It appears Toronto Maple Leafs No. 1 pick Gavin McKenna will have a new number for his first career NHL game in the fall.
The 18-year-old from Whitehorse, Yukon wore No. 72 during his junior career with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers and his one season with the NCAA’s Penn State Nittany Lions.
He would of likely kept the number as a member of the Maple Leafs before general manager John Chayka made a splash on the opening day of free agency by signing star veteran goalie Sergei Bobrovsky to a three-year, $21 million contract on Wednesday.
The 37-year-old Bobrovsky, who is a two-time Stanley Cup champion and likely headed to the Hockey Hall of Fame after his playing days are finished, has also worn No. 72 for most of his career.
During the opening day of Toronto’s development camp on Thursday, McKenna said he has no problem with giving up his number to Bobrovsky if the veteran goaltender wants it.
“Probably not, probably not,” when asked if he think he’ll wear No. 72 in his debut season. “Bob, he has won two Stanley Cups. If he wants that number, he is going to get that number.”
McKenna might have to get creative to find a new number as his backup choices - No. 27 and No. 9 - are both already retired by the Maple Leafs.
No. 27 was worn by Frank Mahovlich and Darryl Sittler while No. 9 was worn by Charlie Conacher and Ted Kennedy.
McKenna joined Auston Matthews (2016) and Wendel Clark (1985) as the only players to be selected first overall by the Maple Leafs when his name was called by Canadian musician Justin Bieber at Friday’s NHL Draft in Buffalo.
McKenna scored 15 goals and 36 assists over 35 games during his lone season with Penn State in 2025-26 following a prolific three-year run in the WHL with the Tigers, highlighted by scoring 41 goals with 88 assists over 56 games in 2024-25. He added nine goals and 29 assists over 16 playoff games as McKenna led Medicine Hat to the WHL league title that season.
McKenna played for Canada at two World Junior Championships in 2025 and 2026, scoring five goals and 10 assists over 12 total games, earning bronze from the 2026 tournament.
Bobrovsky is set to enter his 17th season in the NHL and is coming off a seven-year run with the Florida Panthers where he led the franchise to three Stanley Cup Final appearances, including victories in 2024 and 2025.
The Russian posted a 3.07 goals-against average and career-low .877 save percentage over 52 games in 2025-26.
Bobrovsky won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goalie in 2013 and 2017, both with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
