On September 21, 1969, during a preseason game between the Blues and the Boston Bruins, Maki got into a bloody, violent stick-swinging fight with Bruins defenceman "Terrible" Ted Green. As a result of the fight, Maki suffered a fractured skull and a brain injury. Maki was suspended for 30 days and fined. He was later sent down to the AHL to play 39 games with the Buffalo Bisons.