Meet the Newest Seattle Kraken: Bobby McMann – The Hockey Writers – Seattle Kraken

On March 6, the Seattle Kraken acquired forward Bobby McMann from the Toronto Maple Leafs. In exchange, the Maple Leafs received a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. 

Let’s take a look at McMann’s career so far in the NHL and how he will fit into the Kraken lineup. 

McMann Began His NHL Career with the Maple Leafs 

McMann spent his collegiate years playing at Colgate University. Following his final year in college, McMann signed a two-year contract with the Toronto Marlies, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs. In his first season with the organization, he split his time between here and the Wichita Thunder, the ECHL affiliate team. 

He spent another season splitting his time between the AHL and the ECHL, and following the 2021-22 season, the Maple Leafs signed him as a free agent. McMann never had the opportunity to experience the NHL Draft, but he made enough of an impact with the Marlies for the Maple Leafs to keep him in their organization. 

For the 2022-23 season, McMann spent the majority of his time playing with the Marlies, but he did play a couple of games in the big leagues. He played his first NHL game on Jan. 11, 2023, where he played a total of 11:02 amongst 16 shifts. He played in nine more games, and in his last game of the season on March 11, 2023, he recorded his first assist. 

In the 2023-24 season, McMann only played six games with the Marlies and spent the rest of his time with the Maple Leafs. He played a total of 56 games in the NHL, a big difference from the season prior. In his first game of the season on Nov. 11, 2023, McMann had his first multi-point game, recording two assists. He hit another milestone on Dec. 16, 2023, when he scored his first NHL goal. In total, he recorded 24 points amongst 15 goals and nine assists. 

The 2024-25 season was the first one in which McMann did not play in any of the minor leagues. He played 74 games with the Maple Leafs and scored 20 goals and recorded 14 assists for a total of 34 points. This is his current career-high point total, but it is likely he will break it this season. McMann currently has 32 points in 60 games; he’s just two points away from tying his record and three away from breaking it. With 21 more games for the Kraken this season, McMann should have a new career-high point total. 

McMann reached a lot of milestones with the Maple Leafs, such as his first assist and goal. His last game with the Maple Leafs was also his 200th NHL career game. McMann ended his career with the Maple Leafs on a nice, round number. Now he is onto a new chapter of his career with the Kraken. 

How McMann Will Fit in Seattle 

McMann faces an interesting situation heading into Seattle. The Kraken did not trade any current players to the Maple Leafs, meaning all their forward lines are currently full. With the new addition to the team, the Kraken will have to decide not only where to play McMann but also who to scratch each game. 

Related: Kraken Acquire Bobby McMann from Maple Leafs for Second and Fourth Round Pick

When he played for Toronto, he would typically play left wing on the fourth line, playing in the bottom six. It feels like he could be elevated in Seattle, potentially even in the top six. He is a fast skater, and with the trade now, McMann has the sixth-highest point total on the team with 32 points. 

The Kraken currently sit in the second wildcard spot in the playoffs, just inside the playoff position. The Kraken will need a deep offense to keep their current playoff position. If they want to go far in the postseason, McMann will have to help aid in that offense production.

The Kraken will have to make a tough decision: bump Jaden Schwartz down to the bottom six, or put McMann in the bottom six and scratch Berkly Catton, Jacob Melanson, or Ryan Winterton. Before they make this decision, they will need to see how McMann meshes with the team during practice. Regardless, McMann should see more minutes than he did with the Maple Leafs. 

Kraken Play on Saturday

The Kraken will host the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, March 7. McMann will not play in this game due to an issue with his immigration status.