Al MacAdam

Lore & Background

MacAdam was drafted 55th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft after playing for the University of Prince Edward Island, one of the few players ever drafted out of Canadian university hockey. He made his NHL debut in the 1973–74 season, appearing in five games without scoring a point, and made his playoff debut in the clinching game of the 1974 Stanley Cup Final, receiving a Stanley Cup ring though his name was not engraved on the Cup. After the season, he was traded to the California Golden Seals in a deal that sent Reggie Leach to Philadelphia.

With the Seals, MacAdam became a regular and recorded a fine rookie season in 1974–75 with 18 goals and 43 points. In 1975–76 he emerged as the team's top player, leading the Seals with 32 goals and 63 points, and played in the 1976 NHL All-Star Game.

When the Seals moved and became the Cleveland Barons for 1976–77, MacAdam again recorded 63 points and was selected to his second consecutive All-Star Game. He was named team captain in 1977–78 but slumped to 16 goals and 48 points. Over four seasons with the Seals/Barons, he played every regular-season game and ended as the franchise's all-time leading point scorer.

MacAdam joined the Minnesota North Stars in 1978–79 when the Cleveland franchise merged with Minnesota. He finished second on the team in scoring with 58 points despite missing 11 games due to injury, and forged a solid partnership with rookie centre Bobby Smith. In 1979–80 he had his finest NHL campaign, posting 42 goals and 51 assists for 93 points, leading the North Stars in all three categories, and was awarded the Bill Masterton Trophy. He also led the North Stars in playoff scoring with 16 points in 15 games as they reached the Stanley Cup semi-finals, scoring the deciding goal in game seven of the quarterfinals to eliminate the four-time defending champion Montreal Canadiens.

Reader's Guide

MacAdam's significance lies in his consistent production and durability over a 12-year NHL career, particularly as a top player for the California Golden Seals/Cleveland Barons franchise and later the Minnesota North Stars. He was one of the few players drafted from Canadian university hockey and made an immediate impact after being traded to the Seals, becoming their all-time leading point scorer. His finest season came in 1979–80 when he led the North Stars in goals, assists, and points, finishing 12th in overall NHL scoring and winning the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance and dedication.

MacAdam also excelled in the playoffs, notably scoring the series-clinching goal against the four-time defending champion Montreal Canadiens in 1980 and helping the North Stars reach the Stanley Cup Final in 1981. After his playing career, he became a head coach at St. Thomas University, in the AHL with the St. John's Maple Leafs, and in the QMJHL with the Halifax Mooseheads, and later served as a scout for the Buffalo Sabres. His 591 career points remain the most for a player from Prince Edward Island until surpassed by Brad Richards in 2010.