Brock McGinn Bio
Brock McGinn (born February 2, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL) and has previously skated for the Carolina Hurricanes and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Selected 47th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, McGinn has built his career as a reliable depth forward and playoff contributor. Standing 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) and weighing 187 lb (85 kg), he shoots left and is known for his work ethic and two-way play.
Early Life and Background
Brock McGinn was born on February 2, 1994, in Fergus, Ontario, Canada. He grew up in a hockey family, with the sport woven into daily life at home. That family environment shaped his earliest experiences on the ice and laid the groundwork for his development as a competitive player.
After completing his time in minor hockey with the Guelph Jr. Storm of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association, McGinn transitioned into junior hockey. He was selected by the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League in the third round, 46th overall, in the OHL Priority Selection Draft. He played with the Storm from 2010–11 through 2013–14, gaining valuable experience against top junior competition.
Path to Professional Hockey
At the beginning of the 2011–12 season, McGinn was named an alternate captain for the Guelph Storm, an early sign of his leadership qualities. In his final junior season, he set career highs with 43 goals and 85 points, becoming one of the Storm’s most dangerous offensive contributors. The Storm captured the 2014 J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions, defeating the North Bay Battalion in the final, with McGinn scoring the opening goal of that decisive game.
Following the OHL championship, McGinn represented the Storm at the 2014 Memorial Cup tournament, where he recorded five points in five games. The Storm ultimately fell in the final to the Edmonton Oil Kings. Meanwhile, the Carolina Hurricanes had selected McGinn in the second round, 47th overall, during the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. On April 3, 2013, the Hurricanes signed him to a three-year entry-level contract, formally launching his professional career.
Brock McGinn Career
Early Career (2013–2015)
Once the Guelph Storm were eliminated from the OHL playoffs, McGinn joined the Hurricanes’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, for the remainder of the 2012–13 AHL season. In his first full professional campaign in 2014–15, McGinn recorded 15 goals and 27 points in 73 games for the Checkers, establishing himself as a steady contributor at the pro level. He was suspended for one AHL game during that season for a charging incident on March 3, 2015.
McGinn opened the 2015–16 season with two goals in two games for the Checkers before earning his first NHL recall. He made his NHL debut on October 16, 2015 against the Detroit Red Wings, scoring just 55 seconds into his first shift. That goal stood as the fastest debut goal since Alexander Mogilny’s in 1989, and McGinn added an assist in a 5–3 Hurricanes win. He finished that season with four points across 21 NHL games.
Carolina Hurricanes Breakthrough (2016–2021)
McGinn became a regular for the Hurricanes during the 2016–17 season, appearing in 57 games and registering 16 points. On June 28, 2017, he signed a two-year contract extension, signaling his growing importance to the franchise. The following year, McGinn delivered his most productive NHL campaign, scoring 16 goals and 30 points in 80 games. He then played all 82 games in 2018–19, finishing with 10 goals and 26 points while cementing his reputation as a dependable everyday player.
The defining moment of his Carolina tenure came in Game 7 of the 2019 Eastern Conference First Round against the Washington Capitals. McGinn famously made a defensive save with just over two minutes left in regulation, then scored the series-winning goal at 8:55 of double overtime on an assist from Justin Williams. That victory was the Hurricanes’ first playoff series win since 2009. On July 20, 2019, the Hurricanes rewarded McGinn with a two-year, $4.2 million contract extension.
Pittsburgh Penguins Era (2021–2023)
After reaching unrestricted free agency following the 2020–21 season, McGinn signed a four-year, $11 million contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 28, 2021. He scored his first goal as a Penguin on October 16, 2021, in a 5–2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. His first Penguins season was interrupted on March 11, 2022, when he suffered an upper body injury against the Carolina Hurricanes, causing him to miss fifteen games before returning on April 13.
In his second season with Pittsburgh, McGinn struggled offensively on the third line, going 26 games without a point despite earlier tallying two game-winning goals in back-to-back games in November. On February 28, 2023, Pittsburgh placed him on waivers, ending his time with the organization after parts of two seasons.
Anaheim Ducks Era (2023–2024)
McGinn cleared waivers and was traded by the Penguins to the Anaheim Ducks on March 3, 2023, along with a third-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, in exchange for defenceman Dmitry Kulikov. He made his Ducks debut on March 7, 2023, in a 5–2 loss to the Seattle Kraken, and scored his first Anaheim goal the next night in a 3–2 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks. On April 6, 2023, he suffered an upper body injury against the Edmonton Oilers that ended his season.
The following year, a lower body injury during Anaheim’s 2023 training camp landed McGinn on injured reserve to begin the 2023–24 season. He was activated and made his season debut on November 16, 2023, in an 8–2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. He has since become an unrestricted free agent.
Driving Style and Strengths
McGinn is recognized as a hard-working, two-way left winger who brings energy, forechecking, and defensive responsibility to every line. His willingness to block shots and play through injuries has made him a trusted depth piece, while his playoff goal against Washington highlighted his timely offensive touch.
Notable Events and Milestones
McGinn’s most iconic career moment remains his Game 7 double-overtime winner against the Washington Capitals in 2019, which ended Carolina’s long playoff series drought. His 55-second debut goal in 2015 ranks among the fastest in modern NHL history, underscoring the quick impact he has delivered throughout his career.
Brock McGinn Career Wins
Brock McGinn’s professional résumé includes an OHL championship with the Guelph Storm in 2014, a Memorial Cup appearance that same year, and an NHL playoff series victory with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2019. While he has not been widely recognized with major individual NHL awards, his consistent role on contending rosters speaks to his value as a contributor.
Ontario Hockey League Highlights
McGinn’s junior pinnacle came during the 2013–14 season, when he set career highs of 43 goals and 85 points for the Guelph Storm. He helped lead the Storm to the 2014 J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions and scored the opening goal of the championship final against the North Bay Battalion. He then added five points in five games at the 2014 Memorial Cup before the Storm’s loss in the final.
NHL Highlights and Performances
McGinn’s most productive NHL season came in 2017–18, when he scored 16 goals and 30 points in 80 games for the Hurricanes. He followed that with a full 82-game season in 2018–19, and his Game 7 heroics against Washington stand as the defining highlight of his NHL career to date.
Brock McGinn Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hockey runs deep in the McGinn family. Brock is the youngest of three hockey-playing brothers. His older brother Jamie McGinn (born 1988) was a 2006 second-round pick of the San Jose Sharks and most recently played for the Florida Panthers. Another brother, Tye McGinn (born 1990), was a 2010 fourth-round pick by the Philadelphia Flyers and most recently played for the Chicago Wolves of the AHL.
Personal Life
Along with his father, Bob McGinn, and his two brothers, Brock McGinn is one of the owners of the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs of the Southern Professional Hockey League. The family-owned team reflects the McGinns’ shared commitment to the sport beyond their playing careers.
2025 Season Outlook
As an unrestricted free agent, Brock McGinn enters the 2025 calendar year without an NHL contract. After an injury-marred 2023–24 campaign with the Anaheim Ducks that limited his availability, he will be looking to secure an opportunity with a club seeking experienced left-wing depth. His track record of penalty killing, forechecking, and playoff performances could make him an attractive short-term option for a contender.
Should McGinn return to the NHL, he would likely slot into a bottom-six role where his defensive responsibility and two-way play would be most valuable. If no NHL deal materializes, his ownership stake in the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs keeps him connected to professional hockey in another capacity. Either way, 2025 represents a pivotal decision point in McGinn’s career as he approaches his thirties and seeks to extend his playing days.
