Greg McKegg explained

Greg McKegg
Birth Date:17 June 1992
Birth Place:St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:195
Position:Centre
Shoots:Left
League:NHL
Team:Free agent
Prospect League:AHL
Former Teams:Toronto Maple Leafs
Florida Panthers
Tampa Bay Lightning
Pittsburgh Penguins
Carolina Hurricanes
New York Rangers
Boston Bruins
Draft Year:2010
Draft:62nd overall
Draft Team:Toronto Maple Leafs
Career Start:2011

Greg McKegg (born June 17, 1992) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for the Bakersfield Condors in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). McKegg was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third round (62nd overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

McKegg's great uncle was former NHL defenceman Lou Fontinato.[1]

Playing career

McKegg played four seasons (20082012) of major junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), for a short time with the London Knights, but the majority with the Erie Otters, scoring 125 goals and 145 assists for 270 points, while earning 143 penalty minutes, in 262 games played.

McKegg competed with Team Canada at the 2010 IIHF World U18 Championships, leading the team with six assists and seven points in six games played.[2]

On April 6, 2011, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed McKegg to a three-year, entry-level contract.[3]

On February 1, 2014, the Toronto Maple Leafs recalled McKegg from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.[4] Taking Peter Holland's place on the roster, McKegg made his NHL debut that night playing three minutes and 43 seconds. He registered two hits, one shot on goal, and won one of his six face-offs in helping Toronto to a 6–3 win over the visiting Ottawa Senators.[5]

On June 19, 2015, the Toronto Maple Leafs traded Greg McKegg to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Zach Hyman and a conditional 2017 draft pick. On September 25, 2015, was placed on waivers from Panthers to be assigned to affiliate, the Portland Pirates of the AHL.[6]

In the 2016–17 season, McKegg appeared in a career-high 31 games with the Panthers for six points before he was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Lightning on February 27, 2017.[7]

On July 1, 2017, McKegg was signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way $650,000 contract to play for the Pittsburgh Penguins.[8] He made an early impression in his new organization at training camp, making the opening night roster as the Penguins initial third-line center for the 2017–18 season. In 26 games, McKegg registered two goals and four points before he was placed on waivers by the Penguins, who returned to full health, on December 6, 2017.[9] He was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and contributed with 12 points in 28 games before on February 26, 2018, the Penguins traded McKegg to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Josh Jooris.[10]

In the off-season, McKegg opted to continue with the Hurricanes, agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract on July 12, 2018.[11]

On July 1, 2019, McKegg was signed as a free agent to a one-year contract with the New York Rangers.[12] In the 2019–20 season, McKegg made the Rangers opening roster and, in his first full season in the NHL, appeared in a season-high 53 games. He tallied five goals and nine points in a fourth-line role, helping the Rangers reach the qualifying round, and went scoreless in three post-season games.

On October 14, 2020, McKegg was signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the Boston Bruins.[13] In the pandemic delayed season, McKegg was limited to just five games with the Bruins, spending the majority of his tenure on the club's taxi squad.

As a free agent, McKegg opted to return to former club, the New York Rangers, agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract on July 28, 2021.[14]

At the conclusion of his contract with the Rangers, McKegg left as a free agent and was signed to a two-year, two-way contract with the Edmonton Oilers on July 13, 2022.[15]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

  Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPTSPIM
2008–09Erie OttersOHL64810182252134
2009–10Erie OttersOHL673748853242130
2010–11Erie OttersOHL6649439235741512
2010–11Toronto MarliesAHL21010
2011–12Erie OttersOHL3512223432
2011–12London KnightsOHL30192241221547112
2012–13Toronto MarliesAHL618152322933610
2013–14Toronto MarliesAHL65192847311433610
2013–14Toronto Maple LeafsNHL10000
2014–15Toronto MarliesAHL6222153739520212
2014–15Toronto Maple LeafsNHL30000
2015–16Portland PiratesAHL471013232231012
2015–16Florida PanthersNHL15202210002
2016–17Springfield ThunderbirdsAHL72242
2016–17Florida PanthersNHL3133611
2016–17Tampa Bay LightningNHL1501111
2017–18Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL262248
2017–18Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL28571210
2017–18Charlotte CheckersAHL1991423481452
2018–19Charlotte CheckersAHL316172318
2018–19Carolina HurricanesNHL4165118142024
2019–20New York RangersNHL535491730002
2020–21Boston BruinsNHL51012
2020–21Providence BruinsAHL20220
2021–22New York RangersNHL432356
2021–22Hartford Wolf PackAHL10000
2022–23Bakersfield CondorsAHL66713206220002
2023–24Bakersfield CondorsAHL63722296120000
NHL totals23321183965182028

International

YearTeamEventResult GPGAPtsPIM
2009Canada OntarioU1760112
U187th 6 1 6 7 4
Junior totals 12 1786

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Forbes. Andrew. Former NHL Defenceman Lou Fontinato Passes Away. thehockeywriters.com. July 6, 2016. June 15, 2018. His NHL legacy will be carried on by his great-nephew and Florida Panthers’ forward Greg McKegg..
  2. Web site: 2014 NHL Draft Prospects . . 2010-06-25 . 2013-02-04.
  3. Web site: Leafs Ink Forward To Entry Level Contract . Toronto Maple Leafs. 2011-04-06 . 2011-04-06.
  4. Web site: Report: Leafs recall McKegg from AHL Marlies . . 2014-01-31 . 2014-01-31.
  5. Web site: Leafs coach not worried Nazem Kadri will face suspension for hit . . 2014-02-02 . 2014-02-02.
  6. Web site: Florida Panthers announce roster changes . . 2015-09-25 . 2015-09-25.
  7. Web site: Waiver claims: Bolts get McKegg, Jackets snag Dalpe. Mike. Halford. . February 27, 2017. February 27, 2017.
  8. Web site: Penguins add four new faces to the organization as free agents . . 2017-07-01 . 2017-07-01.
  9. Web site: Kasan. Sam. 3 Things: Schultz out, second line success. NHL.com. December 7, 2017. December 6, 2017.
  10. Web site: Williams. Terrell. Hurricanes Acquire McKegg From Pittsburgh. NHL.com. February 26, 2018. February 26, 2018.
  11. Web site: Canes agree to terms with Greg McKegg . . 2018-07-12 . 2018-07-12.
  12. Web site: Rangers agree to terms with Greg McKegg and Danny O'Regan . . July 1, 2019 . July 1, 2019.
  13. Web site: Bruins Sign Jakob Zboril, Greg McKegg and Calum Booth. . October 14, 2020. October 14, 2020.
  14. Web site: Rangers agree to terms with free agent forwards, Greg McKegg and Dryden Hunt . . July 28, 2021 . July 28, 2021.
  15. Web site: Oilers sign McKegg to two-year contract . . July 14, 2022 . July 14, 2022.