NHL Rumors: Avalanche & Maple Leafs Becoming Trade Partners

Saturday, February 07, 2026 ,

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Bobby McMann skates for the puck during 2026 game.

The Bobby McMann market is only expected to get louder, and the Colorado Avalanche are starting to feel like a legitimate landing spot if a trade actually happens.

With the Toronto Maple Leafs flirting with sell mode and reportedly asking for a first-round pick, McMann has turned into a deadline winger that contenders love to add in March. 

He has 19 goals and 13 assists in 56 games this season, he's a proven 20-goal scorer, and his $1.35 million cap hit makes him one of the easiest plugs in the league for a team trying to win now.

Why Bobby McMann Fits the Colorado Avalanche Right Now

The Avalanche have been one of the NHL’s best teams this season at 36-9-9, but they are still hunting for the type of middle-six winger who can keep pace when the game really turns in April.

McMann made his playoff debut last year, recording no goals, three assists, 49 hits, and 12:36 average ice time in 13 games.

He brings legit wheels, a direct style, and has shown impressive finishing ability, which is why the idea of him alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas sounds really appealing on paper.  

He also plays with bite, sitting at 126 hits this year, which is on pace to smash his previous career high.

McMann has been very consistent the past three seasons, recording 54 goals, 90 points, 379 hits, and averaging 13:52 ice time across 186 games played. His previous career high in goals and points is 20 and 34, which he set last year in 74 games, so he'll easily surpass that this season.

What a Bobby McMann Deal Could Cost Colorado

The tricky part is the price. There is chatter that Toronto is aiming high, and the Leafs have good reason to push the number up because McMann is a pending unrestricted free agent with no trade protection and a bargain cap hit that basically any team could make work. 

Colorado’s challenge is assets, because the Avalanche do not have much draft ammo early in 2026, so a realistic McMann package probably leans on a young roster player or an NHL-ready prospect rather than a picks-only deal. 

If Toronto holds the line on a first, this is where it could get uncomfortable for Colorado, unless they are convinced McMann is more than a rental.

If the Avalanche decide they want to play this aggressively, it's because McMann has the exact profile contenders overpay for with his speed, finishing, playoff utility up and down the lineup, and such an easy contract to slide in.

Toronto knows it too, which is why the ask keeps floating higher. 

Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Go To: NFL Rumors | NBA Rumors | MLB Rumors