Mcmann on track for valued role in Leafs future
It was the week the West won the hearts of Hogtown hockey.
Not just the trade deadline arrival of Manitobans Joel Edmundson and Connor Dewar, with their lively quotes and an effective debut Saturday to back them up, but the play of Wainwright, Alta.’s Bobby Mcmann.
During this forgettable stretch of games for most of the Core Four forwards, Mcmann’s ice time went up and he showed maturity on both sides of the puck.
Saturday, as all 12 forwards grappled with new lines in a revamp brought on by Mitch Marner’s injury, it was Mcmann with David Kampf and Matthew Knies that steered most Leaf scoring chances, topped by his opening-minute goal in the second period, an eventual 3-2 win in Montreal.
Mcmann has had better stretches of points, the goal his first in eight games after racking up 10 in a six-game run, but he’s put himself in a position of trust with the coaches, flipping to the left side Saturday.
“I thought he played an outstanding game with lots of confidence,” Sheldon Keefe told media in Montreal. “He was strong, hard on the puck, lots of urgency to his game and I thought their team had a hard time handling him.
“He’d sort of levelled off (after his streak), this was a tough stretch for us with four games in six nights when we needed big efforts. And he certainly stepped up.”
The undrafted Mcmann has now played 50 games for the Leafs in two seasons, the goal his 10th overall. He’s not only thrived on the bottom six, Saturday was a tantalizing glimpse of what he can do with another six-foot-andchange winger with skill on the other side.
Last week, Mcmann told Postmedia News that 33-yearold John Tavares had been a huge influence in tapping his two-way game when the captain was re-assigned to centre the third line.
“From Day 1 when I was here at camp as a Marlie, you saw the way John carries himself,” Mcmann said. “The way he takes care of his body. He’s always (got a game face) at the rink, knows what’s going on, where to be. I ask him a lot of questions such as support off the puck, which is part of my game I think I can grow, and situationally where we can be.
“I talk to him in between shifts and in between periods. It’s huge for me.”
Mcmann’s energy just might have been an ideal conduit for Tavares, who was probably out of sorts when removed from the top six and losing his No. 1 power-play spot to Tyler Bertuzzi.
“I think some of the identity we’re trying to form is a relentless line, forecheck, pressuring their defence, which is something I’ve taken pride in,” Mcmann said. “John’s so great at reading off of that and getting pucks back.”
Tavares, who had the winning goal Saturday, said Mcmann is gaining belief in how he can impact a game.
“Just imposing himself physically, a very powerful skater and a strong guy with a heavy shot. He’s earning space and getting opportunities because of that. He’s really elevated, a great contributor the past few weeks.”