TORONTO – Bobby McMann watched from the press field on opening night time.
Simply over every week later, the Maple Leafs winger took a twirl as the primary star.
McMann went from wholesome scratch to unlikely offensive focus in simply eight days, placing up two targets in Toronto’s 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday.
The odd man out on the Bell Centre towards the Montreal Canadiens, he’s slowly incomes the belief of first-year head coach Craig Berube.
“There’s a number of good gamers on this staff,” McMann mentioned of his response to sitting out Recreation 1. “Possibly some guys match higher in sure situations than others … simply realizing that my alternative would come.”
The Wainwright, Alta., product skated on the second line with William Nylander and Max Domi towards Los Angeles, ending with these two targets, three hits and a plus-3 score in simply over 14 minutes of labor.
“He’s been unbelievable,” mentioned Nylander, who’s tied with McMann for the staff lead with three targets. “It’s nice when a participant like that is available in.”
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The 28-year-old burst onto the scene final February when he went from projected scratch to hat-trick hero in a single day after then-captain John Tavares fell unwell.
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McMann would end 2023-24 with 15 targets and 24 factors in 56 video games earlier than a knee damage dominated him out of Toronto’s first-round playoff loss to the Boston Bruins.
“Any time you might have success, it helps the arrogance,” he mentioned. “However I all the time belief the skills and belief that they’re there whether or not issues are entering into or (I’m not) getting factors. Simply attempting to play my sport and belief that doing the little issues proper will repay.”
McMann was among the many Leafs’ greatest gamers towards the Kings — and never simply due to what he did on the scoresheet. The ahead received right into a scuffle with Phillip Danault within the second interval earlier than crushing Mikey Anderson with a clear hit within the third.
“He’s an influence ahead,” Berube mentioned. “That’s how he ought to assume the sport, night time in and night time out, as being an influence ahead along with his skating and his dimension. He doesn’t should complicate the sport.”
Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz knew nothing about McMann earlier than becoming a member of Toronto in free company over the summer season.
“Nice two-way participant,” mentioned the netminder. “Extraordinarily bodily and strikes rather well, has shot. He’s a key participant for us in our depth. I used to be actually pleased for him to get these two targets.
“Works his butt off.”
ON TARGET
Leafs captain Auston Matthews, who scored 69 instances final season, ripped his first purpose of 2024-25 after going with no level by way of the primary three video games.
“It’s not going to go in each night time,” mentioned Matthews, who added two assists towards the Kings. “It’s good to see one fall … a little bit little bit of the burden lifted off your shoulders.”
WAKE-UP CALL
Berube was animated on the bench throughout a third-period timeout after the Kings minimize a 5-0 deficit to 5-2.
“Caring for the puck, being more durable in our zone,” Matthews mentioned of the message. “There have been instances within the sport, early within the second, within the third interval, the place the momentum shifted and we would have liked to seize it again.”
PATCHES SITS
Toronto winger Max Pacioretty was a wholesome scratch after dressing the primary three video games.
“There’s no message,” Berube mentioned of the 35-year-old’s omission. “We now have further gamers and never everyone can play each night time. That’s the underside line. He’s been high-quality when he’s performed, however I’ve received to make choices as a coach, and I’m going to make these choices — what I feel is greatest for the staff.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Oct. 17, 2024.
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