Oilers Linked Again to 20-Plus Goal Man in Latest Insider Predictions

Just as everyone around the hockey world was beginning to feel that Bobby McMann to the Edmonton Oilers was a foregone conclusion, conflicting reports surfaced suggesting GM Stan Bowman had actually been in discussions with the Toronto Maple Leafs about Nicolas Roy and Oliver Ekman-Larsson—not the Wainwright, Alberta native.

While that development, along with competition from other interested contenders, throws somewhat of a wrench into the plans of those penciling McMann in to the Oilers, they remain one of—if not the—frontrunners in the eyes of many, including TSN insider Chris Johnston.

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In Part 5 of The Athletic’s trade matchmaker series, Johnston predicted that McMann would still wind up in Edmonton.

Johnston wrote:

“The Oilers are all-in to chase a championship, but they’re operating with limited cap flexibility while sizing up new pieces. Enter McMann. There won’t be another 20-plus goal man available at this deadline who commands a cap hit below the league’s minimum salary. But the Leafs can get him there with full retention. There’s going to be a premium charged for doing that, but part of being all-in is doing whatever it takes to increase your odds of winning.”

Johnston adds that while the Oilers may not be focused on immediately extending McMann, the forward is an Albertan who was raised a few hours from Edmonton in Wainwright. “It’s conceivable he might be more than just a rental if the fit is right. He has shown in Toronto that he can go get the puck for highly skilled linemates and play anywhere you need him in the lineup.”

The 29-year-old McMann is, of course, a pending UFA in the second and final season of the two-year, $2.7 million extension signed with the Maple Leafs in 2024. He’s enjoyed a very productive start to the campaign, recording 32 points (19 goals, 13 assists) through 56 games.

Bobby McMann Remains An Ideal Target for the Oilers

Players with term on their contracts, like Roy and Ekman-Larsson, are intriguing and provide more certainty, but when all is said and done, McMann is still exactly what Edmonton needs.

His straight-line game—built around speed, strength, and finishing ability—is a tremendous fit in the Oilers’ top nine, and he’s the type of player who could thrive alongside Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl if needed, as we’ve seen with similar-style players in the past.

McMann’s $1.35 million cap hit is — which could go down to $675,000 with full retention — another major advantage for an Edmonton team that’s perpetually tight against the cap and often forced to ask for retention just to make deals work. He checks every box.

That said, GM Brad Treliving is reportedly seeking a first-round pick, which is a hefty price to pay. Unless Bowman is confident he can hammer out an extension with McMann, it’s hard to imagine him wanting to part with another first-rounder for what could ultimately be a rental. If they can get past that hurdle, however, there’s a very real chance the Oilers and Maple Leafs connect on a deal before the March 6 trade deadline.

Next: Insider Reveals the Cost for Oilers to Acquire Oliver Ekman-Larsson