Jamie McLennan (born June 30, 1971) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey backup goalie who is now an analyst for TSN, TSN Radio 1050, NBC Sports and NHL Network. He spent eleven seasons in the National Hockey League with the New York Islanders, St. Louis Blues, Minnesota Wild, Calgary Flames, New York Rangers and Florida Panthers. His active playing career ended in 2008 after a year with the Nippon Paper Cranes of Asia League Ice Hockey.
Following his career with the Western Hockey League's Lethbridge Hurricanes, he was drafted in the third round, 48th overall by the New York Islanders in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. After multiple years playing for minor league affiliates in the American, International and East Coast Hockey Leagues, McLennan backed-up veteran Ron Hextall in the 1993–94 season. He was shaky with the Islanders however, winning only 17 games with a .889 Save% over three seasons. Struggling to find confidence, McLennan spent his last two seasons in the organization alternating between the NHL club and the minor leagues.
A few weeks after the 1995–96 NHL season had been completed, McLennan drove from Salt Lake City, Utah to Lethbridge, Alberta, on his way home to Edmonton. While visiting family in Lethbridge he fell ill. He went to a hospital on May 6, 1996, after feeling sick all evening, with immobility setting in. What was thought to be the flu turned out to be bacterial meningitis. After nearly dying that day, he spent the following week in intensive care. The Islanders declined to renew his contract at the conclusion of the season.
The St. Louis Blues signed him to a contract that summer and he spent the following season in the minors. He returned to the NHL as the Blues' back-up goalie for the 1997–98 NHL season. That year he was awarded the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL player who best displays perseverance and dedication to hockey. He was left unprotected by the Blues and joined the Minnesota Wild franchise in the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft. In his only season playing for the expansion Wild, McLennan set a career high in games played with 38, but finished with 32 losses and only 5 wins. Ultimately, he returned to the minors the following season.
The Calgary Flames acquired him in a trade at the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, where he again played the role of NHL backup, but only winning 2 games that year. Despite his 2–11–4 record, he remained with the team as Roman Turek's backup. When Turek became injured in the 2003–04 season, McLennan was thrust into the starting role. He did not stay long however, as Miikka Kiprusoff, who had been acquired earlier in the season by the Flames, soon took over the starting job. Turek returned and management chose to keep him instead, thus traded McLennan to the New York Rangers in March 2004.[1]
With the acquisition of free agent goaltender Kevin Weekes, the Rangers elected not to re-sign McLennan so he signed a contract with the Florida Panthers. He was brought back to Calgary in 2006, once again as backup to Miikka Kiprusoff. The following season, McLennan had a five-week stint in Russia with Metallurg Magnitogorsk before returning to Canada.
On April 21, 2007, McLennan entered a first-round playoff game versus the Detroit Red Wings, after Kiprusoff had allowed five goals. Immediately after entering the game, McLennan slashed Johan Franzén twice in the leg. Unable to control his emotions, McLennan violently slashed Franzén in the stomach a third time after play was stopped, thus earning a game misconduct. The NHL suspended McLennan for five games and fined coach Jim Playfair $25,000 and the team $100,000 for their actions late in the game.[2] As he never played in the NHL again, he remained under suspension after his retirement.[3]
On November 21, 2007, McLennan signed with the Nippon Paper Cranes of Asia League Ice Hockey.[4] McLennan announced his retirement at the end of the 2007–08 season.
On July 10, 2008, he was named as the director of goalie development and as a professional scout for the Calgary Flames.[5] On June 23, 2009, McLennan moved into the coaching staff of the Flames after he was named as an assistant coach to Brent Sutter.[6]
McLennan is a full-time NHL analyst on TSN and is a colour commentator for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators and Winnipeg Jets.[7] He is also a co-host on Overdrive on TSN 1050 and TSN2.[8]