If the Toronto Maple Leafs end up selling at this year’s trade deadline (which they absolutely should do), then Bobby McMann is the most obvious choice to be moved. He’s a pending UFA, has produced at a 20-goal, 45-point pace for two straight seasons, and is due for a big raise this summer. 

McMann has been the centre of most rumours surrounding the Leafs assets. He’s clearly their best rental to sell, and other teams are interested. Teams this time of year are looking for heavy, physical forwards who can put the puck in the net. That’s exactly who Bobby McMann is.

But his success and interest in him around the league begs the question: Should the Leafs just try to keep him? If so many other teams want him, is that an indicator that he should stay a Leaf for the next few years?

Let’s weigh the pros and the cons.

Keeping McMann

McMann has played a key role on the Leafs this season, moving throughout the lineup and playing beside Auston Matthews for a good chunk of the year. He is, without a doubt, one of the Leafs most important forwards. Craig Berube has grown to love McMann—a testament to the forward’s growth since the beginning of last season.

If the Leafs want to compete next year, which all signs are pointing to, then McMann could be a big part of that. Yes, he’ll need a raise, but he has proven to be a 20-goal scorer in the NHL. Bobby McManns do not grow on trees, and throwing him away for a draft pick or a much younger player seems counterintuitive if the goal is to win next season.

McMann can play basically anywhere in the lineup, and having him as a solidified top-nine option helps the already-thinning Leafs forward group. Who is their next best left winger? Matias Maccelli? Nick Robertson?

Re-signing McMann makes a lot of sense. It’s definitely not his fault the Leafs have struggled this year,  and if they were good, we’d surely be talking about extending him… right?

What could he fetch in a trade?

As we saw last year, deadline prices can get absurdly high. At this point, some teams are smart for sitting the deadline out because of what it takes to upgrade their roster.

What that means is it is likely that McMann could fetch a first-round pick or a bona fide top prospect. Isaac Howard, who has 30 points in 23 AHL games at 21 years old, is a name that’s been thrown out there. Don’t tell Oilers fans, but that seems like a really high price to me!

If these are the types of assets we’re talking about for McMann, it does make sense to move him. The Leafs have hit on their recent first-round picks (Easton Cowan and Ben Danford), so there should be faith that they pick a good player if they get even a late first for him. A slightly older prospect, between 20 and 23, would be ideal to help compete as early as next year, but anything with a first-round “value” for McMann seems like a great idea for Toronto.

The Leafs are in no need to sell McMann, so there’s no reason to settle. If Treliving can get a first-round pick or a prospect that can help the Leafs during Matthews’ contract, it should be a no-brainer. If they are only offered a second-rounder? Hang up the phone and see what McMann wants on an extension.

The verdict

Even considering the positives of re-signing McMann, I think the obvious choice is still to sell him. McMann is an undrafted late-bloomer who’s risen through the ranks of the Leafs organization for years. It is a huge success story to turn an undrafted college player into a first-round pick in a trade. That should be the plan of action.

McMann is an awesome player. But he’s also 29 years old and has never produced in the playoffs. He has all the tools to do so, but it’s hard to trust him after last year’s run. 

Yes, he’d still help the Leafs next year, but if he’s demanding almost $5M on the open market, there’s a lot of risk with a guy his age. Any sort of long-term deal could end up ugly, and the Leafs have ample cap space to get someone else to fill his role.

Toronto has been really good at drafting—when they actually have picks to use—so they’ve earned my trust in using a first or two seconds wisely. Those picks could also be used to get someone else better than McMann in the offseason.

At the end of the day, it’s time to finally capitalize on McMann’s value. It would be a waste to let this play out into the summer. Deal him now, and get a great return.