The Toronto Maple Leafs will have some interesting roster decisions to make surrounding their forward group.
The Maple Leafs have a surplus of forwards and could look to trade or waive some. Yet, one name that many penciled into a roster spot is Bobby McMann. Yet, NHL analyst Stephen Nixon of EditorinLeaf urges Toronto to move on from the scoring winger.
“As much as I can understand why keeping McMann makes a ton of sense as you can say that you have a 20-goal scorer on your third or fourth line, I don’t think it makes sense in Toronto,” Nixon wrote. “It’s the same reason why the team eventually moved on from Andreas Johnsson, Kasperi Kapanen and Connor Brown. Despite all three being “20-goal players” their game didn’t quite fit the type of player you want on their third line, and the likes of Scott Laughton, Dakota Joshua, Steven Lorentz and Nic Roy seemingly fit that better.”
“Instead of keeping McMann on the third or fourth line as depth, I feel like they would be better suited at trading him to acquire an asset, as I’m sure there’s a team out there that would want him in their top-six. At 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, the 20-goal scorer might be valued higher than you’d think across the league,” Nixon added.
McMann is entering the final year of a two-year, $2.7 million deal. McMann recorded 20 goals last season, but down the stretch, he struggled to score, as he didn’t score in the playoffs.
With that, Nixon wants the Maple Leafs to move on from McMann as he isn’t a second-line player, and doesn’t play the right way for the bottom-six.
Analyst Shares Maple Leafs Trade Return for McMann
Although McMann can add some scoring to the Maple Leafs’ offense, Nixon believes Toronto should move on.
The Maple Leafs added more bottom-six forwards this offseason, like Dakota Joshua, Nic Roy, and Michael Pezzetta, which is why Toronto could move on from McMann.
Nixon, meanwhile, also believes that the Maple Leafs should trade McMann to create a clear path to playing time for Nick Robertson.
“McMann was given much more ice-time and a better opportunity with better players, but barely contributed more goals. However, we somehow view McMann as this incredible value and we look at Robertson as a bust,” Nixon wrote… “In my opinion, the views on both Robertson and McMann are wrong and the team needs to push McMann away for a draft pick or prospect while they can to help set Robertson up for success.”
McMann has skated in 140 career games, recording 35 goals and 24 assists for 59 points.
Maple Leafs Coach Called out McMann
McMann struggled down the stretch and failed to score in the playoffs.
During the playoffs, Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube said he wanted to see more from McMann.
“I think it’s about focusing on two or three things out there,” Berube said. “He’s a great skater, got good speed. Big physical player. So for me, it’s about focusing on using your speed, getting in there and arriving on time on the forecheck. Arriving on time at the net. Things like that…
“For me it’s all about wall play, and things like that, for a player like himself,” Berube added. “I think he can get to the net more, he’s going to get his looks from his speed and his shot, but he needs to get around the paint more. I think that’s a big thing for me is getting to the blue paint more.”
McMann is projected to be the Maple Leafs’ third-line right winger.
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