One of the matchups on the opening night of the NHL season was between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens.
That’s always one people want to check out, but even more so this year because of the debut of the Leafs’ first-overall pick, Gavin McKenna.
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It was also the Toronto debut of Stanley Cup and Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky, and the veteran netminder is getting a lot of flak for not letting the rookie get his moment in the sun.
Maple Leafs goalie Sergei Bobrovsky’s pregame superstition about being first on the ice rubbed a lot of fans the wrong way when it slightly interfered with Gavin McKenna’s rookie lap. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)
It has become a tradition for players making their NHL debut to take a rookie lap. The rest of the team stays in the tunnel while the rookie hits the ice for warmups first and skates by himself for a couple of laps.
However, Sergei Bobrovsky is — like a lot of goalies — superstitious, and one of his quirks has to do with being the first one on the ice.
Starting to see how this became an issue?
So, Bobrovsky stepped out onto the ice and stood by the benches while McKenna took his rookie lap.
Given that McKenna is seen as the kind of player who can alter a franchise’s trajectory, many people weren’t happy to see a veteran like Bobrovsky deny him his rookie lap.
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I think McKenna probably didn’t care that much. It’s not like Bobrovsky stood in the crease the entire time.
However, it’s not a good look, especially since there was another offseason quasi-controversy involving the two.
Leafs rookie Gavin McKenna takes his rookie lap ahead of his NHL debut. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)
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When McKenna was drafted, there were already fans sporting No. 72 jerseys with his name on the back. That’s because it’s the number he had worn in juniors with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers and in the NCAA with the Penn State Nittany Lions.
However, there was a bit of an issue when the Leafs brought in Bobrovsky: he also likes to wear No. 72.
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The veteran ended up with the number, and since No. 9 — that’s 7+2 for the less math-inclined — is retired in Toronto, McKenna ended up with No. 92.
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In the long run, this might be a nothing-burger, but it’s a rough way to start the season in a market that always puts its team under the microscope.