The Toronto Maple Leafs are now in a new era with one of hockey’s brightest young talents preparing for his NHL debut, bringing fresh attention to everything surrounding the franchise. Even a routine jersey number choice quickly became a talking point after a lighthearted social media post gained widespread attention.
As the story continued to circulate, questions lingered about whether the exchange had actually taken place.
Jeff O’Neill Confirms Leafs Rookie Gavin McKenna Never Asked About No. 92
The mystery surrounding Toronto rookie Gavin McKenna’s decision to wear No. 92 has officially been cleared up after former Maple Leafs forward Jeff O’Neill acknowledged that the popular story he shared earlier this summer was untrue.
O’Neill had previously posted on X that McKenna FaceTimed him to ask permission before taking the number, but he admitted during a recent appearance on TSN OverDrive that the conversation never actually happened.
When the topic came up on the show, O’Neill initially hesitated before deciding to set the record straight. “I can’t even believe you put me on the spot like this,” he said before adding, “I have to confess something. It’s so obvious, but I let it go too far, and I couldn’t go back on it.”
O’Neill then directly addressed the rumor, saying, “Yeah, Gavin McKenna did not, nor would he ever, call me to get my input on wearing No. 92. I only played for the Leafs for two years. I do know both of his agents, but that did not happen.”
He also explained how the rookie actually landed on the number. According to O’Neill, McKenna wanted “some type of combination of 72 and 97,” which ultimately led him to choose No. 92.
The explanation aligns with McKenna’s transition after giving up his familiar No. 72 out of respect for newly signed goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
O’Neill admitted the joke spread much further than he anticipated and eventually became difficult to correct. “I feel awful because I had so many people I love and respect bringing it up,” he said, recalling conversations with relatives and fellow hockey personalities.
He also revealed that Paul Bissonnette congratulated him on the supposed call, forcing O’Neill to admit, “Biz, he did not call me, nor would he. Why would he call me?”
The former winger added that he never expected the post to gain so much attention, saying, “I was just trying to have some fun on social media, and it got to a place where I was like, ‘I just have to leave this there because I can’t delete it or go back on it now.'”
As McKenna prepares for his first NHL season, his focus remains on helping a retooled Maple Leafs roster compete immediately.
Praising general manager John Chayka’s aggressive offseason, the 18-year-old said, “You see what Chayka is doing. You see the players he’s bringing in. I think we obviously want to go on a run this year.”
He also acknowledged his unique situation, adding, “It’s pretty common that players who get drafted first overall go to a team that’s tanking, and that’s not the case for me. I know I’ve gotten lucky.”
