FEATURE: Former Blackhawks winger Maloney passes away

Dan Maloney, a combative left wing selected by the Blackhawks in the first round of the 1970 National Hockey League Entry Draft, has died. He was 68.
Maloney, a star with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey Association, was part of an exceptional class as the NHL expanded to 14 teams for the 1970-71 season. Gil Perreault was chosen No. 1 overall by the Buffalo Sabres and Dale Tallon No. 2 by the Vancouver Canucks. Other early draftees included Reggie Leach, Rick MacLeish and Darryl Sittler.
With the 14th pick overall, the Blackhawks gladly tabbed Maloney, a sinewy individual who was 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds. He brought a tough and imposing presence to their roster already featuring Keith Magnuson and Jerry Korab. Maloney packed a famous right hand that he deployed, when necessary, to protect smaller teammates such as Stan Mikita and Pit Martin.

During that era, it was not uncommon for two foes to drop gloves and square off for a robust fight. Blackhawk fans quickly embraced his style on the ice, but like most players of that ilk, Maloney was a different person off the ice.
In his rookie season with the Blackhawks, he registered 12 goals, 14 assists and 174 penalty minutes. He spent the 1971-12 season with the Dallas Black Hawks of the Central Hockey League, then returned to Chicago in 1972-73, when he collected 13 goals, 17 assists and 63 penalty minutes.
The Blackhawks, a contender despite the departure of Bobby Hull to the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association, traded Maloney just before the February, 1973, deadline to the Los Angeles Kings for Ralph Backstrom, a veteran center. Backstrom was a vital component in the Blackhawks' surprising run to the Stanley Cup Final, captured by the Montreal Canadiens in six games.
Maloney scored 27 goals in his second full season with the Kings, then 27 again in 1975-76 with the Detroit Red Wings, where he landed after being part of a massive deal that sent future Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne to Los Angeles.
Maloney played his final seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs. After retiring, he became an assistant coach there, then was elevated to head coach in 1984. In 1986, the Blackhawks finished first in the Norris Division, but were swept by the Maple Leafs in the best-of-three Division Semifinals with Maloney behind their bench. The Maple Leafs finished fourth, 29 points behind the Blackhawks, but Maloney expressed no great joy about upsetting the organization that drafted him and graciously gave all the credit to players who were extremely fond of him.
However, Maloney could not settle on a contract with the Toronto management, and he left to become Head Coach of the Winnipeg Jets until the 1988-89 season, when he was dismissed after 52 games.
"He was more than just a fighter," praised Sittler, his Hall of Fame teammate with the Maple Leafs.
In 372 NHL games, Maloney recorded 192 goals, 259 assists and 1,489 penalty minutes.