The Toronto Maple Leafs appear to have one of the more interesting trade chips on the market as we head toward the March 6 Trade Deadline. That player is forward Bobby McMann, who could end up being one of their most valuable assets if they decide to sell. It has been reported that the Maple Leafs are looking for a first-round pick in return for McMann, should they choose to move him.
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At this point, there are still a few things up in the air. If the Maple Leafs come out of the Olympic break and play well, they could decide to hang on to players on expiring deals and see where things go. However, if they struggle, selling off assets becomes the more likely path, and McMann would almost certainly be one of the names at the top of that list. We also already know what Toronto is hoping to get back if that happens.
Maple Leafs Seeking First-Rounder for McMann
The idea of Toronto asking for a first-round pick was originally reported by Elliotte Friedman in a written edition of 32 Thoughts. That quickly picked up steam, and now it’s widely known around the league. Here’s what Friedman had to say:
“Toronto is looking for a first-rounder for Bobby McMann. Big and fast, can see the possibility,” Friedman reported.
“One challenge for 2026: Colorado, Dallas, Edmonton, Minnesota and Vegas have already traded their first-rounders. (Carolina dealt theirs, but got another one from Dallas.) Ottawa doesn’t have one, and is unlikely to get it. That limits potential partners. Tougher, but not impossible. McMann’s a good player.”
As Friedman pointed out, this is where things get tricky. When you’re trying to sell to a contending team, the pool of available assets is often limited. The Maple Leafs may not be able to get exactly what they’re asking for. We’ve seen this from the other side when Toronto has been buying and hasn’t had much to work with.
The Edmonton Oilers, for example, have been linked to McMann quite a bit. The problem is that they don’t have a first-round pick until next season, which could force Toronto to pivot if Edmonton is the most serious suitor.
The Maple Leafs can absolutely try to hold firm on a first-round pick, and there’s nothing wrong with setting that bar. But they may need to stay open to other types of returns if the right deal presents itself. A comparable could be the Kiefer Sherwood trade, where the Vancouver Canucks landed two second-round picks. That type of return could make sense here.
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In some scenarios, two seconds could give Toronto flexibility at the draft or even at next year’s deadline. And if Brad Treliving really works the phones, there’s also the possibility of adding a player like Andrew Mangiapane into a deal, especially if he’s looking for a change of scenery.
It’ll be interesting to see how things unfold once the Maple Leafs return from the Olympics. But right now, it does feel like the smarter play is to sell high on assets on expiring contracts rather than hold on and push for a playoff spot. A small retool, while cashing in on value, might be exactly what this team needs to reset things moving forward.
