Jared McCann Bio
Jared McCann (born May 31, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays as a forward for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). He shoots left and stands 6 feet 1 inch tall. McCann was selected 24th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft and has since played for the Canucks, Florida Panthers, and Pittsburgh Penguins before joining the Kraken. Known for his offensive touch, he set Kraken franchise records in goals and points during the 2022–23 season.
Early Life and Background
Jared McCann was born on May 31, 1996, in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, to Erin and Matt McCann, who owned a construction company. He grew up with two older siblings, Justin and Jaimie, and an older half-brother, Jordan. Justin was adopted from Guatemala because Erin’s multiple sclerosis made another pregnancy risky. The cold Stratford winters meant that McCann spent much of his childhood playing ice hockey on outdoor frozen ponds.
McCann’s favorite NHL team growing up was the Los Angeles Kings, drawn to the franchise by its colors and name. He played minor hockey with the London Jr. Knights of Alliance Hockey before finishing the 2011–12 season with the London Nationals of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. His strong play in that league earned him Alliance Hockey’s Player of the Year award.
Path to Hockey
On April 7, 2012, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) selected McCann fourth overall in the 2012 OHL Priority Selection. In his first OHL season in 2012–13, he scored 21 goals and added 23 assists in 64 games, and he shared the Greyhounds’ 2013 Rookie of the Year Award with Sergey Tolchinsky. He was also named to the OHL’s Second All-Rookie Team.
A scary moment came in game one of the 2013 OHL playoffs, when McCann was checked by Cameron Brace of the Owen Sound Attack and left the ice in an ambulance. He was diagnosed with a concussion and severe whiplash that kept him out indefinitely, and Brace received a five-game suspension. The Greyhounds were eliminated in six games without McCann. He returned strong in 2013–14, totaling 27 goals and 35 assists for 62 points in the regular season and adding nine points in the playoffs. Ranked 10th among North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau, he was selected 24th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. After the pick, originally acquired in the Ryan Kesler trade, McCann signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Canucks on July 24, 2014.
Jared McCann Career
Junior Career (2012–2015)
McCann spent three seasons with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, developing into one of the OHL’s most promising forwards. During the 2014–15 season, he posted 34 goals and 47 assists in 56 regular-season games, setting new career highs in every major offensive category. He then carried that production into the playoffs, recording six goals and ten assists in 14 games as the Greyhounds made a deep postseason run.
NHL Debut with Vancouver Canucks (2015–2016)
McCann made his NHL debut on October 7, 2015, against the Calgary Flames, and three days later he scored his first NHL goal against Jonas Hiller in a 3–2 overtime loss. Vancouver alternate captain Daniel Sedin called the shot “world-class.” On November 1, 2015, the Canucks announced that McCann and fellow rookie Jake Virtanen would remain in the NHL past their nine-game tryout. He played 69 games as a rookie, finishing with nine goals and 18 points. On May 25, 2016, Vancouver traded him, along with a second- and a fourth-round pick, to the Florida Panthers in exchange for defenseman Erik Gudbranson.
Florida Panthers Years (2016–2019)
McCann opened the 2016–17 season with the Panthers, but after 17 games he was reassigned to the Springfield Thunderbirds of the American Hockey League. With Springfield, he tallied 11 goals and 14 assists in 29 games and was named player of the week late in the year. In 2017–18, he set a new career high with 19 assists and 28 points in 68 games, and on July 1, 2018, Florida signed him to a two-year, US$2.5 million contract. A preseason leg injury in 2018–19 limited his production to 18 points in 46 games, and on February 1, 2019, he was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of the Nick Bjugstad trade.
Pittsburgh Penguins Stint (2019–2021)
McCann finished 2018–19 with 11 goals and six assists in 32 games for Pittsburgh, including three shorthanded tallies. In 2019–20, he set fresh career highs with 14 goals and 21 assists in 66 games, and on September 18, 2020, he signed a two-year, $5.88 million contract extension. He added 14 goals and 18 assists in 43 games during the pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season, then appeared in six playoff games that spring, recording one assist.
Toronto and Seattle Kraken Era (2021–Present)
On July 17, 2021, the Penguins traded McCann to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and on July 21, 2021, the Seattle Kraken selected him at the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft. He scored the second goal in Kraken history on opening night against the Vegas Golden Knights. In March 2022, he became the first player in franchise history to sign a contract extension, a five-year deal worth an average annual value of US$5 million, and he capped his first Seattle season with a career-best 27 goals and 50 points while winning the Pete Muldoon Award as team MVP. In 2022–23, he posted 40 goals and 70 points, both career highs and Kraken franchise records, helping Seattle reach the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs. After a 29-goal, 62-point campaign in 2023–24, he notched his 100th Kraken goal in October 2024 and recorded a career-high 39 assists in 2024–25.
Driving Style and Strengths
McCann is a smart, two-way forward whose offensive strengths show up in shot quality and finishing around the net. He thrives on a line with skilled playmakers, as seen during his time alongside Jaden Schwartz and Jordan Eberle, where his goals-per-60 rate spiked to a career high. Coaches have praised his pace, his ability to drive play through the middle of the ice, and his reliability on both the power play and the penalty kill.
Notable Events and Milestones
On January 14, 2023, McCann scored a hat trick in an 8–5 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, helping Seattle set a franchise-record eighth straight victory. He played his 500th NHL game on April 3, 2023, and reached his 300th career point on January 13, 2024, in a 7–4 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. On October 22, 2024, he became the first Kraken player ever to score 100 goals with the franchise.
Jared McCann International Play
McCann represented Canada at several major junior tournaments, winning gold at the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and bronze at the 2014 World U18 Championships. He made his senior debut at the 2019 IIHF World Championship, helping Canada reach the gold medal game before losing to Finland and earning a silver medal, with two goals and three assists in the tournament. Five years later, he returned to the 2024 IIHF World Championship and scored three goals for Canada, which finished fourth after losing the bronze medal game.
Jared McCann Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Jared McCann was raised in Stratford, Ontario, by his parents Erin and Matt McCann, who owned a construction company. He grew up with older siblings Justin, Jaimie, and half-brother Jordan, and his brother Justin was adopted from Guatemala. The Stratford winters shaped his love of outdoor hockey, and he has spoken warmly about his parents’ support throughout his hockey journey.
2025 Season Performance
McCann entered 2025–26 coming off a 22-goal, 39-assist season in 2024–25, his career high in assists and the year he became the first Kraken player to reach 100 franchise goals. The Kraken hoped his playmaking and shot quality would help push them back toward the playoffs. Unfortunately, injuries limited him to 52 games, in which he produced 20 goals and 40 points, his lowest totals since 2020–21.
On April 13, 2026, the team announced McCann would miss the final three games of the season with another injury, ending his year early. Despite the setbacks, he remained a central figure in Seattle’s leadership group and the focal point of its top-six forward lines. Heading into the offseason, the Kraken will look to get McCann fully healthy and re-establish him as a 30-goal, 70-point producer.
