John MacLean is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over 18 seasons. He was born on November 20, 1964, in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, and began his hockey career playing for the Oshawa Generals in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in 1981.
MacLean was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the 1983 NHL Entry Draft, and he made his NHL debut in the 1983-84 season. He quickly established himself as a skilled forward, scoring 25 goals and 48 points in his rookie season. Over the next few seasons, MacLean continued to improve his game, becoming one of the Devils' top scorers and a key player on the team.
In the 1987-88 season, MacLean had a breakout year, scoring 41 goals and 84 points, which earned him a spot in the NHL All-Star Game. He continued to be a consistent scorer for the Devils over the next several seasons, helping the team reach the playoffs in 1988, 1990, and 1991.
In 1991, MacLean was traded to the San Jose Sharks, where he played for one season before being traded again to the New York Rangers. He played for the Rangers for two seasons before being traded back to the Devils in 1997.
MacLean played for the Devils for several more seasons, serving as the team's captain from 1991 to 1997. He helped lead the team to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1995, where they defeated the Detroit Red Wings to win their first championship in franchise history.
After leaving the Devils in 1998, MacLean played for several other NHL teams, including the Dallas Stars, the New York Islanders, and the San Jose Sharks. He retired from professional hockey in 2002, finishing his career with 413 goals and 842 points in 1,194 NHL games.
Following his playing career, MacLean became a coach, serving as an assistant coach for the New Jersey Devils from 2002 to 2009. He also served as the head coach of the AHL's Lowell Devils in 2009-10 and the head coach of the OHL's Sarnia Sting in 2011-12.
Overall, John MacLean had a successful career as a professional hockey player, earning numerous accolades and helping lead his teams to success on the ice. He is remembered as one of the top players in New Jersey Devils history and a key contributor to the team's first Stanley Cup championship.
🏒