Dreger: Maple Leafs weighing Bobby McMann extension as a longer-term number takes shape

As the 2026 Olympics pass, all attention now turns to the NHL season resuming, and that means the trade speculation is bound to heat up. With a roster freeze ending and only two weeks until the deadline -- the rumours are going to come fast and furious.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are a team who are going to be a big focus come the deadline due to their wealth of assets available for trade, though what they want to get from them might cause a little bit of an issue going forward.

The biggest asset arguably is Bobby McMann, as the breakout winger has shown that last season wasn't a fluke and that he can offer elite speed, 20+ goal potential and a ton of physicality.

Though he's a free agent coming up, there are talks about a deal however the Maple Leafs could potentially look to lock him up long-term -- and Darren Dreger thinks that's a big possibility.

Dreger reported on TSN's OverDrive that McMann loves being in Toronto and that while he won't take a John Tavares-level discount; he could sign longer for less:

McMann has been a bright spot in a very up and down season for the Maple Leafs and is on pace to crush his career highs in points, goals, and assists. Not to mention he could have nearly 200 hits -- it's like a mini Matthew Knies.

But with the potential to bring in a first round pick or at least a couple second rounders, that seems really tempting for a team who lacks a lot of draft capital though with a consistent playoff expectation; would that really even matter?

It feels like those picks would be dealt elsewhere and there is no guarantee that someone new will help and McMann already has a lot of chemistry and comfort in the system -- he could be an even bigger focal point.

He currently makes $1.35-million which is an insane bargain for the level of production you get, and offering him something in the range of $4-million for five or six years then that's a huge pay increase and keeps him part of things for a long time.

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