The Edmonton Oilers may have added another name to their watch list. Many trade speculations have begun ahead of the NHL’s Olympic roster freeze. According to a recent discussion between Bob Stauffer and NHL insider Elliotte Friedman on Oilers Now, Edmonton is showing interest in Toronto Maple Leafs winger Bobby McMann.
Both men spoke highly of McMann’s potential fit within the current Oilers lineup. McMann’s style of play and affordability are the key reasons. During the conversation, Stauffer pointed out that McMann is Alberta-born (from Wainwright, Alberta) and would likely welcome the opportunity to play closer to home. Friedman agreed, calling McMann a “fast, competitive guy” and adding, “He’d look good on your roster.”
McMann is not a big star, but he has the type of skill set contending teams often target at the NHL trade deadline. The Oilers are a team that needs to find depth scoring, and for that reason, McMann makes a lot of sense. He is having a decent season with 17 goals and 12 assists for 29 points in 53 games. He also has a very attractive and manageable cap hit of $1.35 million. For a cap-strapped team like the Oilers, that’s crucial.
Edmonton Knows a McMann Trade Won’t be Cheap
Acquiring a player with such a low cap hit means the asking price won’t be low. Stauffer suggested it might take at least a second-round pick and a prospect to pry McMann out of Toronto. He described McMann as a “top-nine guy all day” at a bargain price.
For the Maple Leafs, moving McMann might be the right move as their season continues to move in the wrong direction. As a pending UFA, he could be acquired as a rental for what the Oilers hope is a long playoff run. On a side note, McMann grew up cheering for the Oilers. After a big game against Edmonton in March of 2024, he said, “I was an Oilers fan growing up. Maybe a little extra juice in the legs today playing against the Oilers.”
The perfect trade scenario for the Oilers is finding a way to send Andrew Mangiapane to Toronto. Obviously, they will need to sweeten the deal for Leafs GM Brad Treliving to bite. Maybe a deal like a second-round pick, a prospect, and Mangiapane could get a deal done.
