Toronto Maple Leafs Weigh Bobby McMann Extension At $5M As Term And Cap Concerns Stall Talks

As the trade deadline approaches, Toronto is still mulling over whether or not to keep Bobby McMann. With a potential $5-million salary on the table, they would be hard pressed to sign him for that much considering he is nearly 30, and with the potential for a drop-off early in the deal -- it might lead to another contract fiasco.

On the Real Kyper and Bourne Show, the topic of the Maple Leafs' trade deadline plans were a big talking point. McMann's name came up, as several contenders could use a player like him, and the Maple Leafs could use the draft capital.

Per co-host Nick Kypreos, the team is looking to get a discount on the forward but it's hit a snag when it comes to how long he'll be around:

But is that an option that Toronto should entertain?

If the Maple Leafs are truly dead set on re-signing McMann then they should think long and hard about what kind of deal to give him. While trade protection is a high possibility, they can't do what they've done before with full-no trades and massive lists of no-go destinations.

McMann has 19 goals while making only $1.35-million. That would put him above the likes of Ivan Barbashev, Nikolaj Ehlers and Jordan Kyrou, who all make much more money than him; he's producing better than guys who make 6x as much as him.

Getting him to sign for less than his reported $5-million is a task all on its own especially if he feels he earned the pay raise and if you compare it to others, he certainly does. If they can talk him into a deal worth say, $3.5-million over six years, that's $21-million for the entirety of a six-year deal.

Though this does leave the question of where Toronto finds the money for a top-tier defenseman, because with an already stretched cap a McMann extension, plus any other forward additions etc; they may not be able to afford a Morgan Rielly replacement -- something potentially disastrous down the line.

But if they sign him it's not like he's Matthew Knies and 23 years old. Already 29, he's going to be at least in his mid-30's by the time his deal is done.

Can his speed and scoring ability (not to mention the physicality) hold up? Does he regress in year two and handicap Toronto with yet another bad deal like David Kampf's was?

There's always the potential, but this is also Bobby McMann; a player who the team took a flyer on out of the NCAA and has turned into a reliable scorer who genuinely does add a lot of value even if he's still relatively new.

Getting a 20+ goal scorer with breakneck speed and who enjoys throwing hits for even $3.5-million is a bargain, and Toronto certainly needs someone with the versatility of McMann.

Plus, there's always a shot he'll end up returning this summer too as McMann revealed the option to always come back in free agency is still certainly on the table.

It's a tough balancing act. Toronto has lost four in a row, will likely miss the playoffs, and need to get as much back as they can from selling, though there's ways a chance they believe in McMann's help now than the future assets he'd bring back.

But they can have both if they end up playing their cards right, though that remains to be seen.

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Maple Leafs exploring Max Domi, Matias Maccelli trades with draft picks in play