Leafs, Bobby McMann far apart in negotiations, trade may be explored

As the Toronto Maple Leafs continue to lose their way into seller status ahead of March 6th’s trade deadline, they’ll have difficult decisions to make on their pending unrestricted free agents. Perhaps most prominent among them is winger Bobby McMann, who is in the second season of a two-year, $2.7 million deal with the Leafs.

McMann, 29, is one of Toronto’s rare developmental success stories over the last few years. Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2020, the Wainwright, Alberta native has become a valuable and versatile forward for the Leafs, playing up and down their lineup and improving his offensive production each season. However, with the Leafs outside of the playoff picture, they may be compelled to move him before the deadline if they can’t come to terms on a contract extension.

On Thursday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, hosts Tyler Yaremchuk and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton were joined by The Fourth Period‘s David Pagnotta to discuss where things stand with the Leafs and McMann.

Tyler Yaremchuk: We started the show talking about the Toronto Maple Leafs and some of their trade pieces. What’s the latest on Bobby McMann?

David Pagnotta: Those contract discussions continue, they go back and forth. One of the things that a lot of people have suggested is that $5 million times five years is the ballpark of where his value’s at and what he’s likely to get in July. I don’t think Toronto wants to do that. I haven’t gotten the sense this morning checking in on this, I don’t get the sense that the Leafs want to go near 5×5 for Bobby McMann. Lesser money, probably lesser term unless they extend the term even further and it drops the money considerably. If it’s 5×5 that’s not something that the Leafs are going to do and that’s going to realistically shift their focus towards the trade market.

You can catch the full discussion and the rest of Tuesday’s episode here…