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How Many Good Players Will the Maple Leafs Let Go?

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Old Prof | Last updated Mar 15, 2026 1:22 PM ET

Sometimes you just shake your head. Bobby McMann, the undrafted guy who, when given a chance, turned into one of Toronto’s more effective depth scorers, gets traded to the Seattle Kraken. In his first game there, what does he do? Scores two goals, adds an assist, and looks like he’s been there all season in his very first game.

Seattle wins 5–2 over the Vancouver Canucks, and suddenly you’re wondering: how did the Maple Leafs let this guy go?

McMann Wasn’t an Unknown with the Maple Leafs

It’s not like McMann was some random flyer. He scored 20 goals last season and, with the two he put up last night. He’s up to 21 goals this season, already his career best. In addition, he plays a physical, dependable game that makes him the kind of middle-six threat every team wants.

Still, the Maple Leafs traded him away for a pair of draft picks—coin flips, really. Who knows if those ever become NHL players, but McMann’s out there producing in Seattle right now. You can’t help thinking about what he could’ve brought if he’d stayed: steady minutes, proven finishing touch, someone who can carry a line and help out on the man advantage.

McMann Was a Healthy Scratch with the Maple Leafs

The lead-up to his debut was almost comical. He hadn’t played since March 2—scratched twice with Toronto, then stuck waiting on visa paperwork after the trade. Still, once he hit the ice in Seattle, he looked right at home. Playing with Jordan Eberle and Matty Beniers, McMann jumped straight onto the top line, cashed in on a slick feed from Eberle. Suddenly, the Kraken have a guy who can create instant offence.

For Maple Leafs fans, it’s another in a series of gut punches. You watch a player you knew, a character player who quietly earned his minutes and your respect, go to another team and instantly make a difference. McMann’s showing that sometimes it’s not about what a player can do in one system. Sometimes it’s just about fit, opportunity, and confidence. Seattle gave him all three in a hurry.

These Backward Moves Are Getting to Be Regular Things in Toronto

So here Maple Leafs are, shaking their heads and asking: How many more “under-the-radar” contributors has Toronto waved goodbye to? McMann was a goal-scoring forward all season long, a guy who chipped in regularly.

For now, he’s lighting up Seattle, and Maple Leafs fans can only watch and hope they don’t see a repeat of the same story they’ve seen too many times before. Of course, the counterargument is that McMann didn’t produce much in the postseason while with the Maple Leafs.

One can only hope that the hockey gods are smiling, that the Kraken make the postseason, and that McMann lights it up. How fun would that be?

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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