Toronto Maple Leafs first overall pick McKenna has indicated he would be willing to give up his No. 72 jersey to Sergei Bobrovsky if the newly signed goaltender desires it. Bobrovsky wore the number during his time with the Florida Panthers.
McKenna, who wore No. 72 at Penn State and with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers, stated, “He’s a two-time Stanley Cup champion. If he wants it, he can have it.” This comment was made at the Maple Leafs development camp on Thursday.
The Maple Leafs signed Bobrovsky to a three-year, $21-million contract as free agency began on Wednesday. Bobrovsky is also a two-time Vezina Trophy winner. The specific number McKenna will wear for his rookie season remains uncertain, as his backup numbers, 9 and 27, are retired by the franchise in honour of Charlie Conacher, Ted Kennedy, Darryl Sittler, and Frank Mahovlich.
Bobrovsky’s arrival and team strategy
The acquisition of Bobrovsky marks a significant move for the Maple Leafs. John Chayka, the Maple Leafs’ general manager, spent $21 million on the three-year deal for the former Panthers goaltender. Bobrovsky will be 38 years old by training camp.
Chayka acknowledged that signing players into their late 30s is not a general rule for the team, but he views Bobrovsky as an exception. “We’re talking about someone who’s been at the top of his craft for a very long time, someone that, as I understand it, is obsessive about taking care of his body and what he puts into his body, and about performing at the highest level,” Chayka said.
Bobrovsky is coming off a season where his .877 save percentage ranked 27th among 29 goaltenders who played at least 40 games. However, the Panthers as a team also experienced a challenging year. Despite this, there was a sentiment within the Panthers’ dressing room that Bobrovsky would be welcomed back, according to captain Aleksander Barkov.
The Panthers ultimately chose to pivot to Jacob Markström, who is 36 years old and has a $6-million cap hit, which is $1 million cheaper than Bobrovsky’s deal, with two seasons pending. Markström does not have any Stanley Cups or Vezina Trophies.
Impact and expectations for the Maple Leafs
Bobrovsky has been a significant factor in past playoff encounters against the Maple Leafs. In a 2023 second-round series, he achieved a .943 save percentage and allowed only 10 goals over five games as the Panthers advanced. In a 2025 second-round series, where the Maple Leafs won two of the first three games, Bobrovsky allowed a combined four goals in Games 4 through 7, leading the Panthers to their second consecutive Stanley Cup.
Chayka described Bobrovsky as a “game changer” for the team, citing his stability, consistency, and durability. He noted that Bobrovsky has averaged 53 starts over the past five seasons, which could address a recent concern for Toronto goaltenders regarding durability.
The potential goaltending duo of Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz, who has not started more than 33 games in two seasons with Toronto due to injury and opportunity, is seen as potentially formidable. This pairing also reprises the Panthers’ Cup-winning tandem from the 2023-24 season.
The general manager also mentioned that Marlies starter Artur Akhtyamov will be available as a waiver-exempt fill-in and a mentee for Bobrovsky, following a Wednesday trade that sent depth goalie Dennis Hildeby to Tampa for forward Nick Paul. Chayka emphasized Bobrovsky’s impressive resumé, professionalism, and championship pedigree, believing he is the right player at the right time for the team.
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Source: sportsnet.ca
