the 2017-2018 season. 

Jake McCabe will miss the remainder of the season & will have shoulder surgery #Sabres @WKBW

— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) February 20, 2018

“Jake has been progressing well in his recovery from his previous injury, but we decided that this was a good opportunity to take care of a problem that he has been dealing with for a while,” Sabres General Manager Jason Botterill said. “Jake will have time to fully recover before the beginning of the 2018-19 season.”

The surgery has an estimated recovery time of four to six months. McCabe will be placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the season. 

In 53 games this season the 24-year-old defenseman has three goals, nine assists and 12 points. McCabe is under contract next season and will become a restricted free agent following the 2018-2019 season. 

Bove's take:

Remember when we thought the injuries last season were bad? McCabe is now the Sabres second defensemen to undergo season ending surgery, joining Zach Bogosian. 

With just 22 games left in the season and the Sabres firmly in last place in the Eastern Conference this announcement isn't necessarily a big surprise. For Botterill and Housley, ensuring McCabe is 100-percent by the start of next season is what's most important.