Trade Deadline Buzz: Leafs Listening on Bobby McMann, Predators Open for Business
As the NHL trade deadline inches closer, the Toronto Maple Leafs appear to be leaning toward seller territory-and one name drawing attention is forward Bobby McMann.
The Leafs find themselves seven points out of the final wild-card spot, with multiple teams to leapfrog. That’s not an impossible hill to climb, but it’s steep enough that the front office has to be realistic.
With their 2026 first-round pick already committed to the Bruins (albeit top-five protected), Toronto is staring down a classic middle-of-the-pack dilemma: not quite in the playoff picture, but not bad enough to bottom out for a high draft pick. That’s the kind of no-man’s-land that often leads to tough decisions-and potential asset management.
Enter McMann.
At a $1.35 million cap hit, McMann brings real value-both on the ice and on the books. He’s put up 18 goals and 31 points through 55 games, a solid return for a player in that salary range. That kind of production, paired with affordability, is going to turn heads around the league, especially among contenders looking to bolster their depth without blowing up their cap structure.
There’s already been chatter that McMann could fetch something in the neighborhood of two second-round picks and a lower-tier prospect-a package similar to what Vancouver landed for Kiefer Sherwood. With several contending teams having already moved their first-rounders, the market for middle-tier, cost-effective forwards like McMann could heat up quickly.
Of course, Toronto has to weigh whether dealing McMann is worth more than keeping him as part of a potential late-season push. But if the front office believes the hill is too steep, turning McMann into future assets may be the smart play. Either way, the Leafs are in a position where standing pat could end up being the worst option of all.
Meanwhile in Nashville, Barry Trotz made it clear: the Predators are open for business.
Still technically in the playoff race but currently on the outside looking in, Nashville is walking a fine line between pushing for a postseason spot and building for the future. Trotz, who’s still steering the ship while the organization searches for its next GM, didn’t mince words at his recent press conference.
“I’ve got to listen to everything,” he said. “We’re not in the playoffs right now, so I’ve got to listen to everything. I owe that to both the gentleman next to me (chairman Bill Haslam) and our fan base, and anybody who is a fan of the Predators.”
That’s not just GM-speak. That’s a signal that Nashville is willing to talk about just about anything-roster players, prospects, picks.
The Predators aren’t tearing it down, but they’re not clinging to the status quo either. They’re looking at the big picture, and that means balancing short-term competitiveness with long-term sustainability.
With the market beginning to take shape and teams sorting themselves into buyers and sellers, both Toronto and Nashville are worth watching closely. The Leafs have a potential trade chip in McMann that could draw real interest, while the Predators are setting the stage for a deadline approach that could go in any number of directions.
One thing's for sure: both teams are approaching the deadline with open minds-and that usually means the phones will be busy.