Kirk McLean

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Position Goaltender
Catches Left
Nickname(s) Captain Kirk, The Wall
Height
Weight		 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Pro clubs New Jersey Devils
Vancouver Canucks
Carolina Hurricanes
Florida Panthers
New York Rangers
Nationality Flag of Canada Canada
Born June 26, 1966 (1966-06-26) (age 41),
Willowdale, ON, CAN
NHL Draft 107th overall, 1984
New Jersey Devils
Pro career 1984 – 2001

Kirk Alan McLean (born June 26, 1966 in Willowdale, Ontario, now part of Toronto), is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender most famous for his long and successful stint with the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks.

Presently, McLean is part-owner of the BCHL's Burnaby Express and does colour commentary for the Canucks' pay-per-view broadcasts.

Contents

[edit] Playing career

McLean played junior hockey for the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League. The New Jersey Devils drafted him in 1984 with their 6th pick (107th Overall), but he only appeared in six games over two seasons for the Devils before Vancouver Canucks' general manager Pat Quinn spotted a diamond in the rough and acquired McLean, along with sniper Greg "Gus" Adams, for star winger Patrik Sundström and the Canucks' 1988 fourth-round draft pick (Matt Ruchty), on September 15, 1987.

It was from there that McLean's career took off, as he set a number of franchise records for the Canucks, and appeared in NHL All-Star Games in 1990 and 1992. He was nominated for the Vezina Trophy in 1989, finishing third in voting, and again in 1992, where he finished second. In that 1991–92 season, he led the league in wins and shutouts, and was named the Canucks MVP for the second time (he had previously been honoured in 1990, as well) as he backstopped them to their first division title in seventeen years. He became known to fans as 'Captain Kirk,' in reference to the Star Trek protagonist.

His peak with the Canucks undoubtedly came during the 1994 playoffs, when he backstopped them to within two goals of the Stanley Cup, displaying arguably the best run of goaltending in Canucks' history. A heartbreaking seventh-game loss to the New York Rangers eventually ended the run for the Cup, but not before a series of personal highlights. These included a series-saving highlight-reel save in overtime against the Calgary Flames in the seventh game of the first round, as well as a 52-save performance in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Rangers, which Quinn would later quip ought to have been put on videocasette and used as a tutorial for young goaltenders.

Prior to the 1994 playoffs, McLean became a part of hockey history, albeit not in a manner he might have hoped. On March 23, 1994, he was the goaltender that Wayne Gretzky scored on for his 802nd career NHL goal breaking Gordie Howe's record of 801.[1][2]

After several declining seasons for the Canucks, general manager Pat Quinn was dismissed by the club, and as new management took over, so too was McLean. He would be traded to the newly relocated Carolina Hurricanes franchise along with Martin Gelinas for Sean Burke, Geoff Sanderson, and Enrico Ciccone on January 3, 1998. His tenure in Carolina was brief, as the Hurricanes swapped him later that season to the Florida Panthers for Ray Sheppard, on March 24, 1998.

He signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers on July 13, 1999, where he would end his career in 2001. McLean will always be remembered for his stellar play as a Vancouver Canuck and perhaps being the greatest Canuck goalie of all-time.

[edit] Awards & achievements

NHL Awards

Appearances

  • Played in the 1990 NHL All-Star Game and won the goaltenders' competition at the All-Star Skills Competition by allowing the fewest goals-against for the Breakaway Relay and Rapid Fire events.
  • Represented Team Canada at the 1990 World Hockey Championships.
  • Played in the 1992 NHL All-Star Game.

Vancouver Canucks Awards

League leader

  • NHL Goalie Games-Played Leader in 1989–90 NHL season (63).
  • NHL Minutes Leader in 1989–90 NHL season (3,739 minutes)
  • NHL Wins Leader in 1991–92 NHL season (38 wins) (tie)
  • NHL Shutouts Leader in 1991–92 NHL season (5 shutouts) (tie)
  • NHL Playoffs Shutouts Leader in 1992 (Van.) (2) & 1994 (Van.) (4)
  • NHL Playoffs Goalie Games-Played Leader in 1994 (Vancouver) (24)
  • NHL Playoffs Minutes Leader in 1994 (Vancouver) (1,544 minutes)

[edit] Records

  • Vancouver Canucks' franchise games played leader (goaltender) - 516
  • Vancouver Canucks' franchise wins leader (goaltender) - 211
  • Vancouver Canucks' franchise shutouts leader, 20
  • Vancouver Canucks' franchise playoff games played (goaltender) - 68
  • Vancouver Canucks' franchise playoff wins leader - 34
  • Vancouver Canucks' franchise playoff shutouts leader - 6

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Vancouver Canucks vs. Los Angeles Kings." National Hockey League. Great Western Forum, Los Angeles, California. 23 March 1994.
  2. ^ NHL.com - History

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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