LOOKING BACK ON PHIL MALONEY

PHIL MALONEY: 1927-2020

Like many from his generation, Phil Maloney, who passed away last month, played during an era when there were only six NHL teams. Getting a crack to join an NHL roster meant that a player made every effort to join an elite group.

After two seasons in the QSHL with the Shawinigan Falls Cataracts, Maloney turned pro in 1948-49.  The Montreal Canadiens were eager to sign Maloney, but he turned down their pitch and he signed with the Boston Bruins. They assigned him to the AHL Hershey Bears where he put up decent numbers - 29 goals & 50 assists - and earned a promotion to the Bruins the following year.

The 1949-50 edition of the Boston Bruins got off to a rocky start and didn't get their first victory until nine games in. Maloney's first period goal helped the Bruins defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 at Boston Garden.

In his rookie year, Maloney produced 15 goals and seemed to be on track for a productive  sophomore season. But it also made him an attractive component in trade discussions. He was the added body that could bring a deal to fruition.

That possibility materialized on November 16, 1950, when Boston shipped Maloney, Fern Flaman, Ken Smith, and Leo Boivin to Toronto for Bill Ezinicki and Vic Lynn. At the time of the trade, Maloney scored two goals in thirteen contests with the Bruins.

Maloney was immediately assigned to the Leafs' farm team in Pittsburgh, but did see action in one game with the Leafs. He made his debut with Toronto on January 9, 1951, at the Olympia in Detroit. Maloney was called up to replace an injured Ted Kennedy at centre. And he made the most of the opportunity. Maloney scored the opening goal on a backhand that beat Terry Sawchuk at the 16:01 mark of the first period.

A reporter noted Maloney "tried hard throughout and didn't look out of place."

Upon his return to Pittsburgh, Maloney continued to help the Hornets on offence. One of his finest efforts came against the St. Louis Flyers on February 24, 1951. He scored one goal and added five assists for six points.

The following season, Maloney returned to the Hornets and waited for another call from the Leafs. The call never came and he spent the entire year in Pittsburgh.

In 1952-53, Maloney started the year in Pittsburgh and got a vote of confidence from his coach, the legendary King Clancy.

"He's come up in leaps and bounds," said Clancy of his leading scorer. Also, Clancy predicted that Maloney would be up with the Leafs "after the first of the year."

Clancy was a bit off on his prediction, as Maloney got an early Christmas gift when Conn Smythe summoned him for a Christmas Eve encounter against the Montreal Canadiens at the Gardens.

"Maloney was used at centre and on his showing, the brass might find it hard to send him back to the farm," observed The Globe and Mail.

Through the month of January, Maloney continued to wear the blue and white and decision day on his future with the Leafs came on February 15, 1953. It was on that date Smythe, Hap Day, and Joe Primeau tagged Maloney as the Leafs one player allowed to be recalled on a permanent basis.

As Conn Smythe stated, "It would be a stinking trick to send Maloney down to the minors."

In 29 games with Toronto in 1952-53, Maloney scored two goals and added six helpers.
In a decade that saw the decline of the Toronto Maple Leafs, they failed to make the playoffs. Maloney was no longer in Toronto's plans and once again, he found himself in the minors.

The next season, Maloney split his time between Pittsburgh and the QHL Ottawa Senators.

Maloney hit his stride 1954-55 when he left the Senators to join the WHL Vancouver Canucks. In 37 games with Vancouver, he recorded 43 points. Maloney's best year with Vancouver was in  1967-67, when scored 35 goals and 59 assists for 98 points in 70 games. This enabled to be named the WHL most valuable player.

In his fourth term with Vancouver, Maloney saw action in 13 contests, then was sidelined with a shoulder injury. Around this time, the Chicago Black Hawks were on the hunt for help and sought to obtain Maloney.

Negotiations to complete a deal to send Maloney back to the NHL involved Vancouver, Chicago, and the New York Rangers. His NHL rights were owned by the Rangers, but they needed the Canucks to sign off on Maloney being moved to the Windy City. Vancouver, a farm team of the Rangers, wouldn't budge until they received compensation from New York. After months of bargaining between all the parties, a deal was reached just before Christmas.

When all was said and done, Maloney was sold to the Hawks, and Vancouver received $7,500 and the contract of Ray Cyr, who was already on their roster, and future considerations. But most importantly, it was agreed that if Maloney didn't work out in Chicago, he would be returned to Vancouver.

The transaction went down on December 21, 1958.

Maloney finished the season with Chicago, but in 1959-60, the Hawks sent him to Buffalo in the American Hockey League. He played 46 games with Buffalo, and 24 with Chicago.

The next year, Maloney returned to the Bisons and experienced his best season in pro hockey. His 102 points resulted in him winning the Les Cunningham Award as the AHL most valuable player.

Despite his success with Buffalo, Maloney decided to head west back to the WHL and the Vancouver Canucks. He spent his final nine years with the Canucks.

Highlights of his career included two MVP Awards in the Western Hockey League and two championships with Vancouver. All of this made Maloney one of the most beloved Canucks of all-time. He was inducted into the British Columbia Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.

Not wanting to leave the game after his retirement, Maloney joined the coaching ranks. This included minor league stops in Vancouver and Seattle.

His chance to jump into the NHL coaching fraternity came in January 1974, when the Vancouver Canucks canned Bill McCreary. In February 1974, Maloney added the role of general manager to his portfolio.

Maloney was behind the Vancouver bench for 232 games and posted a 95-105-32 record. In the playoffs, his record was 1-6 in 7 contests.

After not achieving the desired results, Maloney stepped down as coach, but remained in the front office as GM. On December 21, 1976, Maloney named Orland Kurtenbach as his replacement.

"I can no longer tolerate the situation," said Maloney of the Canucks dismal start (9-23-3) to the 1976-77 season.

The Canucks failed to make the playoffs and it led to shake up that resulted in both Maloney and Kurtenbach being let go.

Phil Maloney was born on October 6, 1927, in Ottawa, Ontario. He passed away on February 21, 2020, in British Columbia.