In Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on April 25 in the 2002 playoffs, McLaren injured Richard Zednik of the Montreal Canadiens with an elbow to the face.

[3] In a three-way deal, San Jose traded their 1999 first-round pick Jeff Jillson and goaltender Jeff Hackett, previously acquired from Montreal for Niklas Sundstrom and a third-round pick, to Boston for McLaren and a fourth-round selection in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

During the 2003 season he was struck in the face by a slapshot from Vancouver's Sami Salo and missed 6 games due to his injury.

[4] McLaren received an invitation to attend training camp with the New York Rangers for the 2009–10 season, but did not make the team after failing a physical.

McLaren received another training camp invite by the Atlanta Thrashers for the 2010–11 NHL season on August 24, 2010, but was released on September 22, 2010.