Craig MacTavish

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

MacTavish was born on August 15, 1958, in London, Ontario. He played two years of NCAA hockey with the University of Lowell Chiefs from 1977 to 1979. He was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the 1978 NHL entry draft, 153rd overall. He missed the 1984–85 season after being convicted of vehicular homicide. He later coached the Oilers from 2000 to 2009 and also served as assistant coach with the Rangers and Oilers. He last coached Team Canada at the 2019 Spengler Cup, after a short stint with Russian team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL. He served as an assistant coach with the St. Louis Blues from 2022 to 2023.

In Their Own Story

In the off-season following his time with the Chicago Wolves, Hunt entered negotiations with the Edmonton Oilers. At this specific juncture in the timeline, Craig MacTavish had transitioned from coaching to become the general manager of the Oilers. It was under MacTavish's management that Hunt agreed to a two-year entry-level contract with the franchise. The source records that Hunt attended training camp and registered two assists against the Vancouver Canucks in his first preseason game before failing to make the roster and being assigned to the AHL affiliate, the Oklahoma City Barons. This executive decision by MacTavish marked the beginning of Hunt's journey through the Oilers' system.

Reader's Guide

MacTavish turned to coaching immediately after retiring as a player, signing on as an assistant with the Rangers. After two seasons in New York, he returned to the Oilers as an assistant coach in the 1999–2000 season. He was promoted to head coach when Kevin Lowe succeeded Glen Sather as general manager. In the 2005–06 season, he led the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final. He was relieved of his duties as head coach on April 15, 2009. He later became general manager of the Oilers on April 15, 2013. On July 1, 2022, he was hired by the St. Louis Blues as an assistant coach for the 2022-2023 season. In April 2023, the Blues announced that MacTavish would not return for the next season.

Did You Know?

• MacTavish was the last NHL player not to wear a helmet during games.
• He won the Stanley Cup four times: 1987, 1988, 1990 with Edmonton and 1994 with the New York Rangers.
• He served as captain of the Edmonton Oilers from 1992 to 1994.
• He was fined $10,000 in 2006 for referring to a referee's call as 'retarded' after a game.