Norm Maciver
Norman Steven Maciver is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player. He is an associate general manager for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League. As a player, he played defence. Maciver played college hockey with the University of Minnesota Duluth beginning in 1982. During his time at UMD, Maciver was named an All-American twice, in 1985 and 1986. He went undrafted by NHL teams and signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers in 1986. He then went on to play for the Hartford Whalers and Edmonton Oilers. While with the Oilers' American Hockey League affiliate, the Cape Breton Oilers, Maciver won the Eddie Shore Award as the league's best defenceman. He was then selected by the expansion Ottawa Senators in 1992 in the waiver draft and led the team in scoring in their inaugural season. He was then traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Winnipeg Jets, appearing in that franchise's final season. When the team and its assets were relocated to become the Phoenix Coyotes, Maciver played in their first season in 1996. After a couple of injury-plagued seasons, Maciver retired from playing hockey in 1999 after playing for six teams in the NHL during a thirteen-year professional career. Maciver then took up coaching, first as an assistant in the AHL, then with the Boston Bruins of the NHL.
Playing career
Amateur
Maciver committed to playing National Collegiate Athletic Association college hockey for the University of Minnesota Duluth in April 1982 after attending Sir Winston Churchill High School in Thunder Bay, Ontario. In his first season with the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in 1982–83, Maciver played in 45 games, scoring one goal and 26 assists for 27 points, receiving UMD's Freshman of the Year award. The Bulldogs advanced to the school's first ever NCAA tournament, facing the Providence College Friars, but ultimately lost the two-game series. In his sophomore year in 1983–84, he appeared in 31 games, scoring 13 games and 41 games. He missed 12 games with a cracked kneecap to start the season. After being paired with Tom Kurvers, Maciver helped power the Bulldogs and allowed for roster flexibility. Maciver was named a Western Collegiate Hockey Association Second All-League Team. The Bulldogs advanced to the 1984 Frozen Four after defeating the Clarkson University Golden Knights in the quarterfinals. After knocking out the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks in the semifinals, Maciver and the Bulldogs faced the Bowling Green University Falcons in the final. The Bulldogs were defeated in overtime, 5–4, by Bowling Green.He returned to the Bulldogs for the 1984–85 season and was now paired with Guy Gosselin on the team's first defence pairing as Kurvers had graduated. With the Bulldogs adding Brett Hull to their ranks, in 47 games, Maciver tallied 14 goals and 61 points and was named the WCHA's First All-League Team. The Bulldogs advanced to the 1985 Frozen Four and faced the Rensselaer Engineers in the semifinal game, which they lost in triple overtime 6–5. The Bulldogs then faced the Boston College Eagles in the third-place game, winning 2–1 in overtime. Maciver was named to the NCAA's 1985 All-American Team. Ahead of the 1985–86 season Maciver was made one of the team's alternate captains. Maciver recorded 11 goals and 62 points in 42 games. The Bulldogs advanced to the WCHA playoffs but were eliminated by the University of Denver Pioneers. Maciver was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, awarded to the NCAA's top player, competing with his teammate Hull for the honour. Maciver was named to the 1986 WCHA First All-League Team and the 1986 NCAA All-American Team. While playing at UMD, Maciver earned a communications degree. In 1994, Maciver was named to UMD's 50th anniversary all-time hockey first team.
Professional
New York Rangers (1986–1988)
Maciver signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League on September 8, 1986. Maciver began the 1986–87 season with New York, as he made the club after a strong training camp and pre-season. On October 9, Maciver played in his first career NHL game, recording an assist on a power play goal scored by Lucien DeBlois in a 5–3 loss to the New Jersey Devils. Maciver was then scratched from the lineup for the next game, being replaced by Chris Jensen before being assigned to the Rangers' American Hockey League affiliate, the New Haven Nighthawks on October 13. He spent the majority of the 1986–87 season with New Haven, appearing in 71 games marking six goals and 36 points. In seven post-season games with the Nighthawks, Maciver was held to no points. He had a brief callup to New York in April 1987 and appeared in three more games, before being returned to New Haven on April 6 following the end of the NHL regular season.Maciver split the 1987–88 season between New York and their International Hockey League affiliate, the Colorado Rangers. He began the 1987–88 season with Colorado scoring six goals and 26 points in 27 games. Maciver was called up to New York in December after an injury to Mark Tinordi and was paired with David Shaw. On December 29, Maciver scored his first career NHL goal against Kelly Hrudey of the New York Islanders in a 3–3 tie. He marked his first three-point game on January 22, 1988, tallying three assists in a 6–3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. On February 7, Maciver recorded another three-point game, as he had a goal and two assists in a 6–3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Overall, in 37 games with New York, Maciver scored nine goals and 24 points. However, he missed the end of the season due to a separated shoulder incurred after being pushed into the boards by Scott Stevens in a loss to the Washington Capitals on March 16.
Maciver began the 1988–89 season with the Rangers. In 26 games with New York, Maciver scored no goals and had ten assists. On December 26, 1988, the Rangers traded Maciver, and forwards Brian Lawton and Don Maloney to the Hartford Whalers for forward Carey Wilson and the Whalers' fifth round draft pick in the 1990 NHL entry draft. Maciver became expendable after a previous trade brought two defencemen, Mark Hardy and Dean Kennedy, to the Rangers.
Hartford Whalers (1988–1989)
Following his trade from the Rangers, Maciver made his Whalers debut on December 26, 1988, in a 4–3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. In his next game with Hartford two nights later on December 28, Maciver scored his first goal with his new club, scoring against Mario Gosselin of the Quebec Nordiques, and added two assists for his third career three-point game, in a 4–4 tie. In 37 games with the Whalers, Maciver scored one goal and 23 points, helping the club reach the post-season. However, by the end of the season Maciver was considered a defensive liability and saw his playing time diminish. On April 9, 1989, Maciver appeared in his first career playoff game, as he was held to no points in the Game 4 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, eliminating the Whalers from the playoffs.Maciver began the 1989–90 season in the final year of his contract. By September, there were reports that he had been passed on the depth chart by rookie defenceman Adam Burt who was favoured by the new general manager Eddie Johnston, and during training camp, was left behind with the rookie players when the team traveled to play the Pittsburgh Penguins in an exhibition game. He was made available in the waiver draft, but went unclaimed, and was assigned to the Whalers' AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Whalers on October 3. In two games with Binghamton, Maciver had no points. Johnston, not happy with Maciver's performance, did his best to trade him and on October 10, Maciver was sent to the Edmonton Oilers for defenceman Jim Ennis.
Edmonton Oilers (1989–1992)
Maciver was initially assigned to Edmonton's AHL affiliate, the Cape Breton Oilers but was recalled on October 13 after Craig Muni suffered an injury. He did not see any game time before being returned. He was called up again on October 26 to replace a demoted Chris Joseph and made his Edmonton debut on October 28, going scoreless in a 6–3 victory over the Quebec Nordiques. He was returned to Cape Breton on November 2. In 68 games with Cape Breton, Maciver scored 13 goals and 50 points. Cape Breton qualified for the 1990 playoffs after finishing second in their division. They were eliminated in the quarterfinals in six games. In the playoffs, Maciver earned seven assists.A restricted free agent in the offseason, he signed a new contract with the Oilers in August 1990. Maciver began the 1990–91 season with Cape Breton. In 56 games in the AHL, Maciver scored 13 goals and 59 points before being recalled to Edmonton in February after Charlie Huddy was injured. For his play in the AHL, Maciver was named a First Team All-Star and won the Eddie Shore Award as the league's best defenceman. He made his NHL season debut on February 18 against the New Jersey Devils and on February 24, Maciver earned his first points with the Oilers, as he had two assists in a 6–3 win over the Quebec Nordiques. On March 24, Maciver scored his first goal with Edmonton against Kelly Hrudey of the Los Angeles Kings in a 4–3 loss. In 21 games with Edmonton, Maciver scored two goals and seven points. The Oiles qualified for the 1991 playoffs and faced the Calgary Flames in the opening round. Maciver, paired with Huddy on the third defence pairing, appeared in his first post-season game with the Oilers on April 4. In the seventh game of the series, Maciver earned an assist for his first career playoff point, as Edmonton defeated Calgary 5–4 to win the series on April 16. The Oilers advanced to the Conference Finals, where they were knocked out by the Minnesota North Stars. In 18 playoff games, Maciver tallied four assists.
Maciver made Edmonton's roster for the 1991–92 season out of training camp. However, by November, with no significant injuries to Edmonton's defence corps, he had sat out 18 straight games. His return to the lineup on November 27 spurred an Oilers 6–2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Replacing David Shaw in the lineup, he was often paired with Dave Manson. On February 2, 1992, recorded a goal and two assists, earning three points, in an 8–2 win over the Quebec Nordiques. Less than a month later, on March 1, Maciver repeated this feat, as he scored a goal and two assists in a 4–2 win over the Winnipeg Jets. In 57 games, Maciver scored six goals and 40 points, helping the club reach the post-season. On May 3, Maciver scored his first career NHL playoff goal against Kirk McLean of the Vancouver Canucks in a 4–3 victory. The Oilers advanced to the Conference Finals again but were eliminated by the Chicago Blackhawks. In 13 playoff games, Maciver scored a goal and three points.
In the offseason, Maciver was once again a free agent. He was one of four Oiler free agents that entered training camp without a contract. Oilers owner Peter Pocklington made an arbitrary deadline, demanding that the four players sign new contracts by the end of the team's first two exhibition games or the players would be forced to sit out the year. Maciver did not sign before the deadline and Oilers general manager Glen Sather cancelled all further negotiations and stated that the player would be traded. Maciver was made available in the waiver draft and on October 4, Maciver was claimed by the expansion Ottawa Senators.