The Edmonton Oilers’ search for scoring depth may lead them back to a familiar fishing pond, well, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and this time the target could be an Alberta native who checks all the boxes that made Zach Hyman such a successful acquisition.
During this week’s episode of Oilers Now, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman and Bob Stauffer dropped a significant breadcrumb when discussing potential trade targets for Edmonton. The name that turned up? Bobby McMann, the 29-year-old winger from Wainwright, Alberta, who’s quietly become one of Toronto’s most valuable mid-range assets.
The Zach Hyman blueprint
When the Oilers signed Zach Hyman as a free agent in 2021, they landed a gritty forward who brought competitiveness and an underdog mentality. McMann’s profile reads like a carbon copy.
“Alberta guy,” Stauffer noted approvingly during the segment with Friedman quickly adding his endorsement: “Fast. Competitive guy. He’d look good on your roster.”
McMann has been a late bloomer who took the unconventional route to the NHL. After dominating the AJHL with the Bonnyville Pontiacs where he was named league MVP in 2016, McMann spent four years at Colgate University before grinding through the AHL system.
His breakout didn’t really come until his late twenties making him a mature battle-tested player who knows the value of an NHL opportunity.
At 6’2″ and 217 pounds, McMann plays a power forward style that blends physicality with offensive upside. This season so far, he has posted 17 goals and 12 assists in 52 games, solid production for a player earning just $1.35M against the cap.
The financial fit
Perhaps the most appealing aspect of McMann for Edmonton is his contract. Acquiring a top-nine contributor at $1.35M will provide roster-building flexibility that contending teams like Edmonton desperately and constantly need.
“Million and a half dollar cap hit because of the price point? Guaranteed,” Friedman said,acknowledging the obvious appeal for a cap-strapped Oilers team.
Stauffer was even more direct: “Top-nine guy all day and, you know, cheap cheap.”
The comparison to Kiefer Sherwood who had drawn so much trade interest until his move to San Jose because of his affordable contract does justice to McMann’s value proposition.
Bet like a pro here with Bet99—Ontario’s go-to for elite odds and nonstop action. And outside Ontario, Canadians bet better here with Bet99—bringing top-tier odds and action from coast to coast.
So what would it cost?
The flip side of McMann’s value is that Toronto won’t give him away. Friedman acknowledged the player’s worth noting that the Maple Leafs would likely be seeking quality assets in return.
“My guess is it would be a second and a prospect minimum for him,” Stauffer estimated comparing the potential asking price to what other depth scorers have commanded on the trade market.
For Edmonton, that’s definitely a price worth considering. The Oilers could possibly part with a second-round pick for a player who fills an immediate need without mortgaging their long-term future.
Beyond the statistics and contract numbers, there’s something to be said for the intangibles McMann would bring. Growing up in Wainwright and playing junior hockey in Bonnyville means he understands Alberta hockey culture. He knows what it means to play in front of passionate Prairie fans and how to handle the pressure that comes with it.
“I like the way he plays. I think he’d be a really nice fit,” Friedman said his tone suggesting he sees more than just a roster filler in McMann.
The Oilers have proven that players with Alberta roots often thrive in Edmonton. McMann could follow a similar trajectory slotting into the top-nine and providing the kind of reliable, two-way play that playoff teams require.
The reality check
Of course, any potential trade faces obstacles. The Maple Leafs are also a playoff aspiring team with their own depth concerns and parting with a productive affordable player isn’t an easy decision.
Toronto General Manager Brad Treliving would need to be convinced that the return package makes sense for both the present and future. For Edmonton GM Stan Bowman, McMann would be the type of value acquisition that contending teams need to make. Bowman has shown a willingness to be creative in building depth and a player like McMann fits the profile of what successful teams add at the deadline.
Additionally, the Oilers aren’t the only team scouting McMann. Other contenders looking for scoring depth at a reasonable price will inevitably enter the bidding potentially driving up the cost.
Still, the smoke usually indicates some level of behind-the-scenes discussion or interest.
Bobby McMann may not be a household name but he fits the profile of what championship teams need. A versatile affordable contributor who can play up and down the lineup without breaking the bank. For the Oilers, who’ve already seen the Zach Hyman formula work beautifully, McMann is a low-risk high-reward opportunity to add an Alberta-bred competitor to the mix.
Whether Edmonton ultimately pulls the trigger remains to be seen. But if Friedman’s instincts are right and they usually are don’t be surprised if McMann is wearing orange and blue before the trade deadline passes.
After all, sometimes the best moves are the ones that feel like coming home.
3 Comments