If the Toronto maple leaves If they decide to shake things up before the deadline, Bobby McMann is suddenly one of the most interesting names on their roster. A year ago he was a deep forward who fought for minutes; now he’s a power forward with a finishing touch, a cheap cap hit and a style that teams love in the playoffs.
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According to Elliotte Friedman, there is a real demand build-up. All of this begs the big question: What could the Maple Leafs realistically get if they traded McMann?
Maple Leafs’ most valuable realistic trading chip
If the Maple Leafs don’t think they’ll re-sign him, Friedman believes McMann will become their most valuable moving piece. That’s not because he’s a superstar, but because he’s exactly the kind of players the contenders are trying to add in February.
Why? Because he is physical. He controls hard and can score. And perhaps most importantly: it is not expensive. According to Friedman, these types of players quickly attract attention.
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In a weak seller’s market, that combination is worth its weight in gold. Friedman suggested that McMann would at least likely end up in the “two-second” range. That’s already a strong return for a player who wasn’t even guaranteed a roster spot outside of camp. And depending on how the market develops, the price could go higher.
Why McMann’s value could rise
It all comes down to supply and demand. There aren’t many mid-six power wingers available this year, and the teams that need them most are the true Stanley Cup contenders, who have already traded away some of their draft picks.
That’s important because the contenders no longer have first-round picks to spend, and because they still need impact forwards, they end up paying a premium for whoever fills that role. If you’re a playoff team with real ambitions, and you know you can’t shop at the first round level, you look to the next tier. That’s the sweet spot where McMann fits.
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McMann isn’t going to score a first-rounder on his own. But he could absolutely land something just one step below that. And the fewer options available, the more its value increases.
The expansion question could become a major problem for McMann
There’s also the expansion factor, which Friedman mentioned when comparing McMann to previous trades. Look at what happened with Tyler Bertuzzi and the Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins: not everyone was willing to pay the extra price obligated to execute the extension as part of the deal.
The same goes for McMann. Some teams might want to hire him. Others may want to lock him up. Others may like the player but don’t want to commit to the term he wants. All these factors determine the final price.
If he is willing to sign for a reasonable amount, his value will increase. If he wants a longer-term contract or a bigger raise, some teams will back out. It’s not about whether he’s worth it; it’s about what fits in their books.
How high could returns for McMann actually go?
Realistically, this is the range according to Friedman: The floor is a second-round pick. The middle is two seconds or a second and a prospect. The ceiling is a late first in a larger package, especially if a contender becomes desperate or strikes elsewhere.
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The Maple Leafs may not reach the ceiling, but the mid-range is definitely in play. In a market that is so tight, with candidates who have little choice and are looking for size, scores and cost control, McMann checks too many boxes to fly under the radar.
Should the Maple Leafs move him?
Whether the Maple Leafs should move him is the more difficult question. McMann fits head coach Craig Berube’s style, brings value above his boxcar stats and is one of the few Maple Leafs forwards who consistently plays a tough game. Trading him helps the future, but hurts the present.
But if Toronto decides to keep one eye on tomorrow, McMann is exactly the type of player who could bring the kind of return they don’t have on the roster. That’s why he stands out as their best trade chip right now.
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