Former Penn State men's hockey forward Gavin McKenna has experienced a few jersye number changes in his life.
Initially wearing No. 27 when starting in his youth, he chose the number to represent his birthday (December 20, 2007). When he stopped at another team when he was younger, that jersey number was taken, forcing him to flip his original number 72 instead. Since then, McKenna has sported the No. 72 jersey, including his one season in Happy Valley.
Entering this new chapter of his career, McKenna has to figure out another number to wear.
"Probably not," McKenna laughed when asked if he plans on wearing the No. 72 jersey after the Maple Leafs signed goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky to a three-year deal on Wednesday. "Bob, he's won two Stanley Cups. If he wants that number, he's going to get that number."
"Bob, he's won two Stanley Cups. If he wants that number, he's going to get that number."
— BarDown (@BarDown) July 2, 2026
Gavin McKenna says he doesn't expect to wear No. 72 for the Leafs next season 👀 pic.twitter.com/m1zi61vYPq
Reporters asked McKenna if he had backups. Alongside No. 27, he also said No. 9. Unfortunately for the former Nittany Lion, both of those jerseys are up in the rafters. No. 27 co-honors former center Darryl Sittler and forward Frank Mahovlich; No. 9 co-honors former forward Charlie Conacher and center Ted Kennedy.
Sittler played for the Maple Leafs from 1970-1982, playing in 844 games and logging 389 goals and 527 assists over his 12 years in Toronto. Mahovlich also started his career there in 1956 and was part of the Stanley Cup-winning team. He had 296 goals and 301 assists over 710 games and 12 years.
Conacher played for the Maple Leafs from 1929-1938, logging 200 goals and 124 assists in 328 games. Kennedy spent his entire career in Toronto. He started in 1942 and played through the 1954-55 season. He returned for his final season in 1956. Kennedy's 14-year career resulted in 230 goals and 330 assists.
Just because his first three jersey numbers are not available doesn't automatically mean McKenna is slated for greatness with the Maple Leafs, but it is a funny coincidence that his top three picks are unavailable because of exactly that.
Only time will tell if his jersey number actually means anything, but Toronto didn't draft him No. 1 overall in the 2026 NHL Draft for no reason. There are expectations for this draft pick to hit. McKenna is already a projected first liner at left wing next to center Auston Matthews and right-winger William Nylander. The pressure is on for the 18-year-old, especially knowing that the Maple Leafs are itching for a Stanley Cup for the first time since 1967.
If his preferred jersey number selection says anything, McKenna will help Toronto get back to the Stanley Cup Finals in no time.
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