Steve McCarthy

Steve McCarthy (born February 3, 1981) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman and coach. McCarthy played in the National Hockey League with the Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks and the Atlanta Thrashers. He also served an assistant coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets from the 2021–22 season to the 2025–26 season.

Playing career McCarthy was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks with the twenty-third pick in the 1999 NHL entry draft. He made his debut in the 1999–2000 NHL season and he recorded an assist on his first shift. After playing 134 games with the Blackhawks, he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks on August 22, 2005 in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2007 NHL entry draft. He was then traded to the Atlanta Thrashers by the Canucks for a conditional fourth-round pick. on March 9, 2006

In the 2008-09 season, McCarthy left the NHL and signed a one-year contract with Russian team Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the newly formed Kontinental Hockey League. McCarthy struggled to adapt to the European transition and went scoreless in just 18 games with Ufa.

On July 10, 2009, McCarthy returned to the North America when he was signed by the Anaheim Ducks on a one-year contract. However, on September 24, before ever playing a game with the Ducks prior to the 2009-10 season McCarthy was traded back to Atlanta, for future considerations.

On October 1, 2010, McCarthy, went back to Europe, signing with TPS, whose squad had been decimated by in defence. He played 32 games in his only season for the team.

McCarthy signed a one-year deal with the ZSC Lions of the Swiss National League A on October 16, 2011, to play under former NHL coach Bob Hartley. On April 17, 2012 - with just 2.5 seconds left in regulation time - he scored the game-winning goal in game 7 of the Swiss playoff finals for ZSC Lions.

Helping the Lions to claim the title, McCarthy followed Bob Hartley, as the newly appointed head coach of the Calgary Flames, back to North America and signed with Flames AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat after a successful try-out on October 7, 2012. McCarthy though was released by the Flames on January 18, 2013 and five days later on January 23, rejoined ZSC Lions for the remainder of the campaign.

In the 2014-15 season, McCarthy as a free agent belatedly signed a professional tryout contract with the AHL's Springfield Falcons on November 11, 2014. He played three games before being released. On February 23, 2015, he was again signed in the AHL in agreeing to a try-out contract with the Iowa Wild.

As an unsigned free agent over the summer, McCarthy continued his playing career by signing a one-year contract with the Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL on October 3, 2015. In 30 games with the Wings, McCarthy contributed with 9 points before returning to the American League in signing a professional try-out contract with the Lake Erie Monsters on January 8, 2016. McCarthy featured in 17 games with the Monsters, and remained on the roster as a healthy scratch as the Monsters won their first Calder Cup.

On July 19, 2016, McCarthy signalled the end of his playing career after 16 professional seasons, in accepting an assistant coach role to remain with the Lake Erie Monsters.

Coaching career McCarthy was promoted to assistant coach of the Monsters' NHL affiliate, the Columbus Blue Jackets, in 2021. After four and a half seasons with the team, McCarthy was fired alongside head coach Dean Evason on January 12, 2026.

International play McCarthy was captain of Team Canada at the 2000 World Juniors Championships in Sweden. He led the team to a bronze medal finish, as Canada defeated the United States in a shootout.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1996–97 Trail Smoke Eaters BCHL 57 25 52 77 61 — — — — — 1996–97 Edmonton Ice WHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1997–98 Edmonton Ice WHL 58 11 29 40 59 — — — — — 1998–99 Kootenay Ice WHL 57 19 33 52 79 6 0 5 5 8 1999–2000 Kootenay Ice WHL 37 13 23 36 36 — — — — — 1999–2000 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 5 1 1 2 4 — — — — — 2000–01 Norfolk Admirals AHL 7 0 4 4 2 — — — — — 2000–01 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 44 0 5 5 8 — — — — — 2001–02 Norfolk Admirals AHL 77 7 21 28 37 2 0 3 3 2 2001–02 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 3 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 2002–03 Norfolk Admirals AHL 19 1 6 7 14 9 0 4 4 0 2002–03 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 57 1 4 5 23 — — — — — 2003–04 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 25 1 3 4 8 — — — — — 2005–06 Vancouver Canucks NHL 51 2 4 6 43 — — — — — 2005–06 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 16 7 3 10 8 — — — — — 2006–07 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 46 4 12 16 24 — — — — — 2007–08 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 55 1 6 7 48 — — — — — 2008–09 Salavat Yulaev Ufa KHL 18 0 0 0 16 — — — — — 2009–10 Chicago Wolves AHL 25 2 5 7 28 — — — — — 2010–11 TPS SM-l 32 0 0 0 81 — — — — — 2011–12 ZSC Lions NLA 27 3 7 10 12 15 1 5 6 6 2012–13 Abbotsford Heat AHL 30 2 8 10 27 — — — — — 2012–13 ZSC Lions NLA 8 0 1 1 6 — — — — — 2013–14 ZSC Lions NLA 3 0 0 0 2 18 0 5 5 6 2014–15 Springfield Falcons AHL 3 0 0 0 6 — — — — — 2014–15 Iowa Wild AHL 13 1 3 4 6 — — — — — 2015–16 Kalamazoo Wings ECHL 30 2 7 9 18 — — — — — 2015–16 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 17 0 1 1 6 — — — — — NHL totals 302 17 38 55 168 — — — — — AHL totals 191 13 48 61 126 11 0 7 7 2

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2000 Canada WJC 7 0 2 2 0 2001 Canada WJC 7 1 1 2 6 Junior totals 14 1 3 4 6

Awards and honours Awards Year WHL East First All-Star Team 2000 NLA Swiss Champion (ZSC Lions) 2012, 2014