Connor Mackey

Connor Mackey (born September 12, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey player who is a defenseman for the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Mackey became highly coveted as an undrafted free agent after playing three years of college ice hockey for Minnesota State University, ultimately signing with the Calgary Flames in March 2020. He is the son of former NHL player David Mackey, who played for the Blackhawks, Minnesota North Stars, and St. Louis Blues.

Playing career

Amateur After playing two years of hockey at Barrington High School near his hometown of Tower Lakes, Illinois between 2012 and 2014, serving as team captain in his final year, Mackey spent the 2014–15 hockey season as a member of the triple-A level U18 Team Illinois in the High-Performance Hockey League (HPHL).

Mackey began playing for the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) in 2015–16. He was named an alternate captain in 2016–17 and emerged as an offensive engine on a Gamblers squad that also featured future NHL first-round pick Casey Mittelstadt. Mackey led the team with 47 points in 60 games and was named USHL Defenseman of the Year and to the USHL First All-Star Team. He was recruited to join the Minnesota State Mavericks men's ice hockey team to begin the 2017–18 season.

Prior to the start of his college career, Mackey was invited to and attended the Calgary Flames' 2017 summer prospect development camp as an undrafted free agent. Beginning that fall, Mackey enjoyed a successful debut season with the Mavericks which saw him earn a spot on the 2017–18 Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) All-Rookie Team. In the summer of 2018, Mackey again attended an NHL prospect convention: this time, he was invited to the Buffalo Sabres' annual development camp. He followed it up with a 2018–19 season during which he was named a WCHA All-Academic and to the All-WCHA Third All-Star Team.

Professional On March 20, 2020, Mackey signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Calgary Flames to take effect at the start of the 2020–21 NHL season. Despite his contract not taking effect until the following season, Mackey joined the Flames for practices in the Edmonton bubble as part of the return-to-play program in the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs. Mackey made his NHL debut on February 13, 2021.

During the 2022–23 season, Mackey remained on the Flames roster, primarily serving as a depth defenseman and healthy scratch. After 10 appearances with the Flames, Mackey was dealt at the NHL trade deadline along with Brett Ritchie to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Nick Ritchie and Troy Stecher on March 3, 2023.

Following his brief tenure with the Coyotes, Mackey was signed as a free agent in the off-season to a one-year, two-way contract by the New York Rangers on July 1, 2023. On March 1, 2024, he signed a two-year contract extension with the Rangers.

After three seasons within the Rangers organization, Mackey left as a free agent and was signed to a two-year, two-way contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 1, 2026.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2015–16 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 29 1 1 2 62 2 0 0 0 2 2016–17 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 60 6 41 47 93 — — — — — 2017–18 Minnesota State WCHA 40 4 8 12 40 — — — — — 2018–19 Minnesota State WCHA 42 7 18 25 55 — — — — — 2019–20 Minnesota State WCHA 36 7 17 24 29 — — — — — 2020–21 Calgary Flames NHL 6 1 2 3 20 — — — — — 2020–21 Stockton Heat AHL 27 3 13 16 33 — — — — — 2021–22 Stockton Heat AHL 53 5 31 36 83 7 1 3 4 4 2021–22 Calgary Flames NHL 3 0 1 1 2 — — — — — 2022–23 Calgary Flames NHL 10 2 1 3 9 — — — — — 2022–23 Arizona Coyotes NHL 20 1 3 4 39 — — — — — 2023–24 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 44 2 9 11 12 — — — — — 2023–24 New York Rangers NHL 1 0 0 0 5 — — — — — 2024–25 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 66 6 18 24 102 — — — — — 2024–25 New York Rangers NHL 2 0 0 0 5 — — — — — 2025–26 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 62 5 13 18 87 — — — — — 2025–26 New York Rangers NHL 3 0 0 0 4 — — — — —NHL totals 45 4 7 11 84 — — — — —

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2021 United States WC 7 0 1 1 2 2023 United States WC 4th 10 1 2 3 8Senior totals 17 1 3 4 10

Awards and honors Award Year RefUSHL Defenseman of the Year 2017 First All-Star Team 2017 College WCHA All-Rookie Team 2018 WCHA Third All-Star Team 2019 WCHA First All-Star Team 2020