The Toronto Maple Leafs have been playing extremely well this season and are in a strong position heading into the 2024 Trade Deadline. They will likely consider adding some assets at the deadline, in hopes of bolstering their lineup to go on a deep playoff run, and plenty of names will be available to them. Aside from external upgrades, Auston Matthews has been putting together an MVP-type season, having scored 51 goals through 54 games, and a shocking development in Bobby McMann, who has come out of nowhere and provided the Maple Leafs with a solid amount of depth scoring.
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As someone who was being healthy scratched for the majority of the 2023-24 season, McMann was trying to prove himself and find a permanent spot in the Maple Leafs’ lineup. With his first career hat trick coming when the Maple Leafs had to sit several of their best players, which allowed McMann to enter the game, McMann has proven he shouldn’t be scratched again this season and can continue to provide the Maple Leafs with offensive stability heading into the postseason. Even with the Maple Leafs preparing to make additions to their lineup before the trade deadline, McMann should be someone they lean on in their bottom six.
While the injury bug has nailed the Maple Leafs this season, McMann has found himself on the lucky side of it, remaining healthy, and producing in a way that might make the team consider not bringing in a depth forward who could take away his spot this season. With players like Chris Tanev, Noah Hanifin, Jacob Markstrom, and Nick Seeler being available according to trade bait lists around the league, it seems as though the Maple Leafs can focus on improving their defensive depth rather than turning their attention to bringing in a forward like Anthony Duclair, Trevor Zegras, or Adam Henrique whose names have come up as well.
Who Is Bobby McMann & How Does He Benefit the Maple Leafs?
McMann is a 27-year-old left-shot forward from Wainwright, Alberta, who was signed by the Maple Leafs out of university in the 2020-21 season. He played for four seasons in the NCAA with Colgate University, where, in his final season, he was named team captain. Over those four seasons, McMann scored 37 goals and added 55 assists for 92 points through 145 games, which comes out to a 0.63 points-per-game average. In his first season of professional hockey, McMann split the season between the ECHL and the American Hockey…
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