Peter McNab
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In a week when the Pioneers play the Badgers, we look back on one of DU's greatest players who matched up against Wisconsin in the 1973 National Championship game.
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In three seasons for the Pioneers, Center Peter McNab scored 78 goals and 170 points and led DU to three NCAA appearances, two WCHA titles, three WCHA playoff titles and was a WCHA All-Star. To this day, he remains one of the most revered players to ever put on a Pioneer jersey. But it was his exploits in the NHL that stamped McNab as one of the all time greats.
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Peter McNab was blessed with quick hands and a natural feel for the game, which enabled him to play over 950 NHL games during the 1970s and '80s. A consistent producer, the 6'3" centre reached the 20-goal mark ten times in an exemplary career.
Born in Vancouver, B.C., the son of Max McNab was chosen 85th overall by the Buffalo Sabres after three fine years at the University of Denver. He recorded a pair of 20-goal seasons for the club and helped them reach the Stanley Cup finals in 1975. Prior to the 1976-77 season, he was sent to the Boston Bruins as compensation for the Sabres' signing of free agent Andre Savard.
McNab enjoyed nearly nine full years in Beantown. He hit the 40-goal mark twice and was a key figure on the power play. His ability to hold his position in the slot and score his share of "garbage" goals was similar to former Bruins star Phil Esposito. During the late '70s, he formed an excellent forward unit with Terry O'Reilly and Rick Middleton and helped Boston reach the finals in 1977 and 1978.
Late in the 1983-84 season, McNab was sent to the Vancouver Canucks for grinding forward Jim Nill. He scored 23 goals in 1984-85 while forming a solid line with Cam Neely and Moe Lemay. Prior to the 1985-86 season, McNab was signed as a free agent by the New Jersey Devils. He scored 19 goals that year then played for the U.S. at the World Championships. The veteran pivot retired in 1987 after playing 46 games for the Devils.
Peter began his broadcasting career for the New Jersey Devils during the 1987-88 season with SportsChannel, which won an Emmy that year for broadcasting excellence. After eight years on the New Jersey airwaves, McNab headed to Colorado for the inaugural season of the Colorado Avalanche.
Peter is in his 11th season as the Colorado Avalanche’s television color analyst, lending his hockey expertise and a unique perspective of the game of hockey. Regarded as one of the most knowledgeable and enthusiastic color analysts in the game, McNab brings 14 years of NHL playing experience to the Avalanche broadcasts.
PRE NHL DRAFT AWARDS AND HONORS
Denver Records: Most goals in a period (4 vs. Colorado College on November 13, 1971, record shared), most points in a period (5 vs. Colorado College on November 13, 1971 -- 4G, 1A)
Miscellaneous: Moved from Vancouver to San Diego at age 14 when his father took job as coach and general manager of the San Diego Gulls (WHL). ... An outstanding baseball player, he entered Denver on a baseball scholarship and later made hockey team
NHL AWARDS AND HONORS
All-Star Game: 1977
Stanley Cup Finals (Lost): 1975 (Buffalo), 1977 (Boston), 1978 (Bos.)
NHL Records: Most points in period of playoff game (4 at Buffalo on April 11, 1982; 1G, 3A) (record shared)
Boston Records: Most points in period of playoff game (4 at Buffalo on April 11, 1982; 1G, 3A) (record shared)
Boston Goals Leader: 1976-77 (38), 1977-78 (41), 1979-80 (40, tie)
Boston Playoffs Points Leader: 1980 (14 points)
Boston Playoffs Goals Leader: 1980 (8 goals), 1981 (3 goals)
Boston Playoffs Assists Leader: 1978 (11 assists, tie)
NON-NHL AWARDS AND HONORS
Born in Vancouver, B.C., the son of Max McNab was chosen 85th overall by the Buffalo Sabres after three fine years at the University of Denver. He recorded a pair of 20-goal seasons for the club and helped them reach the Stanley Cup finals in 1975. Prior to the 1976-77 season, he was sent to the Boston Bruins as compensation for the Sabres' signing of free agent Andre Savard.
McNab enjoyed nearly nine full years in Beantown. He hit the 40-goal mark twice and was a key figure on the power play. His ability to hold his position in the slot and score his share of "garbage" goals was similar to former Bruins star Phil Esposito. During the late '70s, he formed an excellent forward unit with Terry O'Reilly and Rick Middleton and helped Boston reach the finals in 1977 and 1978.Late in the 1983-84 season, McNab was sent to the Vancouver Canucks for grinding forward Jim Nill. He scored 23 goals in 1984-85 while forming a solid line with Cam Neely and Moe Lemay. Prior to the 1985-86 season, McNab was signed as a free agent by the New Jersey Devils. He scored 19 goals that year then played for the U.S. at the World Championships. The veteran pivot retired in 1987 after playing 46 games for the Devils.
Peter began his broadcasting career for the New Jersey Devils during the 1987-88 season with SportsChannel, which won an Emmy that year for broadcasting excellence. After eight years on the New Jersey airwaves, McNab headed to Colorado for the inaugural season of the Colorado Avalanche.Peter is in his 11th season as the Colorado Avalanche’s television color analyst, lending his hockey expertise and a unique perspective of the game of hockey. Regarded as one of the most knowledgeable and enthusiastic color analysts in the game, McNab brings 14 years of NHL playing experience to the Avalanche broadcasts.
PRE NHL DRAFT AWARDS AND HONORS
Denver Records: Most goals in a period (4 vs. Colorado College on November 13, 1971, record shared), most points in a period (5 vs. Colorado College on November 13, 1971 -- 4G, 1A)
Miscellaneous: Moved from Vancouver to San Diego at age 14 when his father took job as coach and general manager of the San Diego Gulls (WHL). ... An outstanding baseball player, he entered Denver on a baseball scholarship and later made hockey team
NHL AWARDS AND HONORS
All-Star Game: 1977
Stanley Cup Finals (Lost): 1975 (Buffalo), 1977 (Boston), 1978 (Bos.)
NHL Records: Most points in period of playoff game (4 at Buffalo on April 11, 1982; 1G, 3A) (record shared)
Boston Records: Most points in period of playoff game (4 at Buffalo on April 11, 1982; 1G, 3A) (record shared)
Boston Goals Leader: 1976-77 (38), 1977-78 (41), 1979-80 (40, tie)
Boston Playoffs Points Leader: 1980 (14 points)
Boston Playoffs Goals Leader: 1980 (8 goals), 1981 (3 goals)
Boston Playoffs Assists Leader: 1978 (11 assists, tie)
NON-NHL AWARDS AND HONORS
WCHA All-Star First Team: 1972-73 (Denver)
NCAA All-Tournament Team: 1973 (Denver) (later vacated)
WHA Draft Pick: 1972 (by New York)
NCAA All-Tournament Team: 1973 (Denver) (later vacated)
WHA Draft Pick: 1972 (by New York)
Miscellaneous: Led all scorers in points while playing for Denver in 1973 NCAA Tournament, but team was ruled ineligible after the event, and his all-tournament selection as well as all other records were vacated. ... Officially became a U.S. citizen in August 1985.
Personal: Son of former NHL player and executive Max McNab. ... Older brother of NHL executive David McNab. ... Husband of Diana McNab, a psychology professor at Denver University. ... Father of U.S. women's college soccer player Shanon McNab. ... Also known as Pete McNab during his playing days.
Compiled by du78 from The Legends of Hockey, Colorado Avalanche website, hockeydraftcentral.com
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