The last of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ players moved at the NHL trade deadline debuted with his new team on Saturday.
That player was Bobby McMann, who suited up for the Seattle Kraken on Saturday night against the Vancouver Canucks. And all the former Leaf did was score two goals and an assist in his team’s 5-2 win.
McMann’s impact was immediate. The former Maple Leafs top-liner played on the Kraken’s main unit with center Matty Beniers and captain Jordan Eberle.
And, well, the chemistry was instant. The trio meshed quickly, with all three ending the night with three points. Eberle had three assists on the night, with Beniers adding a goal and two assists of his own.
McMann was the game’s first star. The Kraken forward stated his feelings following the game as quoted by NHL.com:
“It almost resembles, in a way, like your first (NHL) game,” McMann said after the game. “You got an entirely new group, new organization, new fans. You want to make a great first impression. Sometimes things go your way a little bit more than other nights, and luckily, that was tonight for me.”
McMann, who reportedly did not want to leave the Maple Leafs, has seemingly found a home immediately in Seattle. The 29-year-old is on track to become a UFA this summer. But by the looks of things, he might fit in just fine with the Kraken.
McMann Praises Linemates’ Skills
Following the game, McMann wasted no time in praising his linemates’ influence on him. He made it clear that playing with Beniers and Eberle allowed him to succeed in his debut.
“Those two control the play so well,” McMann declared. “When the puck is on their stick, they’re just so dynamic and unpredictable for the other team, so I’m just trying to get open for those guys. ‘Ebbs’ is so good at finding pockets around the ice, making those couple slip passes through guys’ legs, that’s easy hockey when he’s doing that … and Matty was just a workhorse tonight.”
During his tenure with the Maple Leafs, McMann found himself on the team’s top line for a good chunk of this season. That’s something that translated into his first game with Seattle on Saturday night.
Kraken fans can only imagine what the future holds for the newest team member.
McMann Could Get Contract He Wanted from Maple Leafs
One of the storylines leading up to the NHL trade deadline was McMann potentially signing a contract extension with the Maple Leafs. Reports varied, but they coincided in the fact that the undrafted forward was looking for a long-term extension.
Some insiders posited that McMann wanted a deal in the neighborhood of five years by $5 million or so. The extension the San Jose Sharks gave winger Kiefer Sherwood quickly became an easy comparable.
While the Maple Leafs balked at such a deal, McMann didn’t back down. The outcome was McMann traded at the deadline. For the time being, it seems that the newest Kraken will be just fine in his new home.
Perhaps that situation will translate into a new contract for the gritty winger.
Maple Leafs Ex-Top Liner Gets 3 Points in Kraken Debut