EXCLUSIVE: John MacLean’s Legacy Through The Eyes Of His Son, Kyle

Kyle MacLean reflects on playing for his father John MacLean, the Devils Ring of Honor night, and growing his NHL career with the Islanders.

ELMONT, NY — New York Islanders forward Kyle MacLean’s game hasn’t changed since he broke into the NHL back in 2023-24.

However, this season has been different, as it’s his first without his father, John MacLean, on the coaching staff.

Say what you want about coach MacLean’s success with the Islanders from 2022-2025, but seeing a father get the opportunity to coach his son, see his son score his first career NHL goal, living out his dream, is pretty cool.

Looking through the history of the league, it’s a rare occurrence, with Bob Pulford coaching son, Bob Pulford Jr., with the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1970s.

On Jan. 27, Kyle was on hand for John’s induction into the New Jersey Devils Ring of Honor.

John played 14 seasons with the Devils, recording 701 points (347 goals, 354 assists) in 934 regular-season games. Over that time, the Devils qualified for seven postseason berths, winning the Stanley Cup in 1994-95, where he recorded 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) in 20 postseason games.

In total, MacLean had 75 points (31 goals, 44 assists) in 88 postseason games.

After retiring following the 2001-02 season, MacLean went right into coaching, becoming an assistant with the Devils — he was the head coach for a minute — before stops in Carolina, Arizona, and San Jose, before the Islanders.

Now, John is taking a breather for the first time since 1983.

I caught up with Kyle to talk about his father’s career, if he knew how good his dad really was, what it was like to have John on the bench, and what his conversations with John are like now when it comes to growing his game: