Seattle is already moving to extend Bobby McMann after the Maple Leafs failed to reach a deal at the deadline
Photo credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
Bobby McMann is thriving in Seattle and the Kraken are keen to re-sign him which leaves the Maple Leafs high and dry if they were hoping for a reunion this summer.
There's simply no denying it now: The McMann trade is a dismal failure. Not for the Kraken, they're absolutely loving the absolute tear he's been on but for the Maple Leafs who have more than just a bit of egg on their face.
How they were unable to get a first-round pick for McMann was bizarre and a poor decision, and now looking at what he's done with his 11 points in 8 games (7 goals, 4 assists) — it's hard to imagine what Brad Treliving was thinking.
Friedman notes that the Kraken and McMann are looking towards a reunion in free agency
Well, Maple Leafs fans are thinking that McMann loved it a lot here and feel like he may be willing to come back so long as the price is right. However, that might not be as easy as they first thought considering that Seattle is keen to bring him back too.
Elliotte Friedman reported on Saturday's Headlines that the Kraken love what McMann has brought them and view him as part of their future:
I don't think it's gone far down the road, but we have heard the Kraken are interested in keeping McMann. We know the Maple Leafs never really got close, I still think there was quite a gap before he was traded but he's been an excellent fit and they want to say 'Hey, can we at least talk about this?'
That's bad news for the Maple Leafs especially knowing that Seattle has the space to be able to pay McMann what he wants, and with no real plan right now — Toronto is likely out of luck.
The Maple Leafs' disconnect with Bobby McMann makes their trade package for him look even worse by the day
To recap, this was the deal Toronto made involving McMann:
Seattle receives: (F) Bobby McMann (19 goals, 32 points, $1.35-million AAV)
Toronto receives: 2026 Fourth-Round Pick (ANA), 2027 Second-Round Pick (CBJ or WPG)
McMann wasn't even worth an early round pick in this year's draft, and the team essentially just washed their hands of him and were hoping it didn't backfire.
Well it has spectacularly, and their hope for a reunion slips more and more by the day as McMann keeps thriving. Toronto didn't want to pay McMann $5-million for the next five years, and while there's genuine regression concerns — he's proven to be a great piece wherever he goes.
It's led to a lot of regret from Brad Treliving and his rapid-fire spending spree on NCAA free agents shows that he is banking on the next McMann to come through the ranks (and he may have one in Brandon Buhr).
Though if history is to be believed, Buhr is going to come and be a great part of the offence before Toronto unceremoniously ships him out of town for a lesser package.
It's a lesson that the Maple Leafs cannot afford to repeat, and the fact they are going to lose McMann for good should be a wake-up call. It's time to reward your players because you'll never know what you have until it's gone.
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Radko Gudas is now in a walking boot and the timing may have just robbed the Leafs of their payback on Monday
Radko Gudas is now in a walking boot and the timing may have just robbed the Leafs of their payback on Monday
Previously on Hockey Patrol