Just as everyone in the hockey world was starting to feel like Bobby McMann was a done deal with the Edmonton Oilers, conflicting reports surfaced suggesting that GM Stan Bowman had actually been in talks with the Toronto Maple Leafs about Nicolas Roy and Oliver Ekman-Larsson – and not the Alberta native Wainwright.
While this development, along with competition from other interested candidates, somewhat upsets the plans of those who joined McMann to the Oilers, they remain one of – if not the – frontrunners in the eyes of many, including TSN insider Chris Johnston.
In Part 5 of The Athletic’s trade matchmaker series, Johnston predicted McMann would still end up in Edmonton.
wrote Johnston:
“The Oilers are all in on chasing a championship, but they’re operating with limited cap flexibility while they tailor new pieces. In comes McMann. There won’t be another 20-plus goal guy available at this deadline who will get a cap hit below the league minimum salary. But the Leafs can get him there with full retention. There’ll be a premium charged for doing that, but part of being all in is doing whatever it takes to improve your chances of winning. enlarge.”
Johnston adds that while the Oilers may not be focused on immediately extending McMann, the forward is an Albertan who grew up a few hours from Edmonton in Wainwright. “It’s conceivable that he could be more than just a rental if the fit is right. He showed in Toronto that he can get the puck for very skilled linemates and play wherever you need him in the lineup.”
The 29-year-old McMann is, of course, a UFA awaiting the second and final season of the two-year, $2.7 million extension he signed with the Maple Leafs in 2024. He had a very productive start to the season, recording 32 points (19 goals, 13 assists) in 56 games.
Bobby McMann remains an ideal target for the Oilers
Players with term left on their contracts like Roy and Ekman-Larsson are intriguing and offer more security, but at the end of the day, McMann is still exactly what Edmonton needs.
His straight-line game, built around speed, power and finishing ability, is a great fit for the Oilers’ top nine, and he’s the type of player who could flourish alongside Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl if necessary, as we’ve seen with players of similar style in the past.
McMann’s $1.35 million cap hit — which could drop to $675,000 with full retention — is another big advantage for an Edmonton team that is perpetually tight against the cap and is often forced to ask for retention just to make deals work. He checks every box.
That said, GM Brad Treliving is reportedly looking for a first-round pick, which is a high price to pay. Unless Bowman is confident he can work out an extension with McMann, it’s hard to imagine him willing to part with another first-rounder for what could ultimately be a loan deal. However, if they can overcome that hurdle, there is a very real chance the Oilers and Maple Leafs will reach a deal before the March 6 trade deadline.
Next:
Discover more from NHL Trade Talk
Subscribe to receive the latest posts by email.
#Oilers #linked #20plus #goal #scorers #latest #insider #predictions