A former Toronto Maple Leaf and a former 40-goal scorer, Jared McCann, might be made available by the Seattle Kraken, with him being one year out from free agency.
McCann was acquired by Seattle from Toronto in the expansion draft and saw his numbers explode instantly with more playing time and opportunity. In the 2022-23 season, the Kraken saw their best success, and so did McCann; he scored 40 goals and 30 assists for 70 points.
NHL insider David Pagnotta listed Seattle in his trade board and stated that the Kraken are gauging the market for Jared McCann.
Since then, however, the Kraken have been treading water and directionless for a significant period. And with McCann projected to be a free agent in a year from now, it might be time for Seattle to pick a direction before one is made for them.
McCann put up 20 goals and 20 assists last season and was tied for the fifth-highest point total on the Kraken with 40 points. However, the highest point getter on the team was 55, and the Seattle Kraken had one of the worst offences in the NHL.
The four days Jared McCann spent as a Maple Leaf
Jared McCann was traded from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 17th, 2021, for a seventh-round pick and Filip Hallander.
Four days later, he was selected by the Seattle Kraken in their expansion draft, and a year later, he was a 40-goal scorer.
Kyle Dubas acquired McCann in a move to protect the Toronto Maple Leafs from Seattle drafting any of the other players they wanted on the roster that they would have to leave unprotected.
It was a creative move; it just turned out McCann would become a very competent middle-six forward, and it left Toronto with egg on its face.
Why a left shot still fixes what Toronto actually lacks
Toronto is in a really interesting position, and new general manager John Chayka has been incredibly aggressive at overhauling the roster despite not moving any core members of the team.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have an abundance of left-handed forwards and very few right-handed forwards.
Adding someone to your top six also improves the bottom six as well because it pushes someone down. Adding someone like McCann to the top six and playing on John Tavares' wing will likely see his production soar and give the Maple Leafs an incredibly deep forward group.
The Maple Leafs are trying to contend next season, especially with superstar center Auston Matthews only having two years left on his contract.
And while the Maple Leafs have not been connected to McCann via the Pagnotta article, that does not mean that this front office won't continue to get aggressive and creative.
To look at Seattle's position, McCann has a 10-team no-move clause, but only one year left to free agency. And the Kraken have been one of the worst teams in the NHL over the last three seasons; letting McCann walk for free is awful asset management for a team that is likely going to be building for the future with the state of their team.
McCann only makes 5 million dollars next year, which is super cheap, and Seattle has an abundance of cap room and might be willing to retain him for some extra assets going back their way.
This is where the Toronto Maple Leafs fit in. They have continued to be aggressive in filling out this roster, and adding someone who is a first- or second line winger/ spot center allows Toronto more flexibility to move out players like Dakota Joshua, or, with Domi being sidelined, allows Easton Cowan to feast on the third line with Nick Paul as his center.
Toronto at the moment is pressed for cap room, but the price tag, considering his contract and paying Seattle to hit part of the cap hit, would not be an exorbitant amount.
McCann's $5-million cap hit this year only works if Morgan Rielly is moved out with his $7.5-million cap hit, or if Seattle retains salary and the Maple Leafs create space another way.
Where will Jared McCann end up next season?
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