Welcome back to NHL Rumours here at Last Word On Hockey. In this edition, the newest batch of chatter has brought some interesting insight into the future of impending unrestricted free agent Bobby McMann and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
NHL Rumours: Maple Leafs Could Be Extending McMann on a “Hometown Discount“
Rumour: The talk surrounding McMann has posited that the Maple Leafs would be looking to deal the 29-year-old at the NHL Trade Deadline. The expectation is that the club could get as much as possible in return amid a bone-dry trade market. But now, insider Darren Dreger believes that the Leafs and general manager Brad Treliving might be holding onto McMann after all.
Anaylsis: According to Dreger, NHL Rumours have shifted to a potential extension, as McMann might offer Toronto a hometown discount.
“Bobby McMann loves playing for the Leafs, he’s not taking an enormous hometown discount to stay, but what if he takes $4.5 [million average annual value] on a longer term? Those are some of the things Treliving… and hockey operations are wrestling with.”
Could a hometown discount, even if a small one, be truly possible?
That’s something that appears to be on the table. If McMann is willing to cut the team a break, NHL Rumours may transition from the Leafs selling at the NHL Trade Deadline. While the Leafs may not necessarily become buyers, the focus may move away from selling everything they can.
Keeping McMann Makes Sense for Toronto
Keeping McMann makes sense for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He’s one of the few players the Leafs have developed through their system. He was undrafted and came up through the ranks to earn a key role on the team.
Before the Olympic break, McMann had earned a spot on the team’s top line. That’s why these NHL Rumours could seem rational. It wouldn’t be completely unreasonable to see McMann sign with the Leafs.
It’s also worth pointing out that McMann is still young enough to be a key piece moving forward. The club could get several useful years out of McMann, especially if he can remain a solid middle-six forward well into his 30s.
McMann Chatter Won’t Go Away Until There’s a Deal
The chatter surrounding McMann will likely ramp up leading up to the March 6th NHL Trade Deadline. Of course, that could change with news of a deal. If the Maple Leafs can effectively extend McMann, then NHL Rumours could turn towards other pieces on the roster. That said, McMann remains one of the most valuable pieces on the Maple Leafs’ roster. He’s a solid depth forward with a highly palatable salary cap hit.
That’s essentially what contending teams are after. McMann offers good value with a very modest cap hit. He’s the type of player just about every contender could easily add without blowing up their cap situation.
It remains unclear where NHL Rumours could trend towards other players on the Leafs roster. Morgan Rielly’s name has come up frequently over the last few weeks. While that trade may not happen at this year’s trade deadline, it might become a major topic during the offseason.
But one thing is certain, chatter surrounding the Leafs will continue to make headlines as the season hits the stretch run.
Main Photo Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images