The Toronto Maple Leafs were not expected to be a pre-Expansion Draft buyer given what appeared to be some difficult protection list decisions. However, they have made quite a splash with a deal filed just before the roster freeze set in. As first reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Toronto has acquired Jared McCann from the Pittsburgh Penguins, who had long been expected to protect McCann before rumors in recent days suggested otherwise. In exchange, the Penguins receive just a 2023 seventh-round pick and forward prospect Filip Hallander, who the team initially drafted and then dealt to the Maple Leafs last summer in the Kasperi Kapanen trade.
This is a savvy pickup by the Maple Leafs, adding an affordable forward coming off of a career year. McCann, who has always possessed great ability but has struggled with inconsistency, put it all together for Pittsburgh this season with 14 goals and 32 points in 43 games – an 82-game pace of 27 goals and 61 points. If he can replicate those number joining another skilled forward group in Toronto, McCann will be a beloved bargain at $2.94MM. With the ability to play center or wing and solid defensive tendencies, McCann can be utilized throughout the Maple Leafs’ lineup.
One concern for McCann is his lack of playoff scoring in three trips to the postseason. That should be especially alarming for a Toronto team that struggles under playoff pressure as it is. However, it never hurts to add a talented player and hope that his postseason luck turns. Eventually, something has to give for Toronto, right?
In Pittsburgh, this trade has to sting. The rumors swirling around the team suggest that they could be making some unorthodox expansion protection choices and this trade suggests that McCann was not going to be protected, despite a very strong season and a comfortable fit with the team. It also seems like GM Ron Hextall could have gotten more for McCann than a throwaway pick and a recycled prospect. Hallander, a 2018 second-round pick, is not a bad investment by any means, especially after a career year in Sweden. However, he also was deemed expendable by the last Penguins administration and now is back and still not likely to be considered a top-three forward prospect for the team. Yes, Pittsburgh needed to clear salary this off-season, but McCann’s affordable contract seems like the least of their worries and the return does not adequately justify the move.
Phill the thrill trade still paying off for the leafs.
I don’t know about that…
Ya leafs acquiring him was bad not gonna argue that but the haul they for him is pretty good. They got a 1st (flipped for Andersen) and Kappenen. Kappenen was essentially traded for McCann and a mid round first in Amirov. Think it’s safe to say dealing phill when they did was a smart move still paying off for them
Pens traded for Kessel and won two Cups. Leafs traded him and have done no better and no worse than they would have with him…
Lol 2 cups > Anderson but ok Toronto good one we’re so jealous here in Pittsburgh
Ya you won the cups and kessel was a big reason why. Im just saying it was good asset management by the leafs as even if they had kessel this whole time leafs probably not winning any cups with him on the team and would be in a significantly worse spot now had they kept him. Also enjoy those cups don’t see them winning anymore for a long time
They’ll get another chip before sid retires.
Going to have a lot of cap space this off-season after dumping McCann today and a piece to Seattle next week
Gee I hope they trade for another forward.
Good pick up for Leafs…massive deal with 3 teams just happened.. flyers. Predators and Vegas.. big names…
Guess they were leaving McCann exposed. That’s odd considering the competition he’d be up against for protection.
gotta protect Bluegar and add to the pk.
Rather have cap space for a GK than McCann + Zuck/Petts
Hextall making tough decisions, but good ones.
How was McCann not worth more?
also surprised but nothing is worth more than cap space for the penguins.
They could all of a sudden have 10 mil to spend on FAs if Zucker is Seattle bound
Let me get this straight..
Pens traded Kapanen for Kessel,
Then Hallander for Kapanen,
Then McCann for Hallander
So basically traded McCann for Kessel, only McCann wasn’t on the team back then , so have finally completed the trade of Derrick Brassard for Phil Kessel 5 years later..
Throw in Freddie Andersen and Rodin Amirov for the leafs and yup
preparation for a Kerfoot selection perhaps?
seems they are rolling the dice, exposing both and letting the Kraken take their pick which one they like — they can only get one, and the cost of what the Leafs gave up here won’t hurt much.
Boooo.
They got nervous about losing Blueger or Carter, so instead they give away a better player.
It should have been easy to leave Carter exposed and have him tell Seattle he’d retire if selected. But maybe being on the west coast would have been ok with him
When has McCann ever been considered a better player than Carter or Blueger. He has better offensive skill than Bluegar but has never consistently performed enough to be considered a better player.
But another way to look at it is that they still have players to leave unprotected and I think Tanev may be on the list instead of Carter. Between McCann and the draft the team will open some cap space. And who knows what else may be in the works
McCann was drafted higher then Blueger, for one. Paid more, for another. Generally, players that are considered better are drafted higher and paid more.
Carter was considered a washed up bum before the trade to Pens.
Until a few days ago, it was almost universally assumed that the Pens would protect McCann, but not the others.
Bluegar over McCann for sure. Pens bottom 6/PK cannot afford to lose the young Teddy B.
McCann was solid but need cap space for a goalie and more grit
So Toronto goes 7/3 and loses Holl?
Nice pick up for the Leafs.
Certainly feels that way. Under the 8 skater plan they’d protect Holl but expose Kerfoot and Dermott.
If they’re trading for McCann, they’re obviously protecting him (and presumably Kerfoot and Engvall?).
Signals to me that they’re either prepared to lose Holl or have a side deal in place. I assume the latter.
The only way I will like this deal is if the money is used to sign a quality 1B.
But, looking at the Leafs side, besides giving up nothing to get him, McCann could be a really good fit for either Matthews or Tavares. Not a bruiser by any stretch, but plays with some guts, fires the puck, will go to the corners. I like this move a lot for TOR.
I think this gives the Pens the flexibility they need to bring in a 1B like Bernier etc., which would be fine.
But if all goes good on Wednesday then they can really make a play for Anderson or Grubauer and become cup favorites overnight