[1] Maki played his entire National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Chicago Black Hawks, starting in the 1960–61 NHL season, and retiring after the 1975–76 season.

Maki played junior hockey with the St. Catharines Teepees, and was team captain when they won the 1960 Memorial Cup.

[2] He won the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as American Hockey League (AHL) rookie of the year while playing for the Buffalo Bisons in 1961.

Maki became known as a skilled two-way forward, perennially in the league leaders in shorthanded goals, and played in three All-Star Games: in 1961, 1971 and 1972.

[3] He was the older brother of former NHL player Wayne Maki, who died of brain cancer in 1974.