{"id":448012,"date":"2026-02-06T00:39:21","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T00:39:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/448012\/"},"modified":"2026-02-06T00:39:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T00:39:21","slug":"maple-leafs-risk-another-blunder-with-bobby-mcmann-the-hockey-writers-toronto-maple-leafs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/448012\/","title":{"rendered":"Maple Leafs Risk Another Blunder with Bobby McMann – The Hockey Writers – Toronto Maple Leafs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bobby McMann<\/a> isn\u2019t a huge Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> star. And that\u2019s part of why his story is so instructive. He wasn\u2019t drafted. He attended Colgate University in the ECAC <\/a>Division I and signed as a free agent with the Maple Leafs in April 2022.<\/p>\n

Related: Oliver Ekman-Larsson Is Maple Leafs\u2019 Best Trade Chip Ahead of Trade Deadline\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Since then, with the organization\u2019s help, he became a 20-goal scorer last season and is just a single goal short this season. He\u2019s skated just three full NHL seasons. He\u2019s 29, young in experience but fully proven on the ice. Yet, right now, Toronto seems poised to trade him for a couple of draft picks.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a Problem with the Maple Leafs Moving McMann<\/p>\n

Moving him is goofy. It\u2019s short-sighted. It\u2019s the exact kind of \u201calmost\u201d mentality that has trapped the team in repeated cycles of disappointment. The Maple Leafs tend to chase shiny objects\u2014draft picks, prospects, hypotheticals\u2014rather than holding onto players who already deliver at the NHL level. McMann is a rare case for the organization.<\/p>\n

\"BobbyBobby McMann, Toronto Maple Leafs (Amy Irvin<\/a> \/ The Hockey Writers)<\/p>\n

He\u2019s a player you know can contribute and fit the team, and yet the Maple Leafs reflex is to consider shipping him off.<\/p>\n

The irony is rich. McMann has already proven he can play at this level, and if anyone has earned his spot, it\u2019s McMann. Meanwhile, teams around the NHL who are serious about contending have been trading away first-round picks to build their rosters. Elliott Friedman\u2019s recent comments about how much he thinks McMann would bring in a trade make McMann\u2019s situation even more glaring.<\/p>\n

Related: Who Might the Maple Leafs Sell Before the Olympic Break?<\/a><\/p>\n

Friedman shared that contending teams are all-in on proven talent, even if it costs a high pick<\/a>. The Maple Leafs, in contrast, seem to value a draft pick over a reliable 20-goal scorer.<\/p>\n

McMann Is an Unrestricted Free Agent After This Season<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the real kicker: McMann is an unrestricted free agent after this season. He could walk if he wanted. There are no restrictions. He could sign anywhere. Obviously, he\u2019s linked to the Edmonton Oilers, where he grew up an Oilers fan just a couple of hours\u2019 drive east of the city. That changes the stakes.<\/p>\n

So what should Toronto do? There\u2019s one simple, pragmatic approach that cuts through all the noise: ask him. Ask the question every team with a pending UFA should ask: \u201cDo you want to stay here?\u201d<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t ask in a pressure-cooker, \u201cWe own you\u201d kind of way \u2013 just an honest, straightforward question. You\u2019ve earned a spot. You fit. We want you, but do you want to stay in Toronto?<\/p>\n

Related: Will the Maple Leafs Regret Trading Away Fraser Minten?<\/a><\/p>\n

If the answer is \u201cyes,\u201d fantastic. Work out a short-term, fair bridge contract if you have to and are afraid of a long-term commitment. Reward the player, keep a valued member of the team intact, and stop pretending that a draft pick is worth more than a proven contributor in his prime. Don\u2019t trade him. Don\u2019t overthink it.<\/p>\n

If McMann Hesitates or Wavers, That\u2019s a Danger Signal<\/p>\n

If he hesitates, wavers, or says, \u201cI\u2019m not sure,\u201d that\u2019s your danger signal. That\u2019s a player who will likely test the market. And when the market opens in July, Toronto can\u2019t just hope he comes back. In that scenario, trading him is the only realistic option. You don\u2019t let a productive NHL player walk for nothing.<\/p>\n

If he says flat-out no, then the Maple Leafs\u2019 hands are tied. They must move him, thank him for his contributions, and hope the return helps the organization. It\u2019s not fun. It\u2019s not ideal. But it\u2019s the reality of the business.<\/p>\n

\"JosephWill Joseph Woll<\/a> become another trade-your-youngsters victim of the Toronto Maple Leafs?
(Photo by Claus Andersen\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The larger lesson here is that McMann offers the Maple Leafs a chance to rethink their \u201ctrade their youngsters\u201d mentality. Don\u2019t reflexively chase the next shiny trade deadline rental or two. Don\u2019t panic over what you might get. Build with what you have. Reward proven players. Communicate honestly. Only trade someone when you absolutely have to.<\/p>\n

For the Maple Leafs, McMann Is a Symbol of What Works<\/p>\n

McMann is a symbol of what works: take a free-agent underdog, let him prove himself, and then trust the process. That\u2019s the kind of thinking the Maple Leafs need more of. If they can manage McMann intelligently\u2014either keeping him or moving him for a legitimate return\u2014they\u2019ll be setting a precedent. <\/p>\n

Related: Is It Time for Nicholas Robertson to Leave the Maple Leafs?<\/a><\/p>\n

The Maple Leafs are where they are today because they have never shown the will to stop the repeated cycle that moves their youngsters for rentals. For the team to finally win its next Stanley Cup, they need to embrace more incremental progress that builds the best team possible \u2013 not one where one trade deadline piece might put it over the top. Then, when Stanley Cup time comes, they need to let the hockey gods deal with the rest.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, the smart play isn\u2019t in the trade room. Sometimes, it\u2019s in the locker room, where honest conversations happen that let good players like McMann keep doing good things. McMann is a player the Maple Leafs should want to keep. And right now, he\u2019s the clearest signal Toronto has for why the organization\u2019s old reflexive mentality needs a serious rethink.<\/p>\n

\"SUBSCRIBE<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Bobby McMann isn\u2019t a huge Toronto Maple Leafs star. And that\u2019s part of why his story is so…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":433278,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5106],"tags":[3819,5,20,5172,4,66,31,5171],"class_list":{"0":"post-448012","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-toronto-maple-leafs","8":"tag-bobby-mcmann","9":"tag-hockey","10":"tag-maple-leafs","11":"tag-mapleleafs","12":"tag-nhl","13":"tag-toronto","14":"tag-toronto-maple-leafs","15":"tag-torontomapleleafs"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nhl\/116020902044897707","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/448012","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=448012"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/448012\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/433278"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=448012"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=448012"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=448012"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}