After college, McPhee was drafted by the New York Rangers in the fifth round of the 1978 NHL Entry Draft. He played for the Rangers for three seasons before being traded to the New Jersey Devils in 1982. McPhee played for the Devils for two seasons before being traded to the Minnesota North Stars in 1984.
McPhee played for the North Stars for three seasons before being traded to the Calgary Flames in 1987. He played for the Flames for one season before being traded to the Detroit Red Wings in 1988. McPhee played for the Red Wings for one season before retiring from playing professional hockey in 1989.
After retiring from playing, McPhee began his career as an executive in the NHL. He worked as an assistant coach for the Vancouver Canucks from 1992 to 1997 before being hired as the general manager of the expansion team, the Washington Capitals, in 1997.
McPhee served as the general manager of the Capitals for 17 seasons, from 1997 to 2014. During his tenure, he helped build the team into a perennial playoff contender, with the Capitals making the playoffs in 10 of his 17 seasons as general manager. McPhee was also responsible for drafting and developing several key players, including Alexander Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Braden Holtby.
In 2014, McPhee was fired from his position as general manager of the Capitals. He then took a year off from hockey before being hired as the general manager of the expansion team, the Vegas Golden Knights, in 2016.
McPhee's tenure with the Golden Knights has been nothing short of remarkable. In the team's inaugural season in 2017-18, McPhee built a roster of castoffs and misfits that went on to reach the Stanley Cup Final, ultimately losing to the Washington Capitals. The Golden Knights' success in their first season was a testament to McPhee's skill as a general manager and his ability to build a winning team from scratch.
Overall, George McPhee's hockey career has been a long and successful one. He was a solid player during his time in the NHL, but it is his work as an executive that has truly made him a legend in the hockey world. McPhee's ability to build winning teams and develop young talent has made him one of the most respected and sought-after executives in the NHL.
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