Alyn McCauley

Alyn McCauley
McCauley in 2015
Born	(1977-05-29) May 29, 1977 Gananoque, Ontario, Canada
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Left
Played for	Toronto Maple Leafs San Jose Sharks Los Angeles Kings
NHL draft	79th overall, 1995 New Jersey Devils
Playing career	1997–2007

Alyn Daniel McCauley (born May 29, 1977) is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for ten years with the Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, and the Los Angeles Kings. Prior to his NHL career, McCauley was named CHL Player of the Year for 1996–97 while a member of the Ottawa 67's. McCauley was born in Brockville, Ontario, but grew up in Gananoque, Ontario. On February 3, 2022, he was named Director of Player Personnel for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Junior career

McCauley was a junior hockey superstar with the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)'s Ottawa 67's. At the age of 16, McCauley earned a roster spot with the 67's and enjoyed a highly successful four-year career with the club which culminated with his being named CHL Player of the Year for 1996–97. He was also a First Team All-Star in 1996 and 1997 and represented Canada at the 1996 and 1997 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, winning gold medals on both occasions. Prior to these two outstanding seasons in Ottawa, McCauley was selected in the fourth round of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft, 79th overall by the New Jersey Devils, though he would never play with the team. Brian Kilrea, the long-time head coach of the 67's, once called McCauley the best player he had ever coached.

Several concussions almost ended McCauley's promising career before he had ever played a single NHL game, including one which sidelined him for about half of the 1998–99 season.

NHL career

On February 25, 1997, the New Jersey Devils dealt McCauley, along with Jason Smith and Steve Sullivan, to the rebuilding Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Doug Gilmour, Dave Ellett, and New Jersey's 3rd round choice in 1999. McCauley was used primarily as a defensive forward in his rookie season in Toronto and was limited to just six goals and 16 points. Concussion issues continued to plague him as a pro, and these injuries deeply affected his contributions on the ice. By 2000–01, he found himself in the minors with the American Hockey League (AHL)'s St. John's Maple Leafs, though he was called up to Toronto for the playoffs.

By the start of 2001–02, McCauley earned a roster spot in Toronto and was a key contributor for the Maple Leafs all season long, managing to stay injury-free. Though no longer the offensive force he had been as a junior player, he had become a solid two-way performer.

On March 5, 2003, Toronto traded McCauley, Brad Boyes, and Toronto's first round choice in 2003 to the San Jose Sharks, with power forward Owen Nolan going to Toronto in exchange. The change of scenery seemed to benefit McCauley. In his first full season with the Sharks in 2003–04, he established career highs in goals (20) and points (47). McCauley was known for his two-way play and his penalty-killing abilities, which earned him a Selke Trophy nomination in 2003–04 as the league's best defensive forward.

After three seasons in San Jose, McCauley signed as a free agent with the division rival Los Angeles Kings in July 2006. He missed the majority of 2006–07 season recovering from a recurring knee injury, and ultimately played in only 10 games in Los Angeles, scoring one goal.

Other

During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, McCauley studied at Athabasca University.

On August 15, 2008, McCauley accepted a position as an assistant coach with the Queen's Golden Gaels men's hockey team.

McCauley has served as a pro scout for the Los Angeles Kings, with whom he received Stanley Cup rings in 2012 and 2014. From 2018 to 2022, he was a pro scout with the Philadelphia Flyers, and on February 3, 2022, he was named their director of player personnel.

Awards

• OHL First All-Star Team (1996, 1997)
• Red Tilson Trophy (OHL MVP) (1996, 1997)
• CHL First All-Star Team (1997)
• CHL Player of the Year (1997)

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1991–92	Kingston Voyageurs	MetJHL		37	5	17	22	6		—	—	—	—	—
1992–93	Kingston Voyageurs	MetJHL		38	31	29	60	18		—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	Ottawa 67's	OHL		38	13	23	36	10		13	5	14	19	4
1994–95	Ottawa 67's	OHL		65	16	38	54	20		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Ottawa 67's	OHL		55	34	48	82	24		2	0	0	0	0
1996–97	Ottawa 67's	OHL		50	56	56	112	16		22	14	22	36	14
1997–98	St. John's Maple Leafs	AHL		—	—	—	—	—		3	0	1	1	0
1997–98	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		60	6	10	16	6		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		39	9	15	24	2		—	—	—	—	—
1999–2000	St. John's Maple Leafs	AHL		5	1	1	2	0		—	—	—	—	—
1999–2000	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		45	5	5	10	10		5	0	0	0	6
2000–01	St. John's Maple Leafs	AHL		47	16	28	44	12		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		14	1	0	1	0		10	0	0	0	2
2001–02	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		82	6	10	16	18		20	5	10	15	4
2002–03	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		64	6	9	15	16		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	San Jose Sharks	NHL		16	3	7	10	4		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	San Jose Sharks	NHL		82	20	27	47	28		11	2	1	3	2
2005–06	San Jose Sharks	NHL		76	12	14	26	30		6	0	1	1	4
2006–07	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		10	1	0	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				488	69	97	166	116		52	7	12	19	18

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1996	Canada	WJC		6	2	3	5	2
1997	Canada	WJC		7	0	5	5	2
Junior totals				13	2	8	10	4

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
• cnnSI player page