The Toronto Maple Leafs landed forward Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 NHL Draft, and with the former Penn State standout arriving in Canada after wearing No. 72 both in college and with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers.
Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs also brought another player to town this offseason in veteran goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who signed a three-year, $21 million deal with Toronto after also wearing No. 72 through most of his NHL career.
With both McKenna — a rookie but a highly-touted first-overall pick — and Bobrovsky — a two-time Stanley Cup champion and Vezina Trophy winner — it wasn't unclear who would retain the No. 72 in Toronto.
Ultimately, McKenna decided to move to No. 92, leaving No. 72 to the veteran netmineder.
Via Imagn Images
When asked about why he left his longtime number to Bobrovsky, he cited the veteran goalie’s resume as the reason, per TSN's Mark Masters.
“Bob, he has won two Stanley Cups,” McKenna said. “If he wants that number, he is going to get that number.”
Bobrovsky, meanwhile, confirmed on Friday that he and McKenna spoke by phone before the decision became public.
“He gave that number to me, we had a little chat last night,” Bobrovsky said. “We had a little chat (on Thursday). He’s a bright guy. He’s got really positive energy. I’m excited to watch him develop, to be a big superstar in this league.”
McKenna’s other options were not available. No. 9 is retired by the Leafs for Charlie Conacher and Ted Kennedy, while No. 27 is retired for Frank Mahovlich and Darryl Sittler.
“I don't know,” McKenna said. “My two other ones are taken. They’re up in the rafters. So I'll have to think about it.”
It turns out McKenna ended up calling former Toronto player Jeff O’Neill, one of the previous Maple Leafs to wear No. 92, to ask him if he was comfortable with him wearing his number.
McKenna enters Toronto after recording 15 goals and 36 assists in 35 games at Penn State. Before that, he had 129 points in 56 games for Medicine Hat in 2024-25.
