Maple Leafs change tune on Bobby McMann contract vs. trade decision

The Toronto Maple Leafs still haven't traded Bobby McMann, who might be their most intriguing trade asset.

But as of midday Thursday, just more than 24 hours before the NHL trade deadline, they might be considering a move in a different direction.

McMann is on an expiring contract, and the thinking is that if the Leafs can't get him to sign an extension, they've got to trade him to recoup a bit of value.

But it sounds like an extension isn't out of the question yet.

The Athletic's Chris Johnston wrote this on X on Thursday morning:

"While the #leafs continue to explore the trade market on Bobby McMann, they haven't ruled out signing him to a new contract. Yesterday's Kiefer Sherwood extension (5x$5.75M AAV) is a favorable comparable for McMann, although he likely has to come in under $5M to stay in Toronto."

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The context on Sherwood is especially telling. Sherwood began the season with the Canucks, who traded him to the San Jose Sharks in January.

Earlier this week, it looked like the Sharks might look to trade Sherwood again, because he also is on an expiring contract, and extension talks apparently weren't going well.

Instead, though, the Sharks and Sherwood found a fair compromise, and now they've got him aboard for the next half-decade.

Maybe it'll work that way with the Maple Leafs and McMann, too. If they come to the table offering enough security for the winger having a career-best season, maybe he takes it rather than risk going elsewhere and seeing what happens.

There'll be a McMann resolution one way or the other. It's just not obvious which way it'll go yet.

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