Mackesey, who interviewed for the GM job with the Canadiens, hired as pro scout in Toronto after spending 12 years with Minnesota Wild.
Blair Mackasey's life in hockey has come full circle.
The 62-year-old grew up in Montreal as a star athlete in both hockey and baseball. As a teenager, Mackasey played defence for the Junior Canadiens in the winter and was a first baseman in the Expos' minor-league system in the summer, playing on the same team as Gary Carter and Ellis Valentine.
When Mackasey had to pick a sport to focus on, he chose hockey and in 1975 he was selected by the Washington Capitals in the fourth round of the NHL Draft and by the Indianapolis Racers in the fourth round of the WHA Draft. Mackasey would end up playing only one game in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 1976-77 season before requiring back surgery that ended his playing career.
Now, the Beaconsfield resident is back with the Leafs after being hired recently as a pro scout following 12 years with the Minnesota Wild as a scout and director of player personnel.
Mackasey is a highly respected man in the hockey world with an impressive resumé. He coached the Lac St. Louis Lions to the national midget championship in 1992 before moving up to the QMJHL as coach of the Granby Bisons for one season and then the Drummondville Voltigeurs for two years.
Mackasey then spent six years as a scout for the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes before joining Hockey Canada, where he was head scout and then director of player personnel, responsible for player evaluation and selections for the national junior and under-18 teams. During his time with Hockey Canada from 2002-2006, Mackasey put together teams that won two gold and two silver medals at the world junior championship.
After winning a second straight gold medal at the 2006 world junior tournament, the Wild hired Mackasey as their director of pro scouting. After 12 years in Minnesota, Mackasey figured his time might be up when GM Chuck Fletcher was fired after the Wild were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Winnipeg Jets. Mackasey was right, but not surprisingly, he didn't stay unemployed for long.
Mackasey was one of the people interviewed by Geoff Molson for the vacant general manager's job with the Canadiens in 2012 before Marc Bergevin got the position.
Mackasey had a real-life health scare a year later when he received a throat cancer diagnosis. He underwent three major chemotherapy treatments and 35 radiation sessions and is now cancer-free.
Instead, Mackasey is very excited about his new job with the Leafs.
The Leafs have a new GM in 31-year-old Kyle Dubas, who took over from Lou Lamoriello, and a new star player after signing John Tavares as a free agent. There's a lot to be excited about in Toronto.
Mackasey said he has been impressed by Dubas, who has become the Doogie Howser of NHL general managers.
So do the Leafs — and Mackasey is happy to now be part of it.