Kevin McCarthy was a high-scoring NHL defenceman of the late 70s and early 80s who began and ended his career with the Philadelphia Flyers, playing for Vancouver and Pittsburgh in between. Drafted 17th overall in the 1977 amateur draft, McCarthy had an impressive rookie season in 77-78, putting up 17 points in 62 games, while enjoying a plus-29 rating.
After 22 games and only three points the next year, however, the Flyers gave up on him and shipped him to Vancouver.
He proved the Flyers wrong.
Seasons of 45, 53, 45 and 40 points followed. Unfortunately, he broke his ankle just before the Canucks began their memorable run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1982, missing the entire playoffs and watching his team eventually lose to the New York Islanders.
McCarthy came to the Penguins smack dab in the middle of their worst season ever, traded in January 1984 for a third-round pick in that year’s draft. He hadn't been playing much in Vancouver and welcomed a fresh start in Pittsburgh. "I'm glad to be with someone who wants me," he said when traded. "It could be a blessing in disguise because (Pens GM) Eddie Johnston said I'd be getting a lot of ice time."
McCarthy proved to be a rare bright spot for the Pens that year, racking up 20 points in 31 games. Typical of most 1983-84 Penguin defencemen, though, he also posted a hideous minus-32 while wearing the black and gold that year.
McCarthy was back the following season to be a part of Mario Lemieux’s rookie campaign, but the following summer his career went full circle when he was signed by the Flyers as a free agent. After six more games over the next two years, McCarthy’s NHL career was over.
Since hanging up his skates, McCarthy has enjoyed a successful coaching career, getting his name on the Stanley Cup as an assistant with the 2006 champion Carolina Hurricanes. He is currently an assistant coach with the Nashville Predators.
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