The first media session for Sergei Bobrovsky as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs started with a question about why Toronto is a good fit. The goaltender spent most of his answer waxing poetic about his former team.
“I would like to use this opportunity to thank Florida Panthers organization,” Bobrovsky said in a Zoom call with reporters on Friday. “It’s been amazing, amazing seven [years] for me. I want to thank everybody [in] the whole organization, Viola family, they welcomed me in the family. It’s been great. We won two Cups. It’s been amazing. The coaches, medical staff, everybody, obviously fans, from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank them for all that time. We went through a lot. Obviously, my teammates, I love those guys. They’ve been amazing to me and the memories that we built together, they will stay in my heart forever.”
So, why is Bobrovsky switching sides in an Atlantic Division rivalry?
“Well, it’s a business,” he said. “The organization decided to move a different direction, and that’s pretty much it. I respect that. I got nothing against it, so that’s hockey. They’re responsible for their part, and I respect that. In my position, again, as I said, I just want to keep only the appreciation and thank [them] for everything, what they have done for me. It’s been an amazing journey for me, and I can’t thank them enough for everything [and] what they have done.”
The Panthers pulled off a trade with the New Jersey Devils for 36-year-old goalie Jacob Markstrom on the eve of free agency. Markstrom has two years left on his contract, which carries a $6-million average annual value.
It was only after the Markstrom trade that Bobrovsky realized his run in Florida was truly done and he would need to find a new home.
Bobrovsky, who will turn 38 in September, signed a three-year deal with the Leafs, which carries a $7 million average annual value.
“Things work out like how they work out and the Leafs put their trust in me, they put out their belief and they gave me good opportunity to join the historical legendary team and be part of this organization,” the native of Novokuznetsk, Russia said.
Bobrovsky is coming off, statistically, the worst season of his career. He posted an .877 save percentage and 3.07 goals-against average as the injury-plagued Panthers missed the playoffs.
“It was a tough season for our organization,” Bobrovsky said. “We had lots of injuries. Our captain [and top-line centre Aleksander Barkov] went down right in the first practice. So that was kind of a starting point of all of this.”
After three straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final, the Panthers finally seemed to hit a wall.
“It’s not easy,” Bobrovsky stressed. “You know, the NHL, it’s a tough league ... It was a tough season, but every season brings some challenges. You know that there is never going to be a point that you kind of [think], ‘Alright, I know everything and I’ve been through everything.’ There is always a challenge. And, for me personally, I will be a student of this game for all my life.”
Bobrovsky’s ability to embrace the grind is a big reason why he’s won two Vezina Trophies and is destined for the Hall of Fame when he retires.
“To me, if Florida has their full complement of weapons in the lineup all year long, life is a lot easier for [Bobrovsky],” Leafs assistant general manager Ryan Hardy said during an appearance on TSN 1050’s OverDrive show on Thursday. “His numbers probably look way more in line with what they were before. For us, it is just about evaluating his body of work, his mentality, his makeup, and knowing how he takes care of himself and approaches the game. It seemed like a worthwhile bet for us to make.”
Bobrovsky’s durability is a big plus for the Leafs, who saw Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz both miss significant time during the past two seasons. Woll was traded earlier in the off-season while Stolarz, who has never played more than 34 games in any NHL season, is just starting a four-year contract.
Bobrovsky has played at least 50 games in nine of the past 10 seasons, with the only exception being the COVID-shortened campaign in 2020-21.
“I love the game so much,” Bobrovsky said. “I love the game. I love everything about the game. So it’s been a fun process for me. And, you know, as I go deeper, I love it even more.”
After starting his career with the small-market Columbus Blue Jackets and then playing in the non-traditional hockey market of Sunrise, Fla., Bobrovsky sounded energized by the opportunity to play under the spotlight in Toronto.
“It’s a blessing to be a hockey player and playing in the NHL and it’s a blessing to join this team,” he said. “It’s the capital of hockey in my mind. Fans are excited [and] there’s going to be a great atmosphere, and I’m excited about that. It’s a big responsibility and I’m looking forward to help this team win.”
It’s a new team, but Bobrovsky will be familiar with his backup. Stolarz played with the Panthers during the 2023-24 season before signing with the Leafs.
“He’s an easy-going guy,” Bobrovsky said of the 32-year-old New Jersey native. “It’s fun to be around him, to have some jokes and practices or some jokes outside of the practices. He’s just a nice person.”
Bobrovsky is also ready to mentor Toronto’s goalie of the future, Artur Akhtyamov.
“I talked to him once briefly,” Bobrovsky said of his 24-year-old countryman. “He seems like a bright guy, too. He’s a nice guy. He’s a big prospect, and I’m excited to be part of his development.”
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Bobrovsky wears No. 72, which is the same number first-overall pick Gavin McKenna wears.
“He gave that number to me,” Bobrovsky revealed. “We had a little chat last night. He’s a bright guy. He’s got really positive energy, and I’m excited to watch him develop into the big superstar, honestly.”
McKenna had already told reporters on Thursday following the first practice at Leafs development camp that he will “probably not” be wearing 72 next season.
“Bob, he’s won two Stanley Cups, if he wants that number he’s going to get that number,” McKenna said.
The Penn State product, who was born in 2007, isn’t sure what number he’ll use. His other favourites, 27 and nine (two plus seven), are both retired by the Leafs.
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McKenna signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Friday.
“He’s always been one of the best players, if not the best player, on the ice pretty consistently,” said Guelph Storm centre Tyler Hopkins, who was Toronto’s third-round pick last year and has played against McKenna while coming up in the Hockey Canada system. “It’s pretty special to have him here with all of us and you see the stuff he can do with the puck.”
Hopkins noted that he is trying to learn from McKenna as much as possible. What’s he got his eye on during development camp?
“Just the control that he has with the puck and [how he’s] always making players go one way when he’s going the other,” Hopkins observed. “He’s so deceptive with whether he’s going to pass or shoot or whatever he’s doing with the puck.”
It’s been a busy stretch for McKenna, who was given a day off from media duties on Friday.
“Just a fun, easy-going guy,” Kitchener Rangers defenceman Alexander Bilecki, who was a second-round pick by the Leafs last week, said of McKenna. “I even talked with his parents about it, it’s just so cool how he’s calm and composed. There’s a bunch a people coming up to him, kind of harping him or getting on him and saying, ‘Gavin, can we get a picture?’ And he’s so just so easy, so cool about it and that’s really cool.”
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Bilecki and McKenna attended the Portugal/Croatia FIFA World Cup match on Thursday night in Toronto.
“I’m rooming with Gav and we’ve gotten pretty close,” Bilecki said. “We created a bond and a couple nights ago he turned over and was like, ‘Hey, Bils, do you want to go to the World Cup game?’ And you know, me, I’m kind of sitting there going, ‘I mean, I wouldn’t mind.’ It was a great experience thanks to him. Great game and glad we were there.”
Were they getting noticed a lot by fans?
“More Gav than me, for sure,” Bilecki said with a smile.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored on a penalty in the second half to tie the game and Portugal eventually won 2-1 to advance to the round-of-16.
“Growing up I was a Ronaldo fan,” McKenna told TSN’s Camila Gonzalez during an interview at Toronto Stadium. “I was a big Real Madrid fan and always played the FIFA soccer games and stuff. Big fan of him, and I’m cheering for him.”
“We talked about it,” Bilecki said. “I think it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to tell our grandkids, ‘Hey, we got to see Cristiano Ronaldo play and score a goal too.’ It was cool to spend [the game] with him and see all that unfold.”
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It’s been a busy week for the Leafs who signed Bobrovsky and made a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning to acquire forward Nick Paul. General manager John Chayka also signed a series of forwards who will soak up some of the harder minutes next season and free up players like McKenna to get more offensive opportunities.
“Super excited,” McKenna told reporters on Thursday. “You can tell the mindset Chayka and the staff’s got, they want to make a statement next year. And for me to come in as a first overall pick and be in that environment, to have these veteran guys around me and kind of not have to be that driver and learn from those guys, I’m very lucky and fortunate and I can’t wait to get going and meet all these guys.”
Teddy Blueger was among the new recruits, with the centre signing a two-year, $5 million deal with the Leafs.
“Toronto seems to be kind of the centre of the hockey world,” the 31-year-old from Latvia said. “And just being part of an Original Six team, I know that all the guys that I’m friends with that have played on them just say it’s a little bit different, carries a little more weight and anytime you’re even in the building and you look up at the rafters and all the retired numbers and all the history and [see] the weight of that. Also, people know how passionate the fans are and how much they care and I think it’s great to be doing something that people care so much about and being a part of that. It’s kind of a unique opportunity that you don’t get most places.”
Blueger noted that the Leafs pursued him aggressively, which made it an “easy choice” to sign in Toronto.
“You kind of go off of where you feel like you’re wanted and where you think you could have a role,” he said.
Blueger is no stranger to playing in Canada, having spent the past three seasons in Vancouver. He experienced his greatest success with the Canucks when playing on a line with Dakota Joshua and Connor Garland. He’s excited by the prospect of reuniting with Joshua in Toronto.
“Dak is a big, physical power forward who is great down low and great in front of the net,” Blueger said. “He can score. He has a great skill set. I love playing with him. I am obviously hoping to get that chance again.”
Blueger is also looking forward to more team success after the Canucks collapsed to last place in the entire NHL last season.
“My biggest year of learning throughout the course of my career,” Blueger said.
What did he learn?
“Just about the importance of team cohesion, culture-type stuff,” he said during a lengthy answer. “What makes a team tick, what makes the guys come together and play at their best. I think the goal for any team is to kind of get to a point where you find this balance of guys caring about each other enough to where they’re willing to sacrifice themselves for the good of the team...
“Stuff that I took for granted early in my career in Pittsburgh with [Sidney Crosby] setting the tone is practice habits, discipline of showing up on time, being respectful to each other, to the trainers, to the staff, things like that, that I think seem like when you take each thing on its own, it seems like a small thing, but you add them all up, it creates an environment within the facility. That environment’s huge, and it has to be positive and one where everyone can kind of be themselves and come to work every day excited and upbeat instead of, you know, down and kind of in a negative mindset. So that makes all the difference, I think.”
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As part of the roster overhaul this week, the Leafs traded winger Nick Robertson to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2028 draft.
“Obviously mixed emotions,” Robertson told TSN. “Finally my time in Toronto came to an end, but I was just really excited when I got the call that I was going to Pittsburgh and really looking forward to my new chapter there.”
Robertson requested a trade during the summer of 2024 before ultimately signing a one-year deal. He signed another one-year contract last summer.
Trade rumours followed Robertson throughout his time in Toronto. So, did he see it coming on Wednesday when he was dealt shortly before the opening of free agency?
“I knew it maybe would happen,” the 24-year-old said from his family home in California. “But, again, I’ve had trade rumours since maybe my foot stepped in the door in Toronto ... It was 50-50. I wasn’t, like, expecting it. But obviously there’s always trade rumours, so it keeps you on your toes.”
Robertson made his NHL debut in the 2020 bubble playoffs as an 18-year-old and scored in the playoff series against the Columbus Blue Jackets, but struggled to carve out a consistent role with the Leafs over the years.
As the team’s top pick in the 2019 draft, Robertson got plenty of attention.
“I try to stay with it as best as possible, but it keeps you honest,” he said of the pressure in Toronto. “It’s hard at times, but playing in that market for the fans and everything, you wouldn’t want anything else.”
Robertson thanked the fans for their support and said he will “really cherish” his time in Toronto.
But Robertson also made it clear he’s excited for the larger role waiting for him with the Penguins and for a reunion with Kyle Dubas, who was the Leafs general manager when he was drafted.
“It’s a change of scenery for me, an opportunity that I’ve been wanting,” he said of Dubas’ message. “He just knows me a lot, so he’s pretty familiar with my game.”
Robertson grew up idolizing Crosby, who shares the same agent. He received a welcome message from Crosby minutes after the deal got done.
“It was amazing,” Robertson said with a big smile. “I mean, I had his jersey hung in my room when I was a kid, so it was just surreal.”
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The Leafs will wrap up development camp with a scrimmage on Saturday.
