It was only a few weeks ago that Craig Berube singled out Bobby McMann as somebody he wanted to see more from in 2025-26. Not out of scrutiny, but out of belief.

“I think Bobby can take another step in his game,” Berube told reporters shortly after training camp started. “You know, doing some things a little bit differently. Especially playing with those two guys [Tavares and Nylander], getting those guys the puck more, getting to the net more. I like a big guy with those two guys, to forecheck, get in there and create loose pucks, help out JT in those situations. Willy’s gonna do his thing, we all know that. But Bobby, I feel, can take another step in his game.”

In the Toronto Maple Leafs’ season opener, a 5-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens, McMann scored the team’s first goal of the season by doing just that.

McMann crashed the net and caught a deflection off a William Nylander shot to open the scoring, which is precisely what Berube was calling for him to do.

“Yeah, I think if you put yourself in those areas whether it goes off your stick or whatever, sometimes it ends up going in or you find those pucks around there,” McMann said referring to Berube’s comments. “You look at the goal charts around the league all year and there’s a ton of dots at the top of the crease.”

McMann also told reporters that he feels that having his legs under him and using his speed has a ripple effect that leads to him playing his best hockey.

“Usually when I move my feet, playing with speed, trying to be physical, and then competitiveness,” McMann continued. “I think when I’m winning battles in the mix, in the corners, those sorts of things. That’s when I feel like I’m the most engaged and when I produce the most.”

To nobody’s surprise, Berube was happy with what he saw from McMann in the season opener.

“I liked Bobby a lot tonight. Skated well, hard on pucks, getting to the net. So, it was a good game by him, but, that line was a factor for us tonight.”

McMann will look to continue building on his good habits and parlay it into a regular role on the second line, at least for the time being. Berube has been vocal about the type of player he wants alongside John Tavares and William Nylander, and he fits the bill for it perfectly. It’s just a matter of whether he can bring that type of game consistently enough to stick there, but the season opener was a good start.