Unsung Heroes: McMann and Holmberg Providing Depth for the Toronto Maple Leafs

With the scoring prowess of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner garnering much of the spotlight, and the heroics of Jack Campbell stabilizing the Toronto Maple Leafs’ net, it’s easy to overlook the contributions of a few lesser lights.

But forwards Pontus Holmberg and Bobby McMann have helped strengthen coach Sheldon Keefe‘s bottom two lines to the point where it’s hard for him to get Nick Robertson in the lineup.

McMann scored his second goal of the season on Thursday night against the New York Islanders: a beauty, like Matthews’ one-timer when he did it.

It was exactly one year after McMann’s first call-up to the Leafs. He got hurt 10 games into his tenure last year. Now, after a trip through the waiver wire, he seems to be a fixture with David Kämpf and Noah Gregor on the fourth line.

“I’m more comfortable probably than I ever have been, especially with the two guys I’ve been playing with, too,” said McMann. “I think we all play a similar style of game: fast, keep it simple, get pucks to the net and make it hard on their team.”

The 27-year-old native of Wainwright, Alta. is one of the feel-good stories of the Leafs’ development system. Undrafted from the Bonnyville Pontiacs of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, McMann spent four full years at Colgate University. He joined the Marlies in 2020-21 after graduating and showed a penchant for scoring at the minor-league level. At six-foot-two and 210 pounds, he’s a big body with some speed.

He’d been a top-liner on every team he played on until he got to the Leafs. He’s had to adjust.

“He just looks more comfortable with the expectations we have on him,” said Keefe. “He’s an older guy that hasn’t played a lot of pro hockey. When he has played in the AHL, he succeeded quickly and played high in the lineup.

“I don’t know that he’s ever been a checker and a grinder, learning to do those kinds of things. He’s simplifying his game, but still uses his size and strength to get to good areas and get off shots. He’s been physical. With as big and strong as he is, and with the quickness he has, when he’s focused on playing a role and simplifying things and being hard to play against, you can trust a guy like that.”

The 24-year-old Holmberg has been another lesson in patience.

A sixth-round pick in the 2018 draft, Holmberg was Sweden‘s forward of the year in 2020-21 and the Swedish league’s playoff MVP that season, when his Växjö Lakers HC won the championship. He represented Sweden in the 2022 Olympics before joining the Marlies and played 37 games for the Leafs last season, earning Keefe’s trust as a checker. He only lost his job at the trade deadline when veteran acquisitions Ryan O’Reilly and Noel Acciari needed roster spots, and Holmberg was easily sent to the AHL.

He had a bad camp, but has recently reasserted himself. He scored a beautiful goal against San Jose on Tuesday, driving the net and one-handing the puck past Sharks goalie Kaapo Kähkönen. It drew the praise of teammate Mitch Marner.

“That guy is a hell of a player, always above the puck,” Marner said that night about Holmberg. “He seems annoying to play against, which you love to have on your team. He wins a lot of battles. You see his strength. That was a hell of a goal.”

But Holmberg’s assist on a Matthews goal Thursday might have been better, stripping an unwitting Islanders defender to feed the league’s leading goal-scorer.

“I’m pretty familiar with him since he’s been called up a couple of times and made the jump,” said Matthews. “He’s an incredible player. His skill level is up there with some of the best guys I’ve seen. He’s got a great stick, great anticipation. He made a great play to tap the puck away and I happened to be in a good spot to get it.”

Holmberg plays all three forward positions. That versatility plus his defensive acumen in his own zone have put him ahead of Robertson on the depth chart.