The Toronto Maple Leafs have a plethora of forwards, which would lead to some getting less playing time than they are used to.
One player who could see a diminished role is Bobby McMann. With that, Heavy.com has a trade idea that would see the Maple Leafs deal McMann to the St. Louis Blues in a one-for-one deal.
Maple Leafs acquire:
Blues acquire:
The proposed deal would be an intriguing one as Toronto would acquire a 6-foot-6 forward who fits better in the bottom-six, while the Blues get a goal scorer who doesn’t have a clear role with the Maple Leafs.
Toronto would add Toropchenko, who will earn $1.7 million next season and will be a UFA at the end of the season. The 26-year-old can play left or right wing and can play up and down the lineup, which gives Craig Berube options.
Toropchenko was selected in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Draft. He recorded 4 goals and 14 assists for 18 points in 80 games, which was a down season. But, in the playoffs, he had 2 goals and 2 assists for 4 points in 7 games, showing his game translates better to the postseason, which is a need for Toronto.
In return, the Maple Leafs would give up McMann, who struggled down the stretch for Toronto and into the playoffs. His role with the team is not set, as he could be competing for a roster spot. He’s entering the final year of his two-year, $2.7 million deal. McMan recorded 20 goals and 14 assists for 34 points in 74 games last season. However, he failed to score in 13 playoff games.
McMann Not Guaranteed Roster Spot for Maple Leafs
McMann struggled down the stretch for the Maple Leafs and will have to earn his role in training camp.
The undrafted forward struggled to score in the second half of the season and into the playoffs. With that, NHL analyst Bryan Hayes of TSN believes McMann could be a healthy scratch to begin the season.
“I’m not convinced he’s going to be there opening night,” Hayes said on OverDrive. “He doesn’t play as big as his credentials might suggest. He was awful in the playoffs, he should have come out of the lineup…
“There’s guys that haven’t proven that they can score goals, one of those guys would be Bobby McMann. So it’s not like McMann can put his hand up and say I’m guaranteed a spot. He’s making $1.3 million. I’m not saying he will be on waivers. A, they may trade him, B, he might just be the 13th forward. At $1.3 (million) you don’t need to play a guy like that.”
McMann was a healthy scratch on opening night last year, so perhaps he will be scratched again. Or, the Maple Leafs could use him as trade bait to get an impactful player back for him.
Toropchenko is Familiar with Berube
Toronto would add Toropchenko in the proposed deal, whom Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube is familiar with.
Berube was the coach of the Blues from 2018 to 2023, and he coached the Russians for parts of two seasons.
Given that Berube is familiar with him and has confidence in him, he could be a useful player for the Maple Leafs.
He would also add more size to the Maple Leafs’ lineup and make them that much harder to play against.
Maple Leafs Deal McMann in Intriguing 1-for-1 Trade Pitch