I know why the Leafs gave Travis Dermott 23 as his new jersey number. It’s the number most on their minds right now.
Twenty-three is the maximum number of players an NHL team can have on their roster. And that’s how many the Leafs have right now with the callup of Dermott and Frederik Gauthier. Except, they actually have 25.
Leafs Roster as at Jan. 16, 2018
| Player | # | Pos | Sh | Ht | Wt | Born | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | # | Pos | Sh | Ht | Wt | Born | Birthplace |
| Tyler Bozak (A) | 42 | C | R | 6' 1" | 199 | Mar 19, 1986 | Regina, SK, CAN |
| Connor Brown | 28 | RW | R | 6' 0" | 185 | Jan 14, 1994 | Toronto, ON, CAN |
| Frederik Gauthier | 33 | C | L | 6' 5" | 232 | Apr 26, 1995 | Laval, QC, CAN |
| Zach Hyman | 11 | C | R | 6' 1" | 213 | Jun 9, 1992 | Toronto, ON, CAN |
| Nazem Kadri | 43 | C | L | 6' 0" | 190 | Oct 6, 1990 | London, ON, CAN |
| Leo Komarov (A) | 47 | C | L | 5' 11" | 209 | Jan 23, 1987 | Narva, EST |
| Josh Leivo | 32 | LW | R | 6' 2" | 210 | May 26, 1993 | Innisfil, ON, CAN |
| Patrick Marleau | 12 | C | L | 6' 2" | 215 | Sep 15, 1979 | Aneroid, SK, CAN |
| Mitchell Marner | 16 | C | R | 6' 0" | 175 | May 5, 1997 | Markham, ON, CAN |
| Matt Martin | 15 | LW | L | 6' 3" | 220 | May 8, 1989 | Windsor, ON, CAN |
| Auston Matthews | 34 | C | L | 6' 3" | 216 | Sep 17, 1997 | San Ramon, CA, USA |
| Dominic Moore | 20 | C | L | 6' 0" | 192 | Aug 3, 1980 | Thornhill, ON, CAN |
| William Nylander | 29 | C | R | 6' 0" | 191 | May 1, 1996 | Calgary, AB, CAN |
| Nikita Soshnikov * | 26 | RW | L | 5' 11" | 185 | Oct 14, 1993 | Nizhny Tagil, RUS |
| James van Riemsdyk | 25 | LW | L | 6' 3" | 217 | May 4, 1989 | Middletown, NJ, USA |
| Andreas Borgman | 55 | D | L | 6' 0" | 212 | Jun 18, 1995 | Stockholm, SWE |
| Connor Carrick | 8 | D | R | 5' 10" | 192 | Apr 13, 1994 | Orland Park, IL, USA |
| Travis Dermott | 23 | D | L | 6' 0" | 208 | Dec 22, 1996 | Newmarket, ON, CAN |
| Jake Gardiner | 51 | D | L | 6' 2" | 200 | Jul 4, 1990 | Minnetonka, MN, USA |
| Ron Hainsey | 2 | D | L | 6' 3" | 205 | Mar 24, 1981 | Bolton, CT, USA |
| Roman Polak | 46 | D | R | 6' 2" | 235 | Apr 28, 1986 | Ostrava, CZE |
| Morgan Rielly (A) | 44 | D | L | 6' 1" | 217 | Mar 9, 1994 | Vancouver, BC, CAN |
| Nikita Zaitsev * | 22 | D | R | 6' 2" | 195 | Oct 29, 1991 | Moscow, RUS |
| Frederik Andersen | 31 | G | 6' 4" | 230 | Oct 2, 1989 | Herning, DNK | |
| Curtis McElhinney | 35 | G | 6' 2" | 200 | May 23, 1983 | London, ON, CAN |
The rule right now is: If your name is Nikita, you’re on IR.