MacLellan began his professional career in 1982 when he was drafted by the Kings in the fourth round of the NHL Entry Draft. He played his first NHL game in the 1983-84 season and scored his first goal in his second game. MacLellan played for the Kings for four seasons before being traded to the Rangers in 1987.
After one season with the Rangers, MacLellan was traded to the North Stars, where he played for two seasons. He then signed as a free agent with the Flames in 1990 and played for three seasons before retiring in 1993.
During his NHL career, MacLellan played in 606 games, scoring 172 goals and 224 assists for a total of 396 points. He also played in 53 playoff games, scoring 11 goals and 16 assists for a total of 27 points.
After retiring from playing, MacLellan began his career in management. He worked as a scout for the Washington Capitals from 1997 to 2000 before joining the Boston Bruins as director of player personnel in 2000. He returned to the Capitals in 2003 as director of player personnel and was promoted to assistant general manager in 2010.
In 2014, MacLellan was named general manager of the Capitals, succeeding George McPhee. In his first season as general manager, he led the team to the Presidents' Trophy for the best regular-season record in the NHL. In 2018, he helped the Capitals win their first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history.
MacLellan has been praised for his ability to build a winning team through shrewd trades and signings. He has also been credited with developing young talent, including current Capitals stars such as Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Braden Holtby.
In addition to his work with the Capitals, MacLellan has also been involved in international hockey. He served as an assistant coach for the United States men's national team at the 2016 IIHF World Championship and was named general manager of the team for the 2019 tournament.
Overall, Brian MacLellan has had a successful career in hockey as both a player and a manager. He has played in the NHL, won a Stanley Cup championship, and built a winning team as general manager of the Washington Capitals.
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