Toronto Let Bobby McMann Go, Seattle Finds a Star in the Making
Geography made me a Bobby McMann fan long before he was in the NHL. I worked at the University of Alberta and spent a lot of time in Wainwright, Alberta, the small town where he grew up. I followed him closely when he joined the Maple Leafs. He’s one of the good guys, through and through—his parents are well-known in the community, and you could see the values he grew up with on the ice.
I wanted him to stay with Toronto, of course, because that was the team I covered, but the Maple Leafs have a way of moving young players along far too quickly—McMann’s one of those kids who deserved more time.
McMann Had a Chance in Toronto, But He’s Doing Far Better in Seattle.
It wasn’t that McMann didn’t get the chance in Toronto. He wasn’t invisible, mind you—he had some great games there. But the Maple Leafs always seem to be chasing the next move. So, they decided they could get more elsewhere. Suddenly, he’s in Seattle, and it looks like he’s landed perfectly.
Two games in, and the youngster has already put up five points. He’s playing top-line minutes with Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle, working on the power play with Vince Dunn, and producing. Watching him skate, make plays, and finish in front of the net, you get that old Alberta grin in your head—the one he had when he scored his first big junior goal. That kid’s work ethic hasn’t changed, but the ice and the opportunity have. It’s like a puzzle finally clicking into place.
I’m Rooting for McMann Because I Love His Story.
You root for him because you know him. You remember the long drives back home, the hours in the gym, the sheer persistence. Toronto may have thought they could squeeze more out of him, but sometimes it’s not about squeezing. It’s about letting a player breathe and play his game. And Seattle gave him that chance, and he’s running with it. After three goals in two games with Seattle, he’s now at 22 goals, 15 assists, 133 shots, and 141 hits combined between Toronto and Seattle.
Those numbers tell you the tools were always there. He just needed a stage big enough and a system that lets him skate and shoot like the kid you followed from Alberta.
I’m Hoping McMann Finds a Solid Home for a Long NHL Career.
And let’s hope—really, I’m hoping that he keeps this pace. He lands a long-term contract and becomes a 25-30 goal scorer every season. All this just shows how Toronto sometimes lets young players slip through their fingers. It’s too bad—McMann really wanted to stay, but Toronto moved him along.
Maybe this is a classic story that if the right opportunity meets the right player, good things will happen. McMann has always had the speed, the shot, the work ethic, and now he has the stage. Sometimes that’s all a career needs: the ice, the chance, and a little room to breathe. He deserves this, and you can’t help but smile watching it unfold.