Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky said Gavin McKenna's rookie lap slipped his mind when he took the ice before the first overall pick's NHL debut Tuesday.
"I completely forgot," Bobrovsky said Friday, according to The Athletic's Joshua Kloke. "I didn't think about it."
NHL rookies traditionally take the ice for warmup alone ahead of their first game in the league. Bobrovsky skated off to the side as McKenna received a warm reception from Maple Leafs fans.
Sergei Bobrovsky has to be first on the ice, even if a rookie is taking their debut lap 😅 pic.twitter.com/ytIupTKdbx
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 29, 2026
Bobrovsky said he admitted to McKenna that it was a mistake to take the ice before him.
"I pretended that it's my first game too," Bobrovsky joked.
Bobrovsky and McKenna were two of Toronto's marquee additions this past offseason. The veteran netminder joined the Maple Leafs on a three-year contract after a seven-season run with the Florida Panthers that included a pair of Stanley Cup victories. He stopped 21 of 24 shots Tuesday as Toronto lost its season opener to the Montreal Canadiens.
The Maple Leafs won the draft lottery in May and selected McKenna with the top pick. The 18-year-old is still looking for his first career point after two games as a professional.
