The Maple Leafs now have a clearer idea of what a Bobby McMann trade could look like
Photo credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
With Kiefer Sherwood traded, the Toronto Maple Leafs have a much better idea of what a Bobby McMann trade could end up bringing back.
The San Jose Sharks made a splash on Monday by acquiring forward Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks for two draft picks as well as prospect Cole Clayton who is currently in the NCAA plying his trade.
With that said the Maple Leafs have a very similar player on their roster who is also a pending free agent who has started to prove his breakout wasn't a fluke -- Bobby McMann.
The late-blooming power forward has been great this season and has done everything Craig Berube has asked of him. Whether it's top line minutes with Auston Matthews or patrolling the bottom six, McMann does what he can to help the team win.
Bobby McMann could bring back serious trade return a la Kiefer Sherwood
Though taking a look at the Sherwood deal, you start to wonder if he can help the team out in other aspects; mainly as a trade piece.
While nothing is saying that McMann is expected to be traded, but it does give the Maple Leafs a bit of clarity as to what they could acquire.
They would be losing one of their more effective roster players, but if this ends up becoming a retool down the line then it'll be important to have enough assets to build from.
If Toronto trades Bobby McMann then they'll need to deal with the fan response
Those assets come in a McMann deal, so Toronto has to determine whether this year is one of the last years they should go for it with who they have, or decide to truly change their identity and make some roster moves.
McMann, 30, has 25 points in 47 games while adding 99 hits and a plus-five rating in 15:09 TOI; he's on pace to smash his career high in points and very well could hit the 25-goal plateau as well.
Trading him away won't help the offense any, and the fans lose someone they really love. But for a team who is desperate for defense, it feels like no one is off limits which means there could be a Bobby McMann deal at some point.
The Maple Leafs aren't shy about trading away some of the fanbase's favorite players and McMann could very well join that list in due time.
But whether or not that turns out to be a mistake or not remains to be seen -- if Toronto ends up trading him at all.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Maple Leafs' latest roster move suddenly makes sense after the Matthew Knies news
Maple Leafs' latest roster move suddenly makes sense after the Matthew Knies news
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 20|693 ANSWERS The Maple Leafs now have a clearer idea of what a Bobby McMann trade could look like Do you think Toronto needs to keep or trade Bobby McMann? | ||
| Keep Him! | 570 | 82.3 % |
| Trade Him! | 123 | 17.7 % |
| List of polls | ||