Bobby McMann is telling Maple Leafs fans he wants to stay in Seattle

Traded this season at the trade deadline to much chagrin from Leafs Nation, Bobby McMann really settled down in Seattle and found immediate success. Under head coach Lane Lambert whom he knew in Toronto, McMann turned into a man possessed - cementing himself no longer as a late bloomer, but officially here.

With 14 points in 18 games including four multi-point games, he absolutely did everything he could to get the Kraken in the playoffs but it wasn't enough.

As McMann looks to free agency, no doubt he has some unfinished business with the Kraken and for those Maple Leafs fans who were hopeful that the former speedster would make his way back are going to be in for a gut punch:

McMann posted on his personal Instagram a photo of him celebrating a goal, and simply captioned it with an octopus emoji; clearly a symbol of the Kraken moniker. But it was the team itself replying with some fire themselves that has led serious credence to him coming back.

The big issue with McMann in Toronto wasn't his production but the fact the team was not sure if they wanted to pay him the salary he's deserved. Earning only $1.35-million this year, he was expected to triple that and the Maple Leafs said no thank you.

Instead, he was dealt to the Kraken for a second and fourth round pick; even after so much speculation he could pull in at least a first. Brad Treliving got a horrible return looking back, and it was one of the nails in his eventual coffin.

Well, Seattle has a projected $28-million in salary cap and while some names like Eeli Tolvanen and Jaden Schwartz are going to need contracts, it's pretty smooth sailing if they wanted McMann.

Expect the Kraken to present a deal for five-years at roughly $5-million per season. It certainly rewards him for his growth, gives him job security, and it at least allows Seattle a pretty easy out if he regresses (so long as there isn't a ton of protection).

They clearly value McMann more than Toronto did, and much like Edmonton did with Zach Hyman - they could steal a 40+ goal scorer for basically nothing.

He averaged just over 15 minutes a night with the Maple Leafs...as their fifth leading goal scorer. Craig Berube never gave him the leg room to run with his talents and it shows. With Seattle, he got nearly 18 minutes a game and scored as many power-play goals in 18 games with the Kraken than he did in 60 games with Toronto.

McMann had 29 goals last year and still couldn't crack 16 minutes meanwhile Toronto was playing Calle Jarnkrok the same amount of time pretty much with zero benefits.

Looking at what Seattle has coming up with Berkly Catton, Oskar Fisker Molgaard, Shane Wright, Matty Beniers, Kaapo Kakko - it's an incredibly exciting team and McMann just solidifies them as contenders with a full season under his belt.

In the mythos of Norwegian folklore, The Kraken is a ship-crushing, lightning-quick, and powerful force that makes even the bravest men think twice about approaching it.

In the NHL, Bobby McMann is a body-crushing, speedy, and tough as nails player, and Seattle is about to unleash their real-life version of the beast.

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