When it comes to retaining winger Bobby McMann, the Seattle Kraken will follow the presidential lead of either Teddy Roosevelt or George H.W. Bush.
You remember Teddy, leading Rough Riders charging up San Juan Hill and wielding his “Big Stick.” And you remember the elder Bush, known for caution and deliberation. SNL’s Dana Carvey parodied the 41st president with the laugh line, “Not gonna do it. Wouldn’t be prudent.”
Now to more recent history. The Kraken acquired McMann from Toronto at the March trade deadline. McMann scored twice in his first game with Seattle and never stopped filling the net. Though a small sample size, the numbers were remarkable: 10 goals in 18 Kraken games.
“I think Bobby enjoyed playing a bigger role here,” said Kraken general manager Jason Botterill. “His assets complement our group really well; his speed, his shot.”
The GM also was impressed by McMann’s commitment. “He’s very serious about his craft, continuing to improve his game. He’s enjoyed working with our coaching and development staff. We clearly understand Bobby is going to have options. We’ll certainly keep dialogs going to see if we can get a fit.”
McMann is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Why wouldn’t he test the market? He majored in economics at Colgate, after all. He’s expected to command north of $5 million AAV with a term of five years or more.
Reasons For Kraken Boldness
Although dollars and term will speak loudest, the Kraken have advantages in swaying McMann to stay.
He found success here. His 2nd period goal Mar. 28 made Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin look like a beer league defenseman. “My mindset is, generate a lot of speed, push the defense back,” McMann said. “Push out, generate space for everyone on the ice.”
McMann was pleased with the organizational welcome. “Super helpful. They’ve (provided) everything that I’ve asked for.” He’s seen the best of Seattle’s climate, not just dark, overcast winters most visiting players experience. Saskatchewan boys McMann and prospect Jagger Firkus know each other well.
He’s comfortable with coach Lane Lambert from their time with the Maple Leafs during 2024-25. “Lane has been great getting me up to speed with systems, where guys are playing, where he wants me to fit. It gives me a lot of confidence to play how I want to. When you’re doing that, you play at your best.”
Reasons For Kraken Prudence
A late bloomer, McMann will be 30 before the new season starts. The Kraken already have mixed results from signing high-ticket 30-year-old free agents, center Chandler Stephenson and defenseman Brandon Montour in 2024. Seattle hasn’t made the playoffs since.
The 6-foot-2, 217-pound forward wasn’t drafted. There’s reasons why. The knock against McMann with the Leafs was stretches when the goal scoring dried up.
Deficiencies in the speedy winger’s game made him a liability. By the same token, the knock against Toronto was that they misused McMann.
Still, $25 million or more on a forward who’s scored 64 career goals does sound steep.
Be Bold, Or Be Prudent?
Pay the man. Overpay the man, if necessary. Should the Kraken refuse to, as the kids say, give him the bag, someone else will. There’s hardly a team website that hasn’t advocated for adding the winger. These are actual headlines from the last few weeks.
- Columbus Blue Jackets Free Agent Targets: Bobby McMann
- Can Bobby McMann be the Detroit Red Wings top line Left Wing?
- Why Bobby McMann Could Be The Perfect Fit For The Kings
- Maple Leafs should try to reunite with Bobby McMann
- Edmonton Oilers Could Sign Bobby McMann
- Bobby McMann Is the Kind Of Scoring Wing the Wild Need
Get the idea?
Seattle scored the fifth fewest goals (224) last season. In the wake of three straight playoff misses, the Kraken front office has used words like “bold” and “aggressive” to characterize their approach to this offseason. Sure things, by definition, don’t need to be bold. Keeping Bobby McMann in the fold of a offense-challenged franchise is a bold risk worth taking.
Naturally, Teddy Roosevelt said it best. “The only man who never makes mistakes is the man who never does anything. It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.”
Earlier Kraken:
— Catton, Young Kraken Forward, Excited For Off-Season
