NHL trade discussion grows after Kiefer Sherwood's San Jose Sharks extension affects Bobby McMann's contract future with Toronto Maple Leafs

It has been one of the topics of discussion among fans and analysts in the wake of the most recent contract happenings in the National Hockey League as far as Bobby McMann is concerned. In the last two seasons, the winger had become a productive player silently with his speed and better production on offense with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Maple Leafs, however, had their long-term strategies complicated due to the change in market values surrounding the league. The signing of a new contract by Kiefer Sherwood with the San Jose Sharks was a financial milestone for players of the same career path because he signed a contract with a lucrative team.

Kiefer Sherwood of the San Jose Sharks' NHL contract impacts Bobby McMann's Toronto Maple Leafs future

The contract that Kiefer Sherwood has been given by the San Jose Sharks is said to be expensive in terms of annual compensation, as it rewards the forward following a good offense run over the past few seasons. The fact that Sherwood is no longer a depth player but a high-productivity winger served as a reason to justify the deal, but also changed the expectations of similar players in the league.

That event had a direct impact on the negotiations between Bobby McMann and the Toronto Maple Leafs. McMann, some 30 years of age, has also experienced high growth in his game and may well use the contract that Sherwood has as a benchmark when negotiating an extension.

In the case of Toronto, it is still a sensitive financial situation. The Maple Leafs are already funding big percentages of their wage ceiling towards the star forwards like Auston Matthews and John Tavares. It would need long-term planning to add another sizeable contract of a middle-six forward.

Another aspect in the decision is age and playing style. The greatest resource of McMann is his speed, which tends to decrease with further transition into their thirties. The latter risk will leave the management hesitant towards long-term agreements, even in the case of a recently well-performing player. Due to these facts, the Sherwood extension can have pushed McMann out of the comfort zone of Toronto indirectly.