Bradley Robert Maxwell (July 8, 1957 – September 3, 2023) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player renowned as a playmaking defenceman. He featured in the 1981 Stanley Cup Finals with the Minnesota North Stars.

Brad Maxwell
Maxwell on a 1979 sports card
Born (1957-07-08)July 8, 1957
Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
Died September 3, 2023(2023-09-03) (aged 66)
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Right
Played for Minnesota North Stars
Quebec Nordiques
Toronto Maple Leafs
Vancouver Canucks
New York Rangers
National team  Canada
NHL draft 7th overall, 1977
Minnesota North Stars
WHA draft 12th overall, 1977
Birmingham Bulls
Playing career 1977–1987

After having won the Memorial Cup in 1977 as a member of the New Westminster Bruins, Maxwell was selected seventh overall in the 1977 NHL amateur draft by the Minnesota North Stars. He stayed with the North Stars throughout the early 1980s, recording 73 points in 78 games in his best season with the club in 1983–84. At the end of his career he bounced around between teams, spending short amounts of time with the Quebec Nordiques, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers, and ultimately retired in 1987.

According to Maxwell, his final trade, from the Rangers back to the North Stars, came about after Rangers general manager Phil Esposito lost a card game to North Stars general manager Lou Nanne.[1]

Post-playing career

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After retiring from hockey, Maxwell started his own business in Minnesota, Brad Maxwell Cabinets & Construction.[1] Maxwell also organized and played with members of the North Stars alumni for charity games,[2] and organized the North Stars alumni contingent for the 2016 NHL Stadium Series, which featured the Minnesota Wild hosting the Chicago Blackhawks, preceded by Blackhawks alumni facing a team comprising North Stars and Wild alumni.[3]

Maxwell died of lung cancer on September 3, 2023, at the age of 66.[4]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1973–74 Bellingham Blazers BCJHL 61 20 37 57 132
1974–75 New Westminster Bruins WCHL 69 13 47 60 124 18 7 13 20 33
1975–76 New Westminster Bruins WCHL 72 19 80 99 239 17 3 12 15 86
1976–77 New Westminster Bruins WCHL 70 21 58 79 205 14 7 15 22 39
1977–78 Minnesota North Stars NHL 75 18 29 47 100
1978–79 Minnesota North Stars NHL 70 9 28 37 145
1978–79 Oklahoma City Stars CHL 2 0 1 1 21
1979–80 Minnesota North Stars NHL 58 7 30 37 126 11 0 8 8 20
1980–81 Minnesota North Stars NHL 27 3 13 16 98 18 3 11 14 35
1981–82 Minnesota North Stars NHL 51 10 21 31 96 4 0 3 3 13
1982–83 Minnesota North Stars NHL 77 11 28 39 157 9 5 6 11 23
1983–84 Minnesota North Stars NHL 78 19 54 73 225 16 2 11 13 40
1984–85 Minnesota North Stars NHL 18 3 7 10 53
1984–85 Quebec Nordiques NHL 50 7 24 31 119 18 2 9 11 35
1985–86 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 52 8 18 26 108 3 0 1 1 12
1986–87 Vancouver Canucks NHL 30 1 7 8 28
1986–87 New York Rangers NHL 9 0 4 4 6
1986–87 Minnesota North Stars NHL 17 2 7 9 31
NHL totals 612 98 270 368 1292 79 12 49 61 178

International

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Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
1978 Canada WC 10 2 1 3 12
1979 Canada WC 4 1 0 1 8
1982 Canada WC 7 0 0 0 10
Senior totals 21 3 1 4 30

Awards

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  • WCHL Second All-Star Team – 1976, 1977

References

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  1. ^ a b Kamchen, Richard (21 March 2013). "Backchecking: Brad Maxwell". The Hockey News. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  2. ^ Blount, Rachel (18 April 2016). "Minnesota and the North Stars: a love lost but not forgotten". Star Tribune. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  3. ^ Myers, Dan (18 February 2016). "Big weekend for North Stars, Wild alumni". NHL.com. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  4. ^ Akailvi, Naasir. "Brad Maxwell, Minnesota North Stars legend, dies". KARE. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
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Preceded by Minnesota North Stars first round draft pick
1977
Succeeded by