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Bobby McMann and the Toronto Maple Leafs parted ways just before the NHL’s trade deadline in March.
With the Leafs out of the playoff picture and McMann on an expiring contract, sending him in a deal to the Seattle Kraken made a lot of sense.
At the time, it seemed McMann and the Maple Leafs may even have a chance to reunite down the road once he reached free agency.
Now, that’s seeming much less likely.
Instead, it seems the winger may not get to the free agent market at all.
The latest indication is that McMann may end up finding a return contract to the Kraken before the free agent period even arrives.
"His agents, Brian and Scott Bartlett, continue to have discussions with the Kraken," The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun wrote on Thursday. "There’s mutual interest, and the sides have agreed to keep talking to see if they can find common ground over the next 10 days or so."
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McMann, no matter where he goes, is going to get the best payday of his hockey career. It's been quite the rise for the former undrafted free agent.
"McMann, 30, had a career-high in goals between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Seattle Kraken, scoring 10 in 18 games with the Kraken," LeBrun writes. "He also had 20 goals in 74 games with the Leafs two seasons ago and 15 goals in 56 games the season before that. So his late-bloomer ascension has been consistent. But what does a raise over his current $1.35 million salary look like?"
It may have been unrealistic to think the Leafs could prioritize a return of a player like McMann in an offseason where they have so many other things to accomplish.
Now, it looks like that simply won't be something that happens.
It's also becoming clearer that McMann must've liked his time with the Kraken, because he doesn't seem to be in a hurry to leave.
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