As a youth, MacLean played in the 1977 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Oshawa. MacLean was selected 6th overall in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft. He was selected as the 1st choice of the New Jersey Devils. MacLean made his Devils debut on October 5, 1983 against the New York Rangers. Perhaps his most memorable moment as a Devil came on April 3, 1988, when he scored a goal in overtime against the Chicago Blackhawks to send the Devils to the playoffs for the first time. Following this breakthrough year, MacLean notched three straight 40-goal seasons before he was forced to miss the 1991–92 season due to a serious knee injury sustained during a preseason game. During his tenure with the Devils, MacLean won the Stanley Cup in 1995 while serving as the team's alternate captain. He remained with the Devils until December 7, 1997 when he was traded to the San Jose Sharks. After finishing the 1997–98 season with the Sharks, MacLean signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers in July 1998. The Rangers traded MacLean to the Dallas Stars in February 2001. On June 7, 2002 John MacLean retired from hockey after 18 seasons. He played a total 1,194 games, scoring 413 goals, adding 429 assists for 842 career points, and was the all-time leading scorer for the New Jersey Devils until March 17, 2009, when his record was surpassed by Patrik Eliáš. MacLean has been a resident of Verona, New Jersey since 1991.
Coaching career
In September 2002, MacLean joined the coaching staff of the New Jersey Devils, and served as an assistant coach until July 2009. He earned his second Stanley Cup, as an assistant coach, in 2003. In 2007, John was a candidate for the head coach position but the job was given to Brent Sutter and MacLean remained as assistant coach. On June 9, 2009, Brent Sutter resigned as head coach of the Devils and remarked that MacLean was ready to be head coach. On July 13, 2009, John MacLean was named head coach of the Lowell Devils. On June 17, 2010, MacLean was named head coach of the New Jersey Devils. On December 23, 2010, the Devils were sporting a 9–22–2 record and sitting in last place in the Eastern Conference. MacLean was fired from his coaching position. On December 1, 2011, the Carolina Hurricanes, after hiring Kirk Muller as their new head coach, hired Maclean as an assistant coach. Maclean, along with fellow assistant coach Dave Lewis, was relieved of his duties on May 5, 2014. On July 27, 2017, MacLean joined the Arizona Coyotes as an assistant coach.
Post-playing career
In addition to working as an analyst on NHL Network, MacLean most recently served as a hockey analyst for MSG Networks, including the pre- and post-game coverage for the Devils.
Awards
Stanley Cup New Jersey Devils - As Player
Stanley Cup New Jersey Devils - As Assistant Coach
