Sources: Kraken’s Norm Maciver will rejoin Blackhawks as Associate GM

Kyle Davidson made a key acquisition for the Chicago Blackhawks’ front office on Wednesday, ahead of navigating his NHL first trade deadline in the general manager’s chair.

Sources tell Daily Faceoff that Norm Maciver is leaving his post as Seattle Kraken director of player personnel to rejoin the Blackhawks as Associate GM.

Maciver will oversee all scouting operations for the Blackhawks and is expected to play a major role in determining Chicago’s next full-time head coach.

The Associate GM title is a step up from Assistant GM, the role Maciver previously held in Chicago for a eight-year run under then-GM Stan Bowman from 2012 until 2019. It was during that time that Maciver and Davidson developed a close working relationship, while Davidson was rising through the organization’s ranks.

Maciver was demoted by Bowman to Vice President of Player Personnel in 2019, leading to his departure to Seattle. He was twice a teammate of Kraken GM Ron Francis during his playing career. Maciver, 57, skated in 501 NHL games, suiting up for the Rangers, Whalers, Oilers, Senators, Penguins, Jets and Coyotes. He is the second Kraken front office member to leave the organization in as many months, joining pro scout Cammi Granato, who became Assistant GM for the Vancouver Canucks.

In all, Maciver spent 14 years with the Blackhawks from 2006 to 2019, helping the Hawks win three Stanley Cups.

Maciver held the title of Director of Player Development during the 2009-10 season, when the Blackhawks were found to have covered up the sexual abuse of first-round pick Kyle Beach suffered at the hands of then-video coach Brad Aldrich so the team could focus on their Stanley Cup run.

Maciver’s name was not mentioned once in the 107-page franchise-shaking findings report and he was not interviewed by Chicago law firm Jenner & Block during the investigation. Bowman resigned on Oct. 26, 2021, as part of the fallout and assistant GM Al MacIsaac was fired. Davidson held the interim GM role from Oct. 26 until emerging as the permanent GM on March 1 after a lengthy search process.

Davidson is expected to continue filling out his front office staff. Former Blackhawk Brian Campbell has held a significant advisory role, which is expected to continue and could be formalized soon.