Brian MacLellan

Brian John MacLellan (born October 27, 1958) is a Canadian former ice hockey forward and current president of hockey operations of the Washington Capitals. He played in the National Hockey League with five teams between 1983 and 1992, winning the Stanley Cup in 1989 with the Calgary Flames. Internationally he played for the Canadian national team at the 1985 World Championships. He joined Washington front office in 2000 and spent 13 seasons in various roles before becoming general manager in 2014, and in 2018 won the Stanley Cup with the team.

Playing career

MacLellan was born in Guelph, Ontario. After playing his college hockey at Bowling Green State University, MacLellan signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Kings in 1982. During his tenure with the Kings, he would play on a line with Marcel Dionne, and he would have his best year statistically in 1984–85 (31 goals, 54 assists). Despite this, he was traded to the New York Rangers in the middle of the 1985–86 NHL season. He would be traded again, this time to the Minnesota North Stars prior to the 1986–87 NHL season, where he would score a career-high 32 goals.

Near the end of the 1988–89 NHL season, MacLellan was acquired by the Calgary Flames for their playoff drive, which paid off as the Flames won the Stanley Cup. He would remain with the Flames for two more seasons. He would close out his NHL career playing with the Detroit Red Wings for the 1991–92 season.

Post-playing career On May 26, 2014, MacLellan was named senior vice president and general manager of the Washington Capitals. MacLellan had been a fixture in Washington for the previous 13 seasons, serving first as a pro scout, then as director of player personnel and, for the seven seasons prior to being named the general manager, as assistant general manager under George McPhee. MacLellan and McPhee had been childhood friends and teammates in Guelph, Ontario and also college teammates at Bowling Green. The Washington Capitals won the Stanley Cup under MacLellan in 2018.

Following the 2023–24 season, MacLellan was succeeded as general manager of the Capitals by Chris Patrick, while retaining his role as president of hockey operations.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1978–79 Bowling Green State University CCHA 44 34 29 63 94 — — — — — 1979–80 Bowling Green State University CCHA 38 8 15 23 46 — — — — — 1980–81 Bowling Green State University CCHA 37 11 14 25 96 — — — — — 1981–82 Bowling Green State University CCHA 41 11 21 32 109 — — — — — 1982–83 Los Angeles Kings NHL 8 0 3 3 7 — — — — — 1982–83 New Haven Nighthawks AHL 71 11 15 26 40 12 5 3 8 4 1983–84 Los Angeles Kings NHL 72 25 29 54 45 — — — — — 1983–84 New Haven Nighthawks AHL 2 0 2 2 0 — — — — — 1984–85 Los Angeles Kings NHL 80 31 54 85 53 3 0 1 1 0 1985–86 Los Angeles Kings NHL 27 5 8 13 19 — — — — — 1985–86 New York Rangers NHL 51 11 21 32 47 16 2 4 6 15 1986–87 Minnesota North Stars NHL 76 32 31 63 69 — — — — — 1987–88 Minnesota North Stars NHL 75 16 32 48 74 — — — — — 1988–89 Minnesota North Stars NHL 60 16 23 39 104 — — — — — 1988–89 Calgary Flames NHL 12 2 3 5 14 21 3 2 5 19 1989–90 Calgary Flames NHL 65 20 18 38 26 6 0 2 2 8 1990–91 Calgary Flames NHL 57 13 14 27 55 1 0 0 0 0 1991–92 Detroit Red Wings NHL 23 1 5 6 38 — — — — — NHL totals 606 172 241 413 551 47 5 9 14 42

International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 1985 Canada WC 4 0 0 0 0 Senior totals 4 0 0 0 0

Awards and honours Award Year References All-CCHA First Team 1981-82 AHCA West All-American 1981–82 Stanley Cup champion 1989 (as player)2018 (as GM)