Gavin McKenna, the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, will wear No. 92 after giving up his preferred No. 72 to newly signed goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. McKenna announced the decision on Saturday as the Leafs' development camp concluded at the Ford Performance Centre in Etobicoke.
McKenna explains number choice
“Nine and 27 are up in the rafters, and I wanted to have a little bit of both in there, so it’s 92, with the nine replacing the seven,” McKenna said. Three players have previously worn No. 92 for the Maple Leafs: Jeff O’Neill, Alexander Nylander, and Igor Ozhiganov.
McKenna noted that losing No. 72 was not a major concern. He had indicated earlier in the week that he would have no issue with Bobrovsky taking the number, which the goaltender wore with the Florida Panthers and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Phone call with Bobrovsky
Bobrovsky initiated a conversation via text, leading to a phone call between the two. “We chatted on the phone,” McKenna said. “Any time you have a guy like that coming in who’s been in the league for that long, won two Stanley Cups, I’m not going to take his number. It was pretty easy for me to just give it to him. He’s a staple in this league. As an 18-year-old kid, you’re not going to take that number.”
Signing the entry-level contract
On Friday, McKenna signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs, making his selection official nearly a week after being chosen first overall in Buffalo. “It means the world to me,” McKenna said. “That’s a big step in my career. To have my family there and experience it with them is pretty special. It’s something I’ve been working towards my whole life and you got the draft, and then pen to paper … it’s all coming together, and it’s been an amazing time.”
McKenna, a native of Whitehorse, Yukon, participated in development camp alongside other prospects. The contract signing was a formality, as the Leafs had always planned to sign their top pick.
