Alexei Zhamnov’s pain was Brett McLean’s gain.
Without an injury to the former Chicago Blackhawks veteran early in the 2003-04 season, McLean probably would have spent another season in the minor leagues, his window of opportunity closing on making the NHL.
Called up by the Blackhawks from the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League, McLean filled in admirably for Zhamnov. The Blackhawks rewarded McLean with 76 games, in which he scored 11 goals and compiled 31 points.
In turn, the Avalanche rewarded McLean with a free-agent contract after he was caught in a numbers game with Chicago and was cut loose. He has paid back the Avs with excellent play.
In the past 13 games, McLean is the Avalanche’s second-leading scorer. His two goals and 12 assists in that span trail only Alex Tanguay’s 19 points, and he is a major reason Colorado is 9-2 in its past 11 contests entering tonight’s game at home against Dallas.
“I think the confidence level is higher right now, that’s been a big difference,” McLean said. “But I worry first about my own end, making sure I’m forechecking hard with lots of jump. After that, hopefully the points come.”
McLean’s recent success is in marked difference to the start of the season, when the Avs placed him on waivers before opening night in Edmonton. Nobody claimed him, and the Avs had to take him back.
“Obviously, it wasn’t something that I wanted,” said McLean, a native of Comox, British Columbia. “It wasn’t something I expected. But I’ve been through a lot worse situations in my career, and I’m just very thankful things are going the way they are now.”
McLean bounced around the American Hockey League, Western Hockey League, International Hockey League and East Coast Hockey League from 1998-2003 after being drafted in the 10th round in 1997 by Dallas. His big break was Zhamnov’s injury, but McLean credits former Chicago coach Brian Sutter for much of his NHL success.
“He was always in my corner,” McLean said. “I just got the chance and things worked out well. I got to play in every situation, and when (Zhamnov) came back, things were just going so well for me that I got to keep all my ice time.”
McLean has been playing at right wing on a line with Tanguay and Ian Laperriere. Though McLean said he prefers to play his natural center position, he said he’ll play anywhere coach Joel Quenneville wants and is thrilled to play with forwards with so much talent.
“He’s played very well,” Quenneville said. “Him and Tangs and Lappy have been effective since they’ve been together. They all feed off of each other. Mac is getting some power-play time, too, and has enhanced his ice time with Pierre (Turgeon) being out of the lineup.”
Adrian Dater can be reached at 303-820-5454 or adater@denverpost.com.
