Can the Leafs actually get a first-round pick for Bobby McMann?

"If all it took was a prospect and a conditional third-rounder to acquire Artemi Panarin, the Leafs can't seriously think they can get a first-rounder for McMann, right? Maybe they are dellusional what the market is because they've traded their own firsts away for Scott Laughton and Brandon Carlo, but what is the real market for McMann? When it comes to acquiring draft picks, the marketplace is completely different for every player and situation."

"There are times where a team will "overpay" for a player but it will work out. For example, the Tampa Bay Lightning traded away a first-rounder for Blake Coleman, who's a third/fourth-liner, but he helped them win a Stanley Cup. When your team is nearly perfect like the Lightning and you know that this one specific player can be the cherry on top to help win a championship, you will overpay."

"So that's where the conversation gets tricky with McMann. If you look at the NHL Trade Deadline last year, here were some of the biggest trades that involved a first-round pick (via: NHL.com) Florida Panthers acquire forward Brad Marchand from the Boston Bruins for a conditional 2nd-round pick (turned into a 1st-rounder) in the 2027 NHL Draft Toronto Maple Leafs acquire defenseman Brandon Carlo from the Boston Bruins for forward Fraser Minten, a conditional 1st-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a 4th-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft"

The Toronto Maple Leafs reportedly want a first-round pick for Bobby McMann despite comparable recent trades costing much less. Trade valuations vary widely by team need, contending status, and specific playoff fit. Contending teams sometimes overpay, as when Tampa Bay surrendered a first-round pick for Blake Coleman and gained a Stanley Cup-winning depth piece. Non-contending or neutral-market trades for similar players often return late-round picks. The Leafs have also traded away their own firsts in other deals, complicating realistic return expectations. Deadline trade examples show first-rounders move for high-end or uniquely valued additions, not typical depth forwards.

Read at Editor In Leaf