Jared McCann signs $25 million extension with Kraken, fondly remembers his three days with the Leafs – Toronto Star

Jared McCann remembers fondly his brief, off-season tenure as a Maple Leaf.

My buddies dont let me forget about it, thats for sure, said McCann. I was a Leaf for 72 hours. Its pretty funny. Things happen for a reason, and Im meant to be in Seattle.

The 25-year-old forward from Stratford, Ont. for whom big things were expected when he was drafted in the first round by Vancouver in 2014 signed the biggest deal of his professional life on Tuesday, a five-year, $25 million extension with the Seattle Kraken.

He did it just before the Kraken played the Maple Leafs, recalling how he was used as a pawn in the expansion draft chess match.

It was clear that the Penguins were going to lose McCann in the expansion draft, so they wanted to get what they could for him rather than lose him for nothing. In stepped the Maple Leafs, sending prospect Filip Hallander and a seventh-round draft pick to the Penguins on July 17.

For the Leafs, McCann was insurance.

They would expose him and Alex Kerfoot among others for the expansion draft. As far as the Leafs were concerned, their roster would remain intact after the draft. They would really only lose a prospect. Leafs GM Kyle Dubas was upfront with McCann.

I was up at a friends cottage when Kyle called me and explained to me the whole situation and just went from there, said McCann.

Then it was Seattles turn to play head games. They were doing videos that would be part of the expansion draft TV broadcast, and leaked a video from Seattles famed fish market that they would be taking Kerfoot.

I actually saw that and I called my agent right away. I was like: I might say in Toronto? And hes like: No.

A lot of people jumped the gun and maybe thought I was just going to Leaf. But it worked out for the best.

McCann is a first-line player in Seattle a role he did not have in his previous stops in Vancouver, Florida and Pittsburgh, and probably wouldnt have gotten had he stayed in Toronto. He has eclipsed 20 goals for the first time in his career and has stability for the first time in his career.

Its a lot of pressure off my shoulders, said McCann. I can just focus on playing hockey. Its a huge honour to get that deal and to be a part of this for future.

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Jared McCann signs $25 million extension with Kraken, fondly remembers his three days with the Leafs - Toronto Star