Before playing in the NHL, Maki played 56 games with the St. Catharines Black Hawks of the OHA and 2 seasons with the St. Louis Braves of the CPHL. He started his NHL career in 1967 with the Chicago Black Hawks where he played with his brother Chico Maki. He played 50 games with the Black Hawks and 62 games with their minor-league affiliate Dallas Black Hawks. Maki was picked up by the St. Louis Blues in 1969.