Are the Maple Leafs About to Let Another Zach Hyman Walk? Bobby McMann's Future Looms Large
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been down this road before. Back in 2021, they let Zach Hyman walk in free agency at age 29, deciding he wasn’t worth the long-term investment he was about to command.
At the time, Hyman was coming off a season where injuries limited him to 15 goals and 33 points, but his previous two campaigns had both featured 21 goals. The potential was there.
And the Oilers saw it.
Fast forward to today, and the script feels eerily familiar. Bobby McMann, also 29, is quietly putting together a breakout season in Toronto, and once again, the Edmonton Oilers are lurking.
McMann’s Breakout Has Put Him on the Radar
McMann has found his scoring touch this season, tallying 19 goals through 56 games and trending toward a career-best in points by a wide margin. He’s playing with confidence, driving play, and showing the kind of upside that teams covet heading into the playoffs.
And here’s where it gets interesting: McMann’s from Alberta. He grew up watching the Oilers. There’s already buzz that Edmonton views him as a natural fit - the type of player who could slide into their top nine and thrive alongside elite talent like Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl.
The Oilers may not be willing to pay Toronto’s current asking price of a first-round pick before the trade deadline, but if McMann hits free agency this summer, they’ll be right there in the mix. And based on how the Hyman deal has played out, you can’t blame them.
The Hyman Comparison Is Impossible to Ignore
Let’s revisit what happened with Hyman. The Leafs let him go, and the Oilers signed him to a seven-year, $5.5 million AAV deal.
Since then, all Hyman has done is score 27 goals in his first season, 36 in his second, and a jaw-dropping 54 in his third. He’s become one of the most productive wingers in the NHL and arguably the best free-agent signing in Oilers history.
Meanwhile, Toronto has struggled to replace his impact - not just on the scoresheet, but in the locker room and on the forecheck. Hyman was a glue guy, and his departure left a void that’s still being felt. The Leafs haven’t looked the same since.
Now, McMann isn’t Hyman - at least not yet. But the parallels are there: same age, similar style, and a player who’s blossoming just as he’s about to hit the open market.
The Leafs gambled once and lost big. Can they really afford to do it again?
Sign Him or Move Him - There’s No Middle Ground
With the Olympic break looming and the trade deadline approaching, the Leafs are at a crossroads. According to Elliotte Friedman on The Fan Hockey Show, Toronto has begun to explore options they didn’t expect to consider just a few weeks ago.
“They went out there last week,” Friedman said, “and they told teams we’re considering some things that we didn’t think we’d have to consider.”
That includes what to do with McMann. The Leafs are reportedly holding out for a first-round pick, and while that’s a steep price, it reflects how much they value what McMann brings. But if no team bites, Toronto has to pivot - either get him signed or find the best return possible.
Because here’s the harsh reality: if the Leafs hold onto McMann hoping for a playoff push, and he walks in the summer for nothing, it’ll be Hyman all over again. And if he ends up in Edmonton - where he’d likely thrive in a top-six role - the sting will be even worse.
A Decision That Could Define the Leafs' Deadline
Toronto has put together a small winning streak heading into the break, but the bigger picture hasn’t changed. This is a team that, as of now, looks more like a deadline seller than a buyer. And McMann’s situation is a microcosm of the bigger challenge facing the front office: balancing the desire to stay competitive with the need to plan for the future.
If they believe in McMann long-term, now’s the time to get a deal done. If not, they need to maximize his value while they still can. The worst-case scenario - letting him walk for nothing - is one this team simply can’t afford to repeat.
We’ve seen what happens when the Leafs underestimate what a player like this can become. Just look at Hyman.