Leafs' Sergei Bobrovsky apologizes to rookie Gavin McKenna

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Leafs' Sergei Bobrovsky apologizes to rookie Gavin McKenna

Originally posted on Daily Faceoff | By Ryan Cuneo | Last updated Oct 2, 2026 6:49 PM ET

The "rookie lap" has become a tradition in the NHL. Typically, a first-year player making his NHL debut will be allowed to step onto the ice for pre-game warmups all by himself, taking a lap around his team’s end of the rink while receiving an ovation from the fans before his teammates take the ice to join him.

There may have been no more anticipated "rookie lap" this season than that of Gavin McKenna, the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ uber-hyped rookie winger who was taken first overall in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.

On Sept. 29, with the Leafs hosting the rival Montreal Canadiens to start their season, McKenna walked down the tunnel, ready to take his once-in-a-lifetime solo skate around the ice at Scotiabank Arena. The only thing in McKenna’s way, however, was his own goaltender.

Sergei Bobrovsky, Toronto’s new starting goalie acquired via unrestricted free agency this offseason, stepped onto the ice right before McKenna, putting a slight damper on the 18-year-old phenom’s rookie lap.

Sergei Bobrovsky was so dialed in he still stepped onto the ice first as Gavin McKenna did his rookie lap. pic.twitter.com/2HZeZHmz22
— David Alter (@davidalter) September 29, 2026

On Friday, Bobrovsky spoke to the media and said he had completely forgotten about McKenna’s rookie lap, and that he has since apologized to McKenna for taking to the ice before him.

“I pretended like it was my first game, too,” Bobrovsky quipped.

Sergei Bobrovsky said that he completely forgot about Gavin McKenna’s rookie lap and apologized to him after:

“I pretended like it was my first game too”
— Anna Dua (@AnnaNoelleDua) October 2, 2026

McKenna’s first time stepping on the ice for an NHL regular season may not have gone as planned, but his play so far probably hasn’t been what he had hoped, either. Through the Leafs’ first two games, McKenna has yet to record a point and has a -2 rating. He has, however, shown flashes of the talent and creativity that made him the first overall pick.

McKenna faked a between-the-legs shot and swung it back to Paul pic.twitter.com/QbLQsvOKfI
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 1, 2026

Toronto, who has started their season 1-1-0, will host the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, before finishing up a four-game homestand against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.

This article first appeared on Daily Faceoff and was syndicated with permission.

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