Randy McKay

Hugh Randall McKay (born January 25, 1967) is a Canadian retired professional hockey player. Playing the right wing position, he played in the National Hockey League from 1988 to 2003, with the Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils, Dallas Stars, and Montreal Canadiens.

Playing career

McKay was selected by the Detroit Red Wings in round six (113th overall) of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. He split the 1987-88, 1988–89, and 1989–90 seasons between the Red Wings and their affiliate in the American Hockey League, the Adirondack Red Wings. McKay stuck with the Wings in the NHL for the 1990-91 season, ultimately appearing in 47 games. While showing a scoring touch in the AHL, McKay only accumulated 4 goals in 83 total games with the Red Wings, and was unable to find consistent playing time. Following the season, McKay and Dave Barr were sent by rule of an arbitrator to the New Jersey Devils as compensation for the Red Wings' signing of free agent Troy Crowder.^[1][2] The deal did not work out for the Wings, as Crowder only played in 7 games for the team before a serious injury. McKay developed into a solid third and fourth line player that the Wings would later covet in the latter part of the decade. It was a move that Red Wings Senior Vice President Jim Devellano resisted at the time, and regretted later.^[3]

Although a physical presence on the ice, McKay also contributed offensively, with double-digit goal totals and a positive plus/minus most seasons (including +30 in 1997-98, 4th in the league). He is perhaps best remembered among Devils fans for scoring the winning goal in game six of the 1995 Eastern Conference Finals against the Philadelphia Flyers; the Devils won the game 4–2 and went on to win their first Stanley Cup by upsetting the heavily favored Detroit Red Wings in four games.

On October 28, 2000, in a regular season game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Randy McKay and teammate John Madden each scored 4 goals in a 9–0 win for the Devils. It was the first time since 1922 that two teammates each scored 4 goals.^[4]

McKay was also a member of the Devils when they won the Stanley Cup in 2000 against the Dallas Stars in six games.

On March 19, 2002, McKay was traded from the Devils along with Jason Arnott and a first round pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft to the Dallas Stars for Joe Nieuwendyk and Jamie Langenbrunner.

McKay retired after the 2002–03 NHL season, finishing his career in his hometown as a member of the Montreal Canadiens.

Crash line

For a period of time with the Devils, McKay was a member of "The Crash Line" with Bobby Holik and Mike Peluso.^[5] Head coach Jacques Lemaire created the line to counter the larger skilled players of the Eastern Conference, including Eric Lindros, Cam Neely, and Jaromir Jagr.^[6] The average weight of the linemates was 215 pounds, and each skater played a physically and aggressive style of hockey. The trio were part of the Devils Stanley Cup Championship in 1995. Following the departure of Peluso, Holik and McKay often remained on the same line; which sometimes included Sergei Brylin.^[7]

Other

McKay is a graduate of Michigan Technological University (1984–88). He is currently a volunteer assistant coach for Michigan Tech's ice hockey program.

McKay and his wife Katie live in Houghton, Michigan, with their four children, Riley, Kaitlyn, Dawson, and McKenna.^[8]

References

External links

• Randy McKay's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
• McKay's OT winner in Game 4 of the 1995 Stanley Cup Quarterfinals
• Game 6 game winning goal in the 1995 Conference Finals