Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Michael McCarron’s trade to Minnesota gives the Toronto Maple Leafs a clearer idea of a Bobby McMann deal, and it adjusted what potential value he could bring but there’s still a chance to walk away with a first-round pick if they’re proactive (and lucky) enough.
On Tuesday, the Minnesota Wild shored up their forward depth for the playoff push as they acquired Michael McCarron from the Nashville Predators for a 2028 second-round pick.
McCarron, 30, is a towering 6-foot-6 forward who doesn’t score too often but loves to hit and use his large frame and size to disrupt opponents and make life very tough especially against the boards.
McMann market resets, but Toronto still has lots of value left
That means that the trade market for someone like Bobby McMann has shifted, though there’s still a chance that the Maple Leafs can walk away with a decent haul. If McCarron; a player who is typically less offensive and more of a grinder can get a second-round pick then that’s good news for Toronto.
McMann, 29, has 32 points in 60 games (19 goals, 13 assists) and has added 135 hits and a minus-3 in 15:19 TOI, and is on pace to set career-highs in all there major offensive categories (points, goals, assists).
He’s as equally a physical player as McCarron, but has the benefit of being a speedy winger with a great shot and scoring touch. They are both roughly the same age, though McCarron does make a tad less than McMann on his current deal.
Why McMann can still get more than one second-rounder
But since McMann offers a much more rounded game than McCarron, this price reset isn’t going to completely ruin his value. He could very well still garner a 2026 second and third round pick, or find a 2026 and 2027 second, especially since he costs only $1.35-million.
Then on top of that, if the Maple Leafs retain on McMann they could save teams even more money and cap-strapped teams like Edmonton would have no issues trading a potential first-rounder for him. He would cost them less than league minimum for a guy who scores 20-goals and has speed just a tad less than Connor McDavid.
Although the sentiment around the Maple Leafs right now is that getting a first-round pick is out of the cards, that doesn’t mean they can’t find a great deal for McMann. If McCarron brings back a second with a niche role, the assuredly Toronto can get multiple for a player who does a lot more for the same price.
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Michael McCarron trade to Wild resets price for Leafs winger Bobby McMann
Should the Maple Leafs trade Bobby McMann for less than a first-round pick?