Undrafted Maple Leafs forward to command an uncomfortable AAV on next contract
Photo credit: Jerome Miron Imagn Images
Nick Kypreos recently revealed that Leafs pending unrestricted free agent forward Bobby McMann is reportedly seeking an uncomfortable raise on his next contract.
Since being elevated to the Leafs' top line, Bobby McMann, along with Auston Matthews and Max Domi, have been on a tear offensively.
McMann himself has seven points in his last seven games while Matthews and Domi have combined for an additional 18 points over that same stretch.
McMann's Surge Could Lead to Massive Raise on New Deal
McMann is in the final year of a two-year deal he signed in March of 2024 that comes with a rather cheap $1.35M price tag for what he has added to the lineup.
The undrafted free agent signing ended last season going without a goal in his final 24 regular season and playoff games, leading to some very harsh criticisms from the Toronto media and fans.
Although he has 13 goals on the season, McMann has gone through stretches of five, six and eight games without finding the back of the net, raising additional concerns about his consistency.
While he has been a streaky and inconsistent goal-scorer over his short career, McMann is taking full advantage of his current opportunity.
If he, Matthews and Domi can continue to produce and remain effective without the puck, he could set new career-highs in goals and points and put himself in line for a substantial raise come July 1st.
McMann Pricing Himself Out of Toronto?
Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos revealed in his 'Kyper's Korner' for The Toronto Star that the 29-year-old Alberta native could be seeking upwards of $4M annually on his next deal.
"Keep an eye on pending free agent Bobby McMann, who could command as much as $4 million (U.S.) per season on the open market," wrote Kypreos.
As it stands, the Leafs have a shade over $20M in cap space for next season, so a raise for McMann isn't out of the question, but, how much of a raise are the Leafs willing to give him?
With the rising salary cap, $4M may not seem like a lot for a 20+ goal-scorer, if he remains consistent, but the Leafs can't continue to hand out 'market value' deals to pending free agents if they truly want a chance at the Stanley Cup. The Leafs, who are already top-heavy, need to seek good value deals. I'm not sure McMann at $4M per season is that.
Also read on Toronto Hockey Daily :
Flames' ask from Leafs for Rasmus Andersson now known; no chance the Leafs do this deal
Flames' ask from Leafs for Rasmus Andersson now known; no chance the Leafs do this deal
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 8 | 558 ANSWERS Undrafted Maple Leafs forward to command an uncomfortable AAV on next contract Do you think Bobby McMann is worth $4M per season? | ||
| With where the cap is going, yes | 201 | 36 % |
| Somehwere in the $3M range | 312 | 55.9 % |
| Not sure | 45 | 8.1 % |
| List of polls | ||