Bobby McMann’s luggage tags reveal an interesting career routing.
Bonnyville, Alta., Colgate University (undrafted) and the past two seasons split between ECHL Newfoundland Growlers and Wichita Thunder, ending up as Maple Leaf property with the Toronto Marlies.
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On Wednesday night there will be a reward for McMann, the bright lights of Scotiabank Arena for a nationally televised exhibition game between the old rivals Toronto and Montreal.
He’s projected to start on right wing with a ‘prospects’ line of Nick Abruzzese and Alex Steeves in whose company he’s deserved to be after a strong training camp.
“I like the journey I’ve come on, this organization likes you to earn your spot,” McMann said after the morning skate. “Camp has been tough, a lot of good players here.”
Coach Sheldon Keefe has a number of youths to track, but has highlighted the 6-foot-1 McMann a few times. Marlies coach Greg Moore certainly brought McMann’s 24 goals in 61 games last year to the parent staff’s attention. Only Joey Anderson had more goals for the farm team as McMann signed a two-year AHL contract.
Halving the 2020-21 season between Newfoundland and Wichita, the Wainwright Alta., native was ready to make some noise with the Marlies.
“I buried my head and went to work, built some relationships with the coaches,” McMann said. “Knowing the systems helped me be comfortable jumping right in.”
That has continued under Keefe.
“Sheldon’s pointed me in the right direction and we’ve had a few conversations about what he expects from me.”
Wednesday’s match follows the Leafs Saturday split with Ottawa to open the pre-season schedule. It also starts an unexpected audition phase for second line centre in the wake of Tuesday’s announcement that captain John Tavares will miss a minimum of three weeks with a strained oblique (pelvic) muscle.
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With Auston Matthews and his first line resting, the premier scoring trio Wednesday sets up as Pontus Holmberg between fellow newcomer Denis Malgin and William Nylander, a group that Keefe has kept together through the first week of camp. Proven centre Alex Kerfoot will be between Nick Robertson and Calle Jarnkrok.
It’s a big camp for Robertson who has lost some momentum in his career because of injuries, while Jarnkrok’s ability to play anywhere could eventually see him get time at centre as well. Incumbent third line centre David Kampf returned to practice Wednesday after a couple of personal days.
Matt Murray makes his pre-season debut in goal for an expected 40 minutes, facing the NHL’s No. 1 overall draft pick, right winger Juraj Slafkovsky, who played Monday in Montreal’s 2-1 loss to New Jersey.
To compensate for the injuries to defencemen Timothy Liljegren, Jake Muzzin and the absence of Rasmus Sandin, Keefe is moving the defence around in camp. Wednesday will see Morgan Rielly alongside new recruit Jordie Benn, while his regular partner, TJ Brodie, slipped back into an old Calgary Flames pairing with Mark Giordano.
Former Canadien Victor Mete will be with AHLer Carl Dahlstrom.
Wednesday’s projected Leafs lineup Vs. Montreal:
LW C RW
William Nylander Pontus Holmberg Denis Malgin
Nick Robertson Alex Kerfoot Calle Jarnkrok
Bobby McMann Nick Abruzzese Alex Steeves
Kyle Clifford Curtis Douglas Joey Anderson
Defence
Morgan Rielly Jordie Benn
Mark Giordano TJ Brodie
Carl Dahlstrom Victor Mete
Goal
Matt Murray
Erik Kallgren
