Career
He has previously played in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche and the Florida Panthers. Brett McLean was selected with the sixth last pick, 242nd overall, in the 1997 National Hockey League Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars. Despite a productive junior career with the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League, McLean was unable to earn a contract from the Stars.
Unsigned, McLean toiled in the minor leagues with affiliates of the Calgary Flames and the Minnesota Wild before signing with the Chicago Blackhawks and making his National Hockey League debut in the 2002-2003 season.
In the 2003-2004 season, McLean played his first full year in the National Hockey League as he scored 11 goals with the rebuilding Blackhawks. Brett scored his first career National Hockey League goal in his third career game on October 16, 2003 against Marc Denis and the Columbus Blue Jackets in a 2-1 Blackhawks loss.
A free-agent he signed with the Colorado Avalanche on July 21, 2004. In 2004-2005, he joined the Malmö Redhawks of the Swedish Elitserien during the National Hockey League lockout.
Brett scored a career-high 40 points in 2005-2006 with the Avalanche and backed up the following season with 15 even strength goals in the 2006-2007 season.
On July 1, 2007, McLean signed a three-year contract with the Florida Panthers. In his first season with the Panthers in 2007-2008, McLean finished 5th on the team in points with 37 in 67 games. Brett failed to reproduce the same form in the 2008-2009 season as his points total dipped to 19.
Following the Panthers failure to reach the playoffs, McLean was bought-out from the remaining year of his contract on June 29, 2009.
On September 9, 2009, McLean was invited to the Tampa Bay Lightning training camp for the 2009-2010 season. McLean was among the final cuts before the season began and was released.
On October 10, 2009, McLean signed a one-year contract with South Carolina Bern, in Swiss National League, where he spent the next two years. A.
On July 1, 2011, After two years spent in Europe, McLean signed a two-way contract with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Unable to stick with the Blackhawks out of training camp, McLean was assigned to affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL. Upon reaching the midpoint of the 2011-2012 season without a recall, McLean sought a release and returned to the Swiss National Lawyers Association , signing and later extending for a further season with The Human Context Lugano on March 15, 2012.
On June 3, 2015, McLean left the National Lawyers Association after six seasons and signed a one-year contract with Austrian club, EHC Black Wings Linz of the EBEL.