The Edmonton Oilers may have a new name on their radar as trade chatter begins to heat up ahead of the NHL Olympic roster freeze. According to a recent discussion between Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer and NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, Toronto Maple Leafs winger Bobby McMann is emerging as a player who could make a lot of sense in Edmonton.
Both Stauffer and Friedman spoke highly of McMann’s potential fit with the Oilers, citing his style of play and affordability as key reasons Edmonton could be interested.
“I love McMann,” Stauffer said during the conversation, noting that the forward is Alberta-born and would likely embrace the opportunity to play closer to home. Friedman agreed, calling McMann a “fast, competitive guy” and adding, “He’d look good on your roster.”
Is McMann The Ideal Depth Piece for the Oilers?
McMann may not be a headline-grabbing star, but he brings exactly the type of skill set contenders often target at the deadline. For the Oilers — a team struggling to find depth scoring behind its elite stars — McMann makes a lot of sense.
At 29 years old, he’s having a strong season with 17 goals and has shown he can contribute offensively when given the chance. He also carries a very manageable $1.35 million cap hit, making him a realistic option for a cap-strapped Oilers team.
That low cap number, however, means the asking price won’t be cheap. Stauffer suggested it would likely take at least a second-round pick and a prospect to pry him out of Toronto. As he put it, McMann is a “top-nine guy all day” at a bargain price.
Would the Leafs Be Better Served to Trade or Keep McMann?
Because McMann is a pending unrestricted free agent and does not have trade protection, he could be acquired as a rental for the stretch run. For the Maple Leafs, moving him might be the right move if this season continues to trend in the wrong direction.
He’s not the worst player to look at an extension with, but he may also want to test the market. If he does, the Leafs could potentially overpay for a forward who has scored a career-high of 20 goals in a single season. He’s on pace to break that mark this season, which could make him costly.
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Interestingly, he admitted that he grew up cheering for the Oilers. After a big game against Edmonton in March of 2024, he said, “I was an Oilers fan growing up. Maybe a little extra juice in the legs today playing against the Oilers.”
As for what the Maple Leafs could bring back in the deal, that’s unclear. One potential trade framework that could make sense involves Andrew Mangiapane going the other way. That is, if Mangiapane’s name moves the needle for GM Brad Treliving, which it might not. It’s a deal that works well for the Oilers, and they’d have to add a sweetener to make it work.
Could a second-round pick, a prospect, and Mangiapane be a deal that Toronto likes? One has to imagine that Treliving might get similar offers from other teams. If not, maybe the Oilers could offer up Ty Emberson, the second, and a prospect. The money works, and the Leafs could use a blueliner.
McMann may not be the flashiest target, but he fits extremely well into what the Oilers are trying to do at the trade deadline. That’s leverage the Leafs could use as they enter conversations with the Oilers’ GM, Stan Bowman. The fact that both Stauffer (who is plugged in with the Oilers brass) and Friedman like McMann as a fit suggests there might be something to it.
