Maple Leafs Extending Bobby McMann Still in Play, Per Insider

When Bobby McMann, Scott Laughton, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson were scratched for roster management reasons on Wednesday night in New Jersey, most assumed at least one trade was looming. However, that quickly proved not to be the case, as the Maple Leafs were simply taking precautionary measures. Now, on Thursday morning, another somewhat surprising update has emerged — particularly involving McMann.

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According to TSN insider Chris Johnston, despite all the trade rumors, GM Brad Treliving still hasn’t ruled out the possibility of extending McMann to keep him in Toronto. He pointed to the recent contract signed by Kiefer Sherwood in San Jose — five years at $5.75 million annually — as a potential comparable, though the Maple Leafs would likely need McMann’s deal to come in at less than $5 million per season to make things work.

Johnston wrote:

“While the #leafs continue to explore the trade market on Bobby McMann, they haven’t ruled out signing him to a new contract. Yesterday’s Kiefer Sherwood extension (5x$5.75M AAV) is a favorable comparable for McMann, although he likely has to come in under $5M to stay in Toronto,”

The 29-year-old McMann is, of course, a pending UFA in the second and final year of the two-year, $2.7 million extension signed with the Maple Leafs in 2024. He’s tallied 32 points (19 goals, 13 assists) through 60 games played so far this season.

It will be interesting to see whether McMann, Laughton, or Ekman-Larsson suit up Thursday night in New York against the Rangers on the second night of a back-to-back for the team. The situation appears to be very fluid, with all possibilities still on the table, as we saw on Wednesday.

That said, one thing that won’t be happening: McMann remaining in Toronto past Friday’s deadline without a new contract. At this point, it’s either going to be an extension or a trade.

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