As the NHL Trade Deadline inches closer, the Edmonton Oilers are once again in the thick of the conversation - not just as contenders, but as a team looking to fine-tune its roster for what they hope is a long playoff run. And while the big names always grab the headlines, it’s the under-the-radar additions - the depth pieces - that often make the difference come spring.
One name that’s starting to surface in Edmonton circles? Bobby McMann of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
McMann, a native of Wainwright, Alberta, isn’t the flashiest player on the board, but he checks a lot of boxes for a team like Edmonton. He’s fast, he competes hard, and he brings a physical edge that can wear down opponents over a seven-game series. That’s the kind of profile that fits snugly into a bottom-six role on a contending team - especially one that could use a little more bite and scoring punch from its third and fourth lines.
During a recent appearance on Oilers Now with broadcaster Bob Stauffer, Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman floated McMann as a potential fit in Edmonton. Stauffer didn’t hesitate to co-sign the idea.
“I love McMann,” Stauffer said. “Maybe I’m partial.
He’s from Wainwright. Love him.”
Friedman pointed out what makes McMann an intriguing option beyond his Alberta roots.
“Fast. Competitive guy,” Friedman said. “He’d look good on your roster.”
It’s not just the intangibles that make McMann appealing - it’s the contract too. He’s in the final year of a two-year extension signed with Toronto back in March 2024, carrying a team-friendly $1.35 million cap hit. That’s the kind of number that makes front offices perk up, especially for a player producing the way McMann is this season.
Through 52 games, the 29-year-old has tallied 17 goals and 12 assists for 29 points - already closing in on his career-best totals from last year, when he posted 20 goals and 34 points. That kind of production, combined with a manageable cap hit, makes him one of the more cost-effective options on the market.
But there’s a catch - the Oilers are tight against the cap, with just $425,000 in space, per PuckPedia. So if they want to make a move for McMann, they’ll need to get creative.
That could mean moving a contract or finding a trade partner willing to retain salary. According to Stauffer, the asking price might start at a second-round pick and a prospect - not insignificant, but not out of reach for a team in win-now mode.
From a hockey standpoint, McMann could slot into a line with Matthew Savoie and Jack Roslovic, providing some secondary scoring and defensive responsibility. While Curtis Lazar brings a veteran presence down the middle, McMann adds a different dimension - a heavier game, a little more north-south speed, and the ability to chip in on the scoresheet.
The bigger question is whether Toronto is ready to move him.
The Leafs have been stumbling this season, struggling to keep pace in a competitive Eastern Conference. A five-game home losing streak has only amplified the noise around the team, and with a tough four-game Pacific road trip looming - including a Feb. 3 matchup against the Oilers - the next stretch could determine whether Toronto becomes a buyer or a seller at the deadline.
If things continue to slide, McMann could be one of the assets on the move.
Over the course of his NHL career - all with the Leafs - McMann has played in 192 regular-season games, posting 52 goals and 36 assists for 88 points. He also chipped in three assists during Toronto’s playoff run to the second round last year.
He’s not a game-breaker, but he’s the type of player who can tilt a series in the margins - and for a team like the Oilers, chasing that elusive Stanley Cup, those margins matter.