Gavin McKenna Switches to No. 92 After Leafs Give No. 72 to Sergei Bobrovsky

Q: After a veteran took his number, can McKenna's tribute to team legends kickstart his own legacy?

Yes — but only if the symbolism is followed by production. McKenna’s switch from No. 72 to No. 92 already gives him a strong opening in Toronto. He handled the situation with maturity, immediately deferring to Sergei Bobrovsky, a two-time Stanley Cup champion who has long worn No. 72. That kind of respect matters in an NHL room, and Bobrovsky publicly praised McKenna’s attitude and “positive energy,” which is a useful early endorsement for an 18-year-old entering a demanding market. The choice of No. 92 also was not random. McKenna said he wanted “a little bit of both” retired numbers 9 and 27, linking his jersey to Maple Leafs icons Charlie Conacher, Ted Kennedy, Frank Mahovlich and Darryl Sittler. He reinforced that respect by contacting former Leaf Jeff O’Neill for approval before taking 92. For a franchise that values history, that is a smart way to introduce himself. Still, jersey meaning alone does not create a legacy in Toronto. McKenna’s real test is whether he can become a central player on a team trying to recover from a last-place finish in the Atlantic Division. He has the pedigree as the top pick, a fresh entry-level contract, and a roster around him led by Auston Matthews. Team officials have also pointed to his composure and willingness to learn. So the number change can help launch his image as a team-first, history-aware player. His legacy, though, will depend on whether No. 92 becomes associated with wins, points and playoff relevance.

Q: Can a 37-year-old goalie and a rookie with a past incident resurrect the last-place Maple Leafs?

They can help, but they are unlikely to revive Toronto on their own. The 37-year-old is Sergei Bobrovsky, who signed a three-year, $21 million deal and immediately upgrades a position that hurt the Maple Leafs badly in their last-place Atlantic finish. Even with a dip last season in Florida — a 27-23-1 record and 3.07 goals-against average — Bobrovsky brings pedigree, stability and championship experience. For a team that allowed 299 goals and was undone by defensive inconsistency, that matters. The risk is obvious: age. Betting on a 37-year-old goalie to carry a turnaround is a short-term gamble, not a full solution. The rookie is Gavin McKenna, the No. 1 pick and now Toronto’s No. 92 after yielding No. 72 to Bobrovsky. McKenna is viewed as a potential franchise winger and has the talent to change the team’s offensive ceiling quickly. But he is still 18, entering his first NHL season, and his off-ice legal episode earlier this year will remain part of the scrutiny around him unless his play and conduct move the story forward. Expecting a rookie, even an elite one, to rescue a broken team is unrealistic. Toronto’s path back depends less on those two alone than on whether the broader rebuild works. New GM John Chayka has overhauled the roster, but the Leafs’ problems were systemic: poor defending, weak structure, and a lack of consistency. Bobrovsky and McKenna raise the floor and the intrigue. They do not, by themselves, guarantee a resurrection.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 4

McKenna said he will wear No. 92 in his rookie season with Toronto, abandoning the No. 72 he used in juniors, at Penn State and during development camp.
July 1 changed that plan: the Maple Leafs signed Sergei Bobrovsky, the two-time Stanley Cup champion and Vezina-winning goalie who has long worn No. 72.
Toronto's retired numbers narrowed McKenna's alternatives, ruling out No. 9 and No. 27, so the top draft pick settled on 92 instead.
Jeff O'Neill, one of only three previous Leafs to wear No. 92, approved the switch as McKenna joins a club trying to rebound from a last-place 2025-26 finish in the Atlantic Division.