COMMENTARY: BIG MAC

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I try to learn something from everyone I meet.

Apparently that’s a rare trait. I don’t know if that’s the case and really, I don’t care. But it’s gotten me a long ways in life.

The latest was time spent with former Florida Panthers and Columbus Blue Jackets coach Doug MacLean, who was this week’s guest on our Florida NHL podcast; Cats ‘N Bolts.

Many of you will remember “Mac” best from his decade or so alongside Nick Kypreos on Sportsnet’s NHL coverage. Doug, a Summerside, PEI product, got toasted from that position a few years ago, largely because he made too much money.

What a problem to have!

If you look him up on Wikipedia, it says Doug MacLean is “best known for leading the Florida Panthers to the 1996 Stanley Cup Final”.

Indeed he is, and he’s more than okay with that. He lives with his wife on the ocean in nearby Delray Beach, FL but doesn’t go to the Panthers games.

Been there, done that. He spends his time now as a real estate developer, writing books, and doing interviews like the one he did with us.

We’d be on each other’s shows in the past, but this is the first time we’d met face-to-face. He’s that rare combination of book smart, street smart, and oozing with charm. A deadly combo!

Our interview was fantastic and it took very little to get Doug wound up as he pounded the table telling stories of when fans here became famous for throwing rats onto the ice during that Stanley Cup run nearly 30 years ago.

There’s lots to be learned, by anyone, who watches that interview which will be posted later today to the major podcast platforms. Maybe the best thing is that when Doug was named head coach of the University of New Brunswick mens hockey team in the 80s, he thought he’d landed his dream job.

Three years later he was on an NHL bench and shortly after that, coaching Florida in the Stanley Cup Final against Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg and Patrick Roy.

It’s amazing what you find, when you stop looking.

That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary

(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm & 5 pm ET on Game+TV, WQEE Radio, Podcast & YouTube Live)