Utah Mammoth Center Emerges as Ideal Trade Target for the Maple Leafs
Photo credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
RFA center Jack McBain could be a great candidate for the Toronto Maple Leafs if they decide to trade for his signing rights this summer.
It's going to be a wild offseason for the Maple Leafs this summer, as they try to navigate a new era without Mitch Marner, and try to establish their new identity as a grittier, tougher, and hopefully more productive playoff team.
There are several free agents and potential trades available, but one name who has popped up recently that could really help is Utah Mammoth center Jack McBain.
Jack McBain potentially available for trade/offer sheet: Elliotte Friedman
According to Elliotte Friedman on his 32 Thoughts podcast, he mentioned that McBain was a name that hasn't been thrown around a lot but wonders if he could be on the move either via an offer sheet or a potential trade:
I think the Mammoth really like him and I think they are trying to sign him, but that's a name that a couple of people were telling me, we were talking about offer sheets, who's an under the radar type that could get one, McBain was a name I heard quite a bit. - Elliotte Friedman, 32 Thoughts
Now while the Maple Leafs can offer him a potential offer sheet, they might be able to acquire him a bit easier via the trade market.
Toronto shouldn't waste their compensation, try to trade for Jack McBain
An offer sheet for McBain would allow Toronto to field an offer worth a maximum of $2,340,037 per season and give the Mammoth their 2026 3rd Rounder as payment.
McBain, 25, made basically $1.6M on his last deal, and an upgrade of almost the league minimum is no chump change. He's the perfect style of player for Craig Berube, and certainly fits the bill at 6'4, 220 pounds.
Not a big offensive presence, what he brings is an unreal amount of physicality. Over his last three seasons, he has an astounding 799 hits (266 hits on average) but still managed 33 goals and 46 assists.
But instead of signing him, the team should try and dump off some assets instead, and perhaps a package involving Nick Robertson or Pontus Holmberg and a low-level prospect could get it done.
That gives the Mammoth either a player with a ton of offensive upside who needs a change of scenery, or a young defensively sound and bulky forward who can try and replace some of what McBain brings, and another body to throw into their farm system.
That allows them to keep their pick and use it elsewhere, while also opening up the roster space for potential new faces to come in.
It's all about changing the identity of the Maple Leafs, and adding McBain would certainly inject a different look into the team's forward group; something they desperately need.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 11 | 296 ANSWERS Utah Mammoth Center Emerges as Ideal Trade Target for the Maple Leafs Do you think Jack McBain is worth an offer sheet from the Maple Leafs? | ||
| Yes | 146 | 49.3 % |
| No | 150 | 50.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
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