Bobby McMann isn’t a huge Toronto Maple Leafs star. And that’s part of why his story is so instructive. He wasn’t drafted. He attended Colgate University in the ECAC Division I and signed as a free agent with the Maple Leafs in April 2022.
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Since then, with the organization’s help, he became a 20-goal scorer last season and is just a single goal short this season. He’s skated just three full NHL seasons. He’s 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.
There’s a Problem with the Maple Leafs Moving McMann
Moving him is goofy. It’s short-sighted. It’s the exact kind of “almost” mentality that has trapped the team in repeated cycles of disappointment. The Maple Leafs tend to chase shiny objects—draft picks, prospects, hypotheticals—rather than holding onto players who already deliver at the NHL level. McMann is a rare case for the organization.
He’s a player you know can contribute and fit the team, and yet the Maple Leafs reflex is to consider shipping him off.
The irony is rich. McMann has already proven he can play at this level, and if anyone has earned his spot, it’s McMann. Meanwhile, teams around the NHL who are serious about contending have been trading away first-round picks to build their rosters. Elliott Friedman’s recent comments about how much he thinks McMann would bring in a trade make McMann’s situation even more glaring.
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Friedman shared that contending teams are all-in on proven talent, even if it costs a high pick. The Maple Leafs, in contrast, seem to value a draft pick over a reliable 20-goal scorer.
McMann Is an Unrestricted Free Agent After This Season
Here’s 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’s linked to the Edmonton Oilers, where he grew up an Oilers fan just a couple of hours’ drive east of the city. That changes the stakes.
So what should Toronto do? There’s one simple, pragmatic approach that cuts through all the noise: ask him. Ask the question every team with a pending UFA should ask: “Do you want to stay here?”
You don’t ask in a pressure-cooker, “We own you” kind of way – just an honest, straightforward question. You’ve earned a spot. You fit. We want you, but do you want to stay in Toronto?
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If the answer is “yes,” 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’t trade him. Don’t overthink it.
If McMann Hesitates or Wavers, That’s a Danger Signal
If he hesitates, wavers, or says, “I’m not sure,” that’s your danger signal. That’s a player who will likely test the market. And when the market opens in July, Toronto can’t just hope he comes back. In that scenario, trading him is the only realistic option. You don’t let a productive NHL player walk for nothing.
If he says flat-out no, then the Maple Leafs’ hands are tied. They must move him, thank him for his contributions, and hope the return helps the organization. It’s not fun. It’s not ideal. But it’s the reality of the business.
(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
The larger lesson here is that McMann offers the Maple Leafs a chance to rethink their “trade their youngsters” mentality. Don’t reflexively chase the next shiny trade deadline rental or two. Don’t panic over what you might get. Build with what you have. Reward proven players. Communicate honestly. Only trade someone when you absolutely have to.
For the Maple Leafs, McMann Is a Symbol of What Works
McMann is a symbol of what works: take a free-agent underdog, let him prove himself, and then trust the process. That’s the kind of thinking the Maple Leafs need more of. If they can manage McMann intelligently—either keeping him or moving him for a legitimate return—they’ll be setting a precedent.
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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 – 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.
Sometimes, the smart play isn’t in the trade room. Sometimes, it’s 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’s the clearest signal Toronto has for why the organization’s old reflexive mentality needs a serious rethink.
