NHL Rumors: Kraken Talk to ex-Maple Leafs forward Bobby McMann About Extension

Pending unrestricted free agent Bobby McMann has broken out big-time since arriving in the Pacific Northwest, with seven goals and 11 points in eight games with the Seattle Kraken since the trade at the deadline.

Insider Elliotte Friedman says the Kraken have no intention of letting the forward get away in free agency this summer.

I don't think it's gone very far down the road yet, but we're under the impression that the Kraken have indicated to McMann that they would like to try and keep him.
I don't think the Maple Leafs and McMann ever really got very close (in extension talks), I still think there was quite a gap before he got traded to Seattle at the deadline. He's been an excellent fit there, and they, at the very least have said, 'Can we talk here and figure out where things might go?'

There were rumors that McMann's camp was asking for a five-year deal worth about $5M annually, but the Leafs weren't prepared to go anywhere close to that.

McMann bounced all over the lineup with Toronto, from the top line to the bottom line and everything in between in his time with the Leafs. He was even a healthy scratch in the opening game of last season by head coach Craig Berube before finding his way at least into the lineup.

Playing in the Kraken's top-six since the time he arrived earlier this month, he's up to 19:09 minutes of ice time per night with Seattle, four minutes higher than the average 15:19 he logged with Toronto. He's on a three-game goal streak and is up to a career-high 26 goals on the season, with 43 points in 68 games.

In his 200 games with the Leafs, McMann had 54 goals and 91 points. He has 11 points in eight games with Seattle.

The Kraken are scrapping to try to get into the playoffs. With 10 games to play, they sit two points back of the final Wild Card spot held by the Nashville Predators with one game in hand. But only four points separate six teams battling for that last postseason berth heading into play on Sunday.