First, Sergei Bobrovsky took Gavin McKenna’s number, then he took the Maple Leafs youngster’s spotlight on his rookie lap.
Traditionally, when rookies hit the rink for pre-game warmups ahead of their first NHL game, they are allowed a so-called “rookie lap” — taking to the ice before their teammates and getting a quick solo moment to take it all in.
That didn’t happen for the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, though, as McKenna was the second Leafs player on the Scotiabank Arena ice before Tuesday night’s season opener against the Montreal Canadiens, trailing behind the team’s new veteran goaltender.
Bobrovsky, like many goalies, is incredibly superstitious and one of his routines is apparently being the first player out on the ice.
While McKenna didn’t seem too upset about it, many Leafs fans online were at the perceived disrespect to a potential future star.
“Sergei Bobrovsky = bad teammate,” one commenter wrote.
“I respect goalie superstitions but surely the line should be drawn where it takes a once-in-a-lifetime special moment away from your own teammate,” another fan wrote.
“Um, how come your goalie is on the ice, ruining a long-standing tradition for the rookie? Total dick-move,” a third user replied.
Has Bobrovsky always done this?
But while some defended Bobrovsky for putting himself – literally and figuratively – ahead of his teammate, it was pointed out that the goalie actually isn’t as 100% committed to his superstitions as it might’ve seemed.
“How come Bobrovsky didn’t interrupt this rookie lap, but interrupted McKenna’s?” one user posted, sharing a video of Florida Panthers’ Cole Schwindt walking past the goalie on his way to the ice for his rookie lap back in 2021.
The Maple Leafs social media team did its best, considering the situation, when posting footage of McKenna’s rookie lap online.
“Have a lap, Gav!” the team posted, while keeping the camera tightly framed on McKenna and cutting out the fact that Bobrovsky had already stepped onto the ice first.
Fans, however, noticed the seemingly sharp camera work, though.
“Had to crop that video to exclude Bob! I honestly can’t believe he actually did that,” one user replied on X.
Did McKenna have family at the game?
Earlier this week, McKenna said that he had roughly 14 family members and friends coming to watch his debut, with most travelling from Whitehorse in the Yukon.
“I never get to play in front of people from my hometown (while in Medicine Hat of the Western Hockey League and Penn State University). My mom and my grandma, those two are pretty emotional when it comes to big moments in my life.”
After wearing the No. 72 through his junior and NCAA career, McKenna is sporting No. 92 with the Maple Leafs — thanks to Bob.
When the veteran goalie was signed during the off-season, McKenna opted to switch up his digits and allow the two-time Stanley Cup winner to stick with what he wore through the majority of his lengthy NHL career.
With the Maple Leafs playing again on Wednesday to complete a back-to-back set to start the season, Bobrovsky will serve as backup against the New York Islanders, with Anthony Stolarz getting the nod between the pipes.