Lanny McDonald

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Lore & Background

McDonald was selected by the Maple Leafs as the fourth overall pick in the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft and established himself with three consecutive 40-goal seasons in Toronto in the mid-1970s. His trade to the Colorado Rockies in 1979 resulted in Toronto fans protesting the deal in front of Maple Leaf Gardens. He played parts of three seasons in Denver before being sent to Calgary in 1981, where he spent the remainder of his career. In his final season of 1988–89, he co-captained the Flames to a Stanley Cup championship. McDonald won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 1983 and was named the inaugural winner of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 1988 for his leadership and humanitarian presence, particularly through his long association with the Special Olympics.

In Their Own Story

The highlight of McDonald's career in Toronto came in the 1978 Stanley Cup playoffs against the New York Islanders. Playing despite breaking both his wrist and nose during the series, McDonald scored the overtime winning goal that eliminated the Islanders and allowed the Maple Leafs to advance to the league semi-finals for the first time in 11 years. The trade to Colorado in 1979 devastated McDonald, who was expecting his second child and had just purchased a new house. He later argued that general manager Punch Imlach made the trade out of spite. Fans in Toronto picketed outside Maple Leaf Gardens in protest of the deal.

Reader's Guide

McDonald's uniform number 9 was retired by the Flames in 1990. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992, the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 1993, and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. In 2015, he was named chairman of the board of the Hockey Hall of Fame after serving nine years on the Hall's selection committee. He was named to the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2022, and has been a trustee of the Stanley Cup since 2023.

Did You Know?

• McDonald's middle name, King, was given to him after Toronto Maple Leafs star King Clancy.
• He scored his first NHL goal on October 17, 1973, against Michel Larocque of the Montreal Canadiens.
• McDonald played his entire NHL career wearing a Winwell style helmet after suffering a concussion in his first game.
• He was named the inaugural winner of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 1988.
• McDonald has been a trustee of the Stanley Cup since 2023.

The Journey from Hanna to the NHL

McDonald was born February 16, 1953, in Hanna, Alberta, the youngest of four children. His father, Lorne, tended the family farm near the hamlet of Craigmyle. McDonald credits his father for teaching him the value of honesty and hard work. His mother, Phyllis, was a full-time teacher. Learning to skate at age five, McDonald immediately developed a passion for hockey. He was given his middle name, King, after Maple Leafs' star King Clancy. He began playing organized hockey at age six and completed high school while playing in Lethbridge, choosing to remain with his junior A team in 1970–71 rather than join the Medicine Hat Tigers so he could complete his diploma. He was selected fourth overall by the Maple Leafs in the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft and signed a contract worth between $175,000 and $200,000 per season.

The Iconic Flames Era

McDonald was traded to the Colorado Rockies on December 28, 1979, along with Joel Quenneville, in exchange for Wilf Paiement and Pat Hickey. He played parts of three seasons in Denver before being sent to Calgary in 1981. His total of 66 goals in 1982–83 remains the Flames' franchise record for a single season. He won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 1983 and in 1988 was named the inaugural winner of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for his leadership and humanitarian presence, in particular through his long association with the Special Olympics. He co-captained the Flames to a Stanley Cup championship in his final season of 1988–89.

International Impact and Leadership

McDonald represented Team Canada as a player on two occasions and in a management role three times. His assist created the tournament winning overtime goal of the inaugural 1976 Canada Cup. He was director of player personnel of Canada's 2004 World Championship winning team.

Enduring Legacy and Honors

The Flames retired McDonald's uniform number 9 in 1990. McDonald was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992, the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 1993 and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. In 2015, he was named chairman of the board of the Hockey Hall of Fame, after serving nine years on the Hall's selection committee. He was named to the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2022, and has been a trustee of the Stanley Cup since 2023.