Oilers or Maple Leafs?: Right Advice Could Change McMann’s Career

Bobby McMann’s in one of those rare positions where he really holds the cards. He’s scoring goals, playing with the Toronto Maple Leafs. But Toronto is a team that looks like it might miss the playoffs for the first time in ages. He’s also a UFA this summer. That combination speaks to negotiating power.

McMann Grew Up Two Hours East of Edmonton

He grew up just a couple of hours east of Edmonton. He says he was “just a hockey fan,” though friends laughed at the idea of Calgary. And now the Oilers are showing interest. The setup is clear: a 29-year-old guy in his prime, producing goals, and close to a team that wants him.

Lately, people talk like the Maple Leafs control everything with McMann. Justin Bourne created a scenario on the Real Kyper & Bourne show, where it seemed like Toronto had all the leverage. Not so much from where I’m sitting. What the Maple Leafs want to happen is only part of the story. This is the rare case where the player actually calls the shots.

If I Were McMann’s Agent, the Strategy Is Clean and Obvious

If I were his agent, the first question I’d ask McMann is obvious: “What do you want Bobby?” The answer is the key.

If McMann wants to stay in Toronto, where he’s made a life for himself. All good. From stories about his relationship with the Toronto community, it seems he’s built connections. He even recently paid tribute to a man he met at a nearby grocery store who had passed away. He wore the young man’s work vest during a recent game walk-in. Small moments like that tell you a lot about him. Staying could make sense if that’s what matters.

If McMann Wants to Stay, Work Out an Extension

If he wants to stay, it’s simple: tell Brad Treliving, work out an extension, and keep doing his thing in Toronto. But if Edmonton is where he wants to land, he just says it. He tells Treliving he won’t re-sign, and suddenly, a trade not only makes sense but also becomes a must-do for the Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs cannot afford to let McMann walk for nothing during the offseason, which he could.

Practically, Edmonton fits. McMann is a big winger who can hit 20 goals—he’s at 17 now—and he brings the kind of hard-nosed, playoff-ready style they could really use. Proximity to home is a bonus. If he walks, he can explore the market. If he wants Edmonton, there’s never been a better time: the Maple Leafs are about to sell, he’s still under 30, and he could give them another five years of consistent 20-goal seasons.

Once McMann Figures Things Out, the Rest Is a Laydown

The plan itself is simple. He figures out what he wants, signals it, and the rest follows. For once, McMann’s the one running the show. The Maple Leafs might have seemed in charge, but this is not their moment.

The question that matters: where does McMann actually want to be? Everything else flows from that. Minor, but million-dollar details.

Related: Four Maple Leafs Players the Oilers Should Jump On