Maple Leafs Paused Bobby McMann Trade for Better Return

Ahead of the Olympic roster freeze, the Toronto Maple Leafs likely could have made a trade on Wednesday. Instead, they appear to be hitting pause on at least one deal that was already in the hopper. The hope is that they can land a better return for Bobby McMann.

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The Maple Leafs have put a little winning streak together. However, given that they remain outside the playoff picture, they are still expected to be sellers ahead of the March 6 trade deadline. According to Elliotte Friedman on The Fan Hockey Show, the Leafs recently informed teams they were weighing different options.

“I don’t think so, I think they’ll continue to look around,” Friedman said. “They went out there last week, and they told teams we’re considering some things that we didn’t think we’d have to consider.”

The Maple Leafs Are Still Trying to Determine If They Should Trade McMann

One of those considerations is McMann, who has emerged as one of Toronto’s most attractive trade chips. Because they’d prefer not moving him, Friedman indicated the Leafs are holding firm on a first-round pick asking price.

“I think they’re asking for a first-rounder for McMann. And that’s what I would do too if I was the Leafs,” Friedman added. “In this NHL, size matters, and he’s a big, strong, fast guy.”

McMann, 29, is in the final year of his two-year, $2.7 million contract and has posted 19 goals and 32 points in 56 games. He brings speed, skill, and a willingness to get physical, offering a contender a chance to use him in multiple ways. He can be a depth guy or play up on the top line with a team’s best players. And for the price of $1.35 million, that’s worth something.

McMann is an “obvious” trade candidate, but the Leafs can’t afford to give him away. At the same time, they can’t afford to let him walk away for nothing. That puts them in a tougher spot: they want a team to come in with a first-round pick as an offer, but if that doesn’t happen, they may have to circle back on a lower offer.

With multiple teams expected to circle, Toronto appears content to wait. How long they’re willing to wait after the Olympic break will be an interesting storyline. Some of the teams that offered may move onto other targets if the Leafs get too patient.

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