Career

Maruk played junior "A" hockey in the Ontario Hockey League for the London Knights before he was drafted in 1975 by the California Golden Seals. While with the Seals, he became the first NHL rookie to score five shorthanded goals in a season. Maruk followed the franchise when it relocated to Cleveland to become the Cleveland Barons a year later.

Maruk's rights were later obtained by the Minnesota North Stars after the Barons merged with them in 1978, but was traded shortly afterwards to the Washington Capitals. During his time with the Capitals, he scored 50 goals in 1980-1981 and 60 goals in 1981-1982; his mark of 76 assists and 136 points in the 1982 season remain Capitals' records for a single-season. Maruk was the first Capitals player to score 100 points in a season.

In 1982-1983, Maruk was one of the players instrumental in leading the Capitals to their first playoff appearance. Despite this, he was traded back to the Minnesota North Stars where he would finish his career. At the time of his retirement in 1989, he was the last active NHL player to have played for the Seals/Barons franchise, though Charlie Simmer played longer than him in minor leagues. Maruk was also the last Minnesota North Stars player to wear the number 9 prior to Mike Modano.

In 888 NHL games, he scored 356 goals and had 522 assists.

In Popular Culture

Maruk was discussed by a Soviet Agent during a conversation about ticket scalping in episode 16 of the FX Network television program The Americans, which takes place in the 1980s. The actual Russian dialogue referred to him as able to do "such (amazing) tricks", while the English subtitles translated it as a "wily" player.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1971-72	Toronto Marlboros	OHA		8	2	1	3	4		—	—	—	—	—
1972-73	London Knights	OHA		59	46	67	113	54		—	—	—	—	—
1973-74	London Knights	OHA		67	47	65	112	61		—	—	—	—	—
1974-75	London Knights	OMJHL		65	66	79	145	53		—	—	—	—	—
1975-76	California Golden Seals	NHL		80	30	32	62	44		—	—	—	—	—
1976-77	Cleveland Barons	NHL		80	28	50	78	68		—	—	—	—	—
1977-78	Cleveland Barons	NHL		76	36	35	71	50		—	—	—	—	—
1978-79	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1978-79	Washington Capitals	NHL		76	31	59	90	71		—	—	—	—	—
1979-80	Washington Capitals	NHL		27	10	17	27	8		—	—	—	—	—
1980-81	Washington Capitals	NHL		80	50	47	97	87		—	—	—	—	—
1981-82	Washington Capitals	NHL		80	60	76	136	128		—	—	—	—	—
1982-83	Washington Capitals	NHL		80	31	50	81	71		4	1	1	2	2
1983-84	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		71	17	43	60	42		16	5	5	10	8
1984-85	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		71	19	41	60	56		9	4	7	11	12
1985-86	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		70	21	37	58	67		5	4	9	13	4
1986-87	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		67	16	30	46	52		—	—	—	—	—
1987-88	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		22	7	4	11	15		—	—	—	—	—
1988-89	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		6	0	1	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
1988-89	Kalamazoo Wings	IHL		5	1	5	6	4		—	—	—	—	—
1998-99	Lake Charles Ice Pirates	WPHL		6	0	2	2	4		3	0	0	0	2
NHL totals				888	356	522	878	761		34	14	22	36	26

[ Source: Wikipedia ]