Recently I had the privilege of speaking with Phoenix Coyotes prospect Brett MacLean about his transition to professional hockey among other things. MacLean, a 21 year old native of Port Elgin ON, has quietly elevated his play to the point where he should be in contention for an NHL roster spot next year. A former top scorer in the OHL, MacLean has found his groove in San Antonio playing with several other highly coveted Coyotoes’ prospects such as Kyle Turris and Mikkel Boedker. Here’s my interview with Brett.

MacLean's 65 point season this year earned him a nod in the AHL All Star Game. Photo - nhl.com

We’ll try to take you down memory lane a bit here, the NHL Draft is coming up at the end of the month in Los Angeles, as you’re aware, do you have a chance to still follow the prospects at all and keep tabs on your former junior home, the OHL?

I still try and follow up on the prospects as much as I can. its getting tougher now being out of the league another year because a lot of the kids being drafted now i have never played against. This year it has been pretty cool to follow up on the Hall, Seguin race to be the 1st overall pick. They are both going to be amazing players and both Edmonton and Boston are going to get someone special to build their teams around.


Reflecting on your draft experience, you had a bit of tough luck, obviously. Many were considering you to be a first round talent after a 100 point season in Oshawa, but you ended up slipping into the second round where Phoenix scooped you up at #32. Was it a big disappointment not to go in the first round, and did that play a factor in your mindset moving forward with your career at all?

I think they only time is was a disappointment really was the night of the first round. Obviously hearing that you could be picked in the first round and it not happening isn’t a great feeling and it made for a long night waiting for the 2nd round to start but the next day was great. Being picked #32 meant not having to wait around long and I went to a team where I felt I would get an opportunity down the road. I think after you have been drafted it really doesn’t matter what round or number you go. Everyone has to put in the work and prove they can play in the nhl so I don’t think it really has changed my mindset at all.


On that note, what type of advice would you offer to players this year that might be projected to go in the first round, but end up falling a bit on draft day?

My advice to players who may fall a bit is that while it will be a disappointment not being a first round pick at the end of they day what is important is being drafted. After that draft all prospects are really in the same spot your trying to make the team and it doesn’t matter if your a 1st rounder or a 7th rounder you need to prove you belong.


You’ve always been a player that’s really flown under the radar, so what were your thoughts when you were selected by a team like Phoenix who isn’t exactly known as being a notoriously big hockey market, especially given the club’s recent financial difficulties?

Its not really something that is on my mind. My goal is to make the NHL and play for the Phoenix Coyotes. I guess in ways it is nice to be in Phoenix were you aren’t always under the microscope and you can just play your game and not worry about the media pressure.

MacLean was the 32nd pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Photo - coyotes.com

Disappointment struck again in 2007/2008 when you were cut from the World Junior Team, how did you avoid letting that deter your confidence, which inevitably led to a spectacular regular season where you topped the OHL with 61 goals?

Being cut from the World Junior team was a huge disappointment for me. I was having a great year and felt like I was on top of my game. When I came back to Oshawa I used that as motivation to show people that I could have played on that team and could be a dominating player in the OHL. My goals changed to trying to carry Oshawa to the memorial cup. Unfortunately we fell short but it was a great season for myself and the team.


Since making the transition to the AHL, you’ve obviously adapted really well, building off a solid 40 point rookie campaign with 30 goals and 65 points this season. What would you attribute your early professional success to and how do you think you’ve changed since coming out of the OHL?

My first 2 years professionally have been great. I have had great stats but more than that I feel my all around game has improved greatly. I came out of the OHL with some confidence and something to prove. I have had great coaches my first two years in the AHL and they have taught me a lot. I have found ways to score in this league and I have learned how to be better defensively. Right now I am very happy with how my progression has gone.


Despite an all-star nod this season, it seems like there still isn’t a lot of talk about you as you’ve continued to fly under the radar in San Antonio. What’s it like playing with guys like Kyle Turris and Mikkel Boedker, knowing that they’re players that you’re competing with to win hockey games now, but potentially competing for spots with Phoenix next year?

Playing with guys like Kyle and Mikkel has been great. They are both great players and were high draft picks so it is expected that a lot of the talk will be about them and they deserve it. I think we all push each other to be better and hopefully all of us will be playing together in Phoenix one day. I think that is the ultimate goal we all share.


I had the opportunity to catch up with you down in Phoenix this year during the playoffs against Detroit. One of the things a lot of hockey fans know very little about is the players that make up what is commonly referred to as the “Black Aces” component of the roster in the playoffs. What was that experience like for you, being with the club for that duration of time?

Its an exciting time of the year and luckily I was fortunate enough to experience it. Its exciting to get to go to the games and watch and be caught up in the hype of the playoffs but you also need to stay focused because one or two injuries and you could be playing in a playoff game yourself. I was happy to get the opportunity to be a “Black Ace” it was a great experience.


The financial stability of the Coyotes has been well-publicized, especially in Canada. What’s it like being a player in the organization where you’re not sure about the future location of the team, and is it something that you ever put thought into?

Its something I don’t really think about. My goal is to make the team and play in the NHL and right now that is all I’m focused on. I true not to worry about the off ice situations because as a player you have no control over them.


Your General Manager in Phoenix, Don Maloney recently praised you as being a player that “has the ability to score goals,” commenting that has been an “ingredient that Phoenix lacks.” You were one of the last cuts from the team last year, but it seems like this year a spot on the big club could be well within reach. What are you doing this summer to prepare yourself for camp, and do you feel like there’s additional pressure on you to finally clear that hurdle this year?

I think my years in the AHL have shown that I can produce at the professional level and it has given me some confidence going into camp next year. I am preparing like I have the past few summers working out, skating, working on getting quicker, stronger and more prepared for the upcoming season. I don’t feel any extra pressure. I need to go into camp work as hard as I can and show them what I can do and hope the pieces fall into place for me to make the step to the NHL next year.


Thanks again for joining us, Brett. It’s been a pleasure to have the opportunity to speak to you again, and I wish you the best of luck this summer and at training camp in the fall.

Thanks I appreciate it.

Tags: Brett MacLean

About the Author: Scott Campbell

Scott, 23, is the Managing Editor for TSR after helping to found the site in 2009. A 2010 graduate from Laurentian University's Sports Administration program, Scott currently attends Indiana State University as a graduate student majoring in Sports Management.