The trade rumours between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Edmonton Oilers aren’t going away anytime soon. In the latest edition of his ‘NHL trade matchmaker’ series for The Athletic, insider Chris Johnston took it one step further. He predicted that Maple Leafs forward Bobby McMann will be traded to the Oilers ahead of the March 6 trade deadline.
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It’s a prediction that makes a lot of sense when you look at where both teams are at. Toronto is trending toward selling, while Edmonton is clearly all-in after falling just short the past two seasons.
McMann Predicted to Be Dealt to Oilers
According to Johnston, the Oilers are looking for a player to round out their top nine. McMann checks a lot of those boxes. He already has 19 goals this season and brings a heavy, physical game that fits well alongside elite talent. Johnston also noted, there won’t be another 20-goal scorer available at this deadline with a cap hit as low as McMann’s.
Here’s what Johnston had to say: (‘NHL trade matchmaker: Predicting where top targets go by the deadline, part 5,’ The Athletic, Feb. 11, 2026)
There won’t be another 20-plus goal man available at this deadline who commands a cap hit below the league’s minimum salary. But the Leafs can get him there with full retention. There’s going to be a premium charged for doing that, but part of being all-in is doing whatever it takes to increase your odds of winning.
While certainly not the most important part of this equation, McMann is an Albertan who was raised a few hours from Edmonton in Wainwright. It’s conceivable he might be more than just a rental if the fit is right. He has shown in Toronto that he can go get the puck for highly skilled linemates and play anywhere you need him in the lineup.
McMann carries a $1.35 million cap hit. If the Maple Leafs retain half, that drops him down to $675,000. For a team like Edmonton that is fighting the cap, that’s a pretty ideal situation. Johnston believes the Oilers would be willing to pay a premium because they know this is their window to win.
Will the Oilers Pay the Reported Asking Price?
Reports suggested Maple Leafs general manager (GM) Brad Treliving is asking for a first-round pick in return for McMann. That’s not a small ask. If Edmonton isn’t willing to part with a first-rounder, the return could shift toward multiple second-round picks with a prospect, or even a very sought-after prospect instead.
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There’s also the Alberta connection to think about. McMann is from Wainwright, just a few hours outside of Edmonton. It’s wouldn’t the main reason to make a trade, but it does add another layer. If the fit works, he might not just be a rental. The Oilers could look at extending him rather than letting him walk this summer.
At the end of the day, this feels like more than just noise. The pieces line up, now it just comes down to whether Edmonton is willing to meet the price.
