Jamie McLennan

Jamie McLennan (born June 30, 1971) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey backup goalie who is now an analyst for TSN, TSN Radio 1050, NBC Sports and NHL Network. He spent eleven seasons in the National Hockey League with the New York Islanders, St. Louis Blues, Minnesota Wild, Calgary Flames, New York Rangers and Florida Panthers. His active playing career ended in 2008 after a year with the Nippon Paper Cranes of Asia League Ice Hockey.

Jamie McLennan
Born (1971-06-30) June 30, 1971 (age 52)
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight199 lb (90 kg; 14 st 3 lb)
PositionGoalie
CaughtLeft
Played forNew York Islanders
St. Louis Blues
Minnesota Wild
Calgary Flames
New York Rangers
Florida Panthers
NHL draft48th overall, 1991
New York Islanders
Playing career1991–2008

Playing career

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Following his career with the Western Hockey League's Lethbridge Hurricanes, he was drafted in the third round, 48th overall by the New York Islanders in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. After multiple years playing for minor league affiliates in the American, International and East Coast Hockey Leagues, McLennan backed-up veteran Ron Hextall in the 1993–94 season. He was shaky with the Islanders however, winning only 17 games with a .889 Save% over three seasons. Struggling to find confidence, McLennan spent his last two seasons in the organization alternating between the NHL club and the minor leagues.

A few weeks after the 1995–96 NHL season had been completed, McLennan drove from Salt Lake City, Utah to Lethbridge, Alberta, on his way home to Edmonton. While visiting family in Lethbridge he fell ill. He went to a hospital on May 6, 1996, after feeling sick all evening, with immobility setting in. What was thought to be the flu turned out to be bacterial meningitis. After nearly dying that day, he spent the following week in intensive care. The Islanders declined to renew his contract at the conclusion of the season.

The St. Louis Blues signed him to a contract that summer and he spent the following season in the minors. He returned to the NHL as the Blues' back-up goalie for the 1997–98 NHL season. That year he was awarded the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL player who best displays perseverance and dedication to hockey. He was left unprotected by the Blues and joined the Minnesota Wild franchise in the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft. In his only season playing for the expansion Wild, McLennan set a career high in games played with 38, but finished with 23 losses and only 5 wins. Ultimately, he returned to the minors the following season. [citation needed]

The Calgary Flames acquired him in a trade at the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, where he again played the role of NHL backup, but only winning 2 games that year. Despite his 2–11–4 record, he remained with the team as Roman Turek's backup. When Turek became injured in the 2003–04 season, McLennan was thrust into the starting role. He did not stay long however, as Miikka Kiprusoff, who had been acquired earlier in the season by the Flames, soon took over the starting job. Turek returned and management elected to keep the Czech goaltender instead, thus traded McLennan to the New York Rangers in March 2004.[1]

Following the season, the Rangers elected not to re-sign McLennan so he signed a contract with the Florida Panthers. He was brought back to Calgary in 2006, once again as backup to Miikka Kiprusoff. The following season, McLennan had a five-week stint in Russia with Metallurg Magnitogorsk before returning to Canada.

On April 21, 2007, during a playoff game versus the Detroit Red Wings, McLennan slashed Johan Franzén twice in the leg. McLennan was due to be assessed a minor penalty. Unable to control his emotions after play was stopped, McLennan violently slashed Franzén in the stomach a third time, resulting in a game misconduct for McLennan. McLennan had entered the game after Kiprusoff had allowed 5 goals. The NHL suspended McLennan for five games and fined coach Jim Playfair $25,000 and the team $100,000 for actions late in Game 5 of the Flames' first-round series against the Detroit Red Wings.[2] As he never played in the NHL again, he remained under suspension after his retirement.[3]

On November 21, 2007, McLennan signed with the Nippon Paper Cranes of Asia League Ice Hockey.[4] McLennan announced his retirement at the end of the 2007–08 season.

Coaching

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On July 10, 2008, he was named as the director of goalie development and as a professional scout for the Calgary Flames.[5] On June 23, 2009, McLennan moved into the coaching staff of the Flames after he was named as an assistant coach to Brent Sutter.[6]

Broadcasting career

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McLennan is a full-time NHL analyst on TSN and is a colour commentator for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators and Winnipeg Jets.[7] He is also a co-host on Overdrive on TSN 1050 and TSN2.[8]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPWLTOTLMINGASOGAASV%GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
1987–88St. Albert RoyalsAMHL211224803.92
1988–89Spokane ChiefsWHL11578636.54
1988–89Lethbridge HurricanesWHL7368223.59
1989–90Lethbridge HurricanesWHL342042169011013.9113656774403.90
1990–91Lethbridge HurricanesWHL5632184323020503.8116889705603.46
1991–92Richmond RenegadesECHL3216122183711403.72.891
1991–92Capital District IslandersAHL1841029526013.78.885
1992–93Capital District IslandersAHL3817146217111713.23.893101205015.00
1993–94New York IslandersNHL2287612376102.84.90520182604.39.887
1993–94Salt Lake Golden EaglesIHL24812213208003.64.889
1994–95New York IslandersNHL21611211856703.39.876
1994–95Denver GrizzliesIHL43012391203.00.90611826402312.15.929
1995–96New York IslandersNHL133916363903.68.886
1995–96Utah GrizzliesIHL149227282902.39.911
1995–96Worcester IceCatsAHL22147112165702.81.905202119804.03
1996–97Worcester IceCatsAHL3918134215210022.79.9034222621603.66.894
1997–98St. Louis BluesNHL30168216586022.17.90310014104.29.800
1998–99St. Louis BluesNHL331314417637032.38.89110137000.001.000
1999–00St. Louis BluesNHL1995210093321.95.903
2000–01Minnesota WildNHL38523922309822.64.905
2001–02Houston AerosAHL5125184285213032.74.90514868803122.11.929
2002–03Calgary FlamesNHL22211411655802.99.892
2003–04Calgary FlamesNHL26129314465342.20.910
2003–04New York RangersNHL41302441202.95.876
2004–05Guildford FlamesBNL3210185802.59.9417433851302.02.925
2005–06Florida PanthersNHL172426783403.01.906
2006–07Calgary FlamesNHL93515333203.60.8951000000.00
2007–08Nippon Paper CranesALH148407913302.50.92110645992302.30.924
NHL totals2548010933313,834617132.68.898502133703.16.892

Awards and honours

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AwardYearNotes
WHL
East First All-Star Team1990–91
Del Wilson Trophy1990–91
NHL
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy1997–98[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Flames acquire Chris Simon". CBC Sports. March 6, 2004. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  2. ^ McLennan slashes Franzen and aftermath, ndgoon.blogspot.com; accessed November 30, 2014.
  3. ^ Overdrive. TSN. April 11, 2023.
  4. ^ "Former NHL'ers find hockey adventure in Japan". National Hockey League. 2008-03-26. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
  5. ^ "McLennan, Duane Sutter join Flames staff". Calgary Flames. 2008-07-10. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  6. ^ "Brent Sutter named head coach". Calgary Flames. 2009-06-23. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  7. ^ "TSN brings viewers 191 regional games throughout the 2017-18 season". bellmedia.ca. 2017-10-02. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  8. ^ Jamie McLennan (profile) – TSN. Retrieved January 31, 2021
  9. ^ "Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy". National Hockey League. 2010-10-19. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Bill Masterton Trophy
1998
Succeeded by