On December 5, 1950 Max Quackenbush joined the Boston Briuns on loan from the Indianapolis Capitals of the American Hockey League (AHL), Detroit's minor league affiliate. The Red Wings sent Quackenbush to the Bruins for the loan of Steve Kraftchek to Indianapolis. Boston General Manager Art Ross's move allowed Max to realize his dream of playing in the NHL with brother Bill. Max would play 47 games that season, registering four goals and six assists.
Detroit traded Max the following season to Chicago for Doug McCraig, this after starting the year with the AHL's St. Louis Flyers. Quackenbush would play his final NHL games that year. In 14 games with the Blackhawks, during the 1951-52 season, he would be credited with one assist.
Quackenbush spent the next three seasons of his professional career with the Western Hockey League's Calgary Stampeders. He would be claimed by Chicago in 1954 in the Inter-League Draft but he did not see any action with the Blackhawks. Chicago would then trade him to Montreal on July 3, 1955 only to have the transaction nullified when Quackenbush announced his retirement July 15, 1955.
