The Toronto Maple Leafs announced they have locked up Bobby McMann to a two-year extension with an average annual value of 1.35 million dollars (All salary stats from CapFriendly.com) McMann was an unrestricted free agent after this season.
The Toronto Maple Leafs forward is a 27-year-old who has provided the club with some valuable games this season. Bobby McMann has played 40 games scoring ten goals and eight assists for 18 points.
Sheldon Keefe has used McMann up and down the lineup this season while also spending six games with the Marlies. He has been a great depth piece for the team in a year where depth has been a massive topic of discussion around the team.
McMann has been responsible in his end this season posting goals against per 60 minutes of 1.93 and has also posted goals for per 60 minutes of 2.54 (All stats from EvolvingHockey.com). He has been a staple in the lineup since the St.Louis game where the Leafs were left to play without John Tavares and Mitch Marner. He got into that game where he was supposed to be scratched and scored a hat trick in maybe the most complete effort by the Leafs all year.
Toronto Maple Leafs Get Good Value With Bobby McMann
To most, this may be not that significant of an extension but I do like what Treliving did here. Adding and retaining forwards who have played good games in the NHL is crucial for the Leafs going into next year. With the Matthews and Nylander extensions kicking in the Leafs are going to have to fill out the bottom half with guys on value contracts.
Adding bargain guys is something Dubas was very good at. One of the best examples of this in his tenure was adding Michael Bunting to the roster on a two-year deal with an average annual average of 950,000 dollars. Treliving has had some swings and misses on his free agent signings but a great value add the Leafs were able to pick up was physical left-shot defenseman Simon Benoit. You could also add the veteran goalie Martin Jones to that list who gave the Maple Leafs crucial starts while Woll was injured and Samsonov was spending time in the AHL.
Treliving has been able to lock up McMann as well as Pontus Holmberg with term and value. That's tidy business but the downside of that is when you realize David Kampf makes around the same as both those guys combined.
With the Leafs having four guys all making over ten million dollars a season Treliving is going to have to get creative with how he allocates his money. Things like the John Klingberg deal are unacceptable and the McMann contract is a good start at setting this team up for the near future.