AMac may have a low Corsi, but on the jmacthett383 scale, he's at the top:

jmatchett383 Number = (Shots on Target For + Missed Shots For + Blocked Shots Against + 1000 x Names containing "Andrew MacDonald) - (Shots on Target Against + Missed Shots Against + Blocked Shots For + 1000 x Names not containing "Andrew MacDonald)

See, I can make up formulae too.

OK, folks. I did it again, got into an Internet Slapfight about the Flyers. Ridiculous, yeah, I know.

But it's time for some of this Andrew MacDonald Clown Show to be put to rest, because while I do have some concerns about the length of the contract and some aspects of his play, it's really time for some of his ardent critics -- and while I love all of you guys 99.999999 percent of the time, some of you are in this fanbase -- to let up a bit on the advanced stats measuring the guy and, again, take a look at the scoreboard.

Again: I use advanced stats. But I've always said that they're a tool, a snapshot, an indicator. They're not all that a player encompasses, and they're not all that matters.

So. We all know by now that MacDonald's advanced stats are troubling. Fine. Numbers have been crunched. Math has been performed. OK, then.

But there's some more math that can be busted out. Math that should appease at least some of our fanbase until the guy plays a full season with the Flyers, while shutting the hell up trolls from other teams.

What numbers? These: 10-6-3. 23/38. (.605). 99. 2.52.

Anybody want to guess what those are?

10-6-3 is the Flyers' record with Andrew MacDonald in the lineup, for 23 out of a possible 38 points, which is a points percentage of .605. You drop a .605 points percentage for an 82-game season, you wind up with 99 points. The 2.52 is the Flyers' GAA for the 19 games MacDonald played.

More numbers: 32-24-7. 71/126. (.563). 92.

I didn't throw a curveball in there; the breakdowns are the same.
32-24-7 is the Flyers' record WITHOUT Andrew MacDonald in the lineup, for 71 of a possible 126 points. That's a points percentage of .563, which over an 82-game season equates to 92 points.

Now, some disclaimers: Those are just snapshots, really basic stuff, simple math. And clearly, the much larger sample size in this admittedly basic model belongs to the games in which MacDonald did not play, so whatever flaws the Flyers had would have more time to show up.

Again: This basic model is NOT, I repeat NOT, something that I'll be quoting often.

HOWEVER, there is enough there to say a couple of things:

1. The Flyers were clearly able to win games with Andrew MacDonald in the lineup.

2. The Flyers' GAA with MacDonald in the lineup was 2.52.

3. Steve Mason played 13 of the 19 games MacDonald played. In those games, Mason had a GAA of 2.31. Mason's season GAA in 61 games? 2.50.

3. Ray Emery played six of the 19 games MacDonald played. In those games, Emery had a GAA of 2.83. Emery's GAA in 28 games for the season? 2.96.

Again: Those are snapshots in time. It's a team game. The sample size for MacDonald's stretch as a Flyer isn't as big as the one without.

But you know what?

Now, call me crazy, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that maybe, just maybe, Andrew MacDonald, despite his individual metrics, did SOMETHING TO HELP THE FLYERS WIN.

Whether it's eating minutes that Gus and Meszaros couldn't so Timonen and Coburn could rest and be more effective, whatever, you don't have to be Andrew MacDonald's effing agent to see that the guy does SOMETHING VALUABLE FOR THIS TEAM THAT ISN'T IN THE METRICS.

Again. I'm shouting loud enough so those clowns from those two joke franchises that were trolling this afternoon can hear it.

The Flyers have lost Timonen, and that's a big loss. But it's entirely possible that MacDonald, after a full training camp with this team and with the security of a new contract, does whatever the hell he does that helps this team win that isn't showing up in the metrics, at an even higher level.

Everybody on board with that, I hope?
- AllInForFlyers

Saying he played solidly for the Flyers isn't a stretch. He wasn't great, but he wasn't bad. He had a rough patch in the playoffs, but so did pretty much everyone.

My issue is the length of the commitment more than the money. Similar guys got a bit less money and term. Could the Flyers have had him for less? Perhaps, if they waited. The opposite is true as well, maybe somebody makes a ridiculous offer and they can't keep him.

My thing is, is MacDonald a core guy? My feeling is if you're going to pay a guy significant money with a very long term, he better be a core player for you moving ahead. I don't see him as that, and it has nothing to do with his advanced stats. He showed in New York that he struggles as a top pair guy eating a load of minutes against the best players from opposing teams.

So while I'm not a fan of his contract, I certainly hope he does well and lives up to it.

Saying he played solidly for the Flyers isn't a stretch. He wasn't great, but he wasn't bad. He had a rough patch in the playoffs, but so did pretty much everyone.

My issue is the length of the commitment more than the money. Similar guys got a bit less money and term. Could the Flyers have had him for less? Perhaps, if they waited. The opposite is true as well, maybe somebody makes a ridiculous offer and they can't keep him.

My thing is, is MacDonald a core guy? My feeling is if you're going to pay a guy significant money with a very long term, he better be a core player for you moving ahead. I don't see him as that, and it has nothing to do with his advanced stats. He showed in New York that he struggles as a top pair guy eating a load of minutes against the best players from opposing teams.

So while I'm not a fan of his contract, I certainly hope he does well and lives up to it.
- Jsaquella

I think we just gotta let it play out for this season, at least, and see what happens.

He's gonna have to play harder minutes than I would've liked, with Timonen being out. But it's just too damn soon to tell if the guy's gonna screw us over completely -- I mean, seriously. This guy was playing for the freaking Islanders, who had a freaking sieve in the net, with other guys on defense like Matt Effing Carkner.

Now granted, that doesn't mean MacDonald's individual metrics aren't troubling. They are.

But at the same time, it's not like the guy was playing for Scotty Bowman on the 1970s Canadiens, with Larry Robinson as his defense partner. He was playing for Jack Capuano, and the only other guy I'd want off their roster is Travis Hamonic.

I think we just gotta let it play out for this season, at least, and see what happens.

He's gonna have to play harder minutes than I would've liked, with Timonen being out. But it's just too damn soon to tell if the guy's gonna screw us over completely -- I mean, seriously. This guy was playing for the freaking Islanders, who had a freaking sieve in the net, with other guys on defense like Matt Effing Carkner.

Now granted, that doesn't mean MacDonald's individual metrics aren't troubling. They are.

But at the same time, it's not like the guy was playing for Scotty Bowman on the 1970s Canadiens, with Larry Robinson as his defense partner. He was playing for Jack Capuano, and the only other guy I'd want off their roster is Travis Hamonic.
- AllInForFlyers

Hamonic's numbers were bad, too


But yeah, I like Hamonic, too. Based solely on possession, I'd hate Hartnell for Umberger. But there's other factors at work there. There's other factors at work with MacDonald. I don't think he's as bad as the advanced numbers indicate. I just don't think he's much more than a solid guy, right in that 4/5 range with Grossmann and Schenn-although I think he's more skilled than those two.

I'm not trying to poop on the guy, I just don't feel he's worth the contract. If he proves me wrong I'll be the first to admit it and will be happy to do so.

AMac may have a low Corsi, but on the jmacthett383 scale, he's at the top:

jmatchett383 Number = (Shots on Target For + Missed Shots For + Blocked Shots Against + 1000 x Names containing "Andrew MacDonald) - (Shots on Target Against + Missed Shots Against + Blocked Shots For + 1000 x Names not containing "Andrew MacDonald)

See, I can make up formulae too.

We just need the dude to play well, and as always, it's frustrating when the focus gets so tight on a guy that we lose sight of the bottom line.

I can acknowledge that the player's metrics are troubling. But it continues to baffle me how many people just don't grasp that making the playoffs as a team is far more important.

If the Flyers don't make the playoffs, then fine. Let's dissect any and all corpses.

But that's not what happened this year, and MacDonald did something to help with that.

i always want to pronounce it harmonic

hate his actual name

OK, folks. I did it again, got into an Internet Slapfight about the Flyers. Ridiculous, yeah, I know.

But it's time for some of this Andrew MacDonald Clown Show to be put to rest, because while I do have some concerns about the length of the contract and some aspects of his play, it's really time for some of his ardent critics -- and while I love all of you guys 99.999999 percent of the time, some of you are in this fanbase -- to let up a bit on the advanced stats measuring the guy and, again, take a look at the scoreboard.

Again: I use advanced stats. But I've always said that they're a tool, a snapshot, an indicator. They're not all that a player encompasses, and they're not all that matters.

So. We all know by now that MacDonald's advanced stats are troubling. Fine. Numbers have been crunched. Math has been performed. OK, then.

But there's some more math that can be busted out. Math that should appease at least some of our fanbase until the guy plays a full season with the Flyers, while shutting the hell up trolls from other teams.

What numbers? These: 10-6-3. 23/38. (.605). 99. 2.52.

Anybody want to guess what those are?

10-6-3 is the Flyers' record with Andrew MacDonald in the lineup, for 23 out of a possible 38 points, which is a points percentage of .605. You drop a .605 points percentage for an 82-game season, you wind up with 99 points. The 2.52 is the Flyers' GAA for the 19 games MacDonald played.

More numbers: 32-24-7. 71/126. (.563). 92.

I didn't throw a curveball in there; the breakdowns are the same.
32-24-7 is the Flyers' record WITHOUT Andrew MacDonald in the lineup, for 71 of a possible 126 points. That's a points percentage of .563, which over an 82-game season equates to 92 points.

Now, some disclaimers: Those are just snapshots, really basic stuff, simple math. And clearly, the much larger sample size in this admittedly basic model belongs to the games in which MacDonald did not play, so whatever flaws the Flyers had would have more time to show up.

Again: This basic model is NOT, I repeat NOT, something that I'll be quoting often.

HOWEVER, there is enough there to say a couple of things:

1. The Flyers were clearly able to win games with Andrew MacDonald in the lineup.

2. The Flyers' GAA with MacDonald in the lineup was 2.52.

3. Steve Mason played 13 of the 19 games MacDonald played. In those games, Mason had a GAA of 2.31. Mason's season GAA in 61 games? 2.50.

3. Ray Emery played six of the 19 games MacDonald played. In those games, Emery had a GAA of 2.83. Emery's GAA in 28 games for the season? 2.96.

Again: Those are snapshots in time. It's a team game. The sample size for MacDonald's stretch as a Flyer isn't as big as the one without.

But you know what?

Now, call me crazy, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that maybe, just maybe, Andrew MacDonald, despite his individual metrics, did SOMETHING TO HELP THE FLYERS WIN.

Whether it's eating minutes that Gus and Meszaros couldn't so Timonen and Coburn could rest and be more effective, whatever, you don't have to be Andrew MacDonald's effing agent to see that the guy does SOMETHING VALUABLE FOR THIS TEAM THAT ISN'T IN THE METRICS.

Again. I'm shouting loud enough so those clowns from those two joke franchises that were trolling this afternoon can hear it.

The Flyers have lost Timonen, and that's a big loss. But it's entirely possible that MacDonald, after a full training camp with this team and with the security of a new contract, does whatever the hell he does that helps this team win that isn't showing up in the metrics, at an even higher level.

Everybody on board with that, I hope?
- AllInForFlyers

I started to watch Ironman 3 and then I noticed this post. By the time I finished reading this post, the movie was over.

Saying he played solidly for the Flyers isn't a stretch. He wasn't great, but he wasn't bad. He had a rough patch in the playoffs, but so did pretty much everyone.

My issue is the length of the commitment more than the money. Similar guys got a bit less money and term. Could the Flyers have had him for less? Perhaps, if they waited. The opposite is true as well, maybe somebody makes a ridiculous offer and they can't keep him.

My thing is, is MacDonald a core guy? My feeling is if you're going to pay a guy significant money with a very long term, he better be a core player for you moving ahead. I don't see him as that, and it has nothing to do with his advanced stats. He showed in New York that he struggles as a top pair guy eating a load of minutes against the best players from opposing teams.

So while I'm not a fan of his contract, I certainly hope he does well and lives up to it.
- Jsaquella

Just because a fan doesn't see him as a core guy, doesn't mean that he isn't. Obviously the team does see him as a core guy, or they wouldn't have re-signed him to a 5 year deal.

I'll state this as plainly as I can. He is not a top pair defenseman. Not by any measure. I don't believe the Flyers feel he is a top pair defenseman. What he is, is a solid, 2nd pair puck moving defenseman, that is skilled with the puck and solid defensively. And will help the Flyers become a better team.

He is not a difference maker in the model that Timonen and Pronger were. He is not a player that is going to transform the Flyers from a playoff team to a contender. Anyone judging him to that standard is kidding themselves. Not saying that you are.

Furthermore, with the loss of Timonen, they may have to use him more then they really want to, in tougher situations. If the Flyers as a team don't become a better ES and defensive team, some of the Flyers defenseman, including MacDonald, will struggle at times.

It makes zero sense that some fans can't understand that if you take a 2nd pair level defenseman, and play him and use him as you would a first pair defenseman, behind a team that is poor defensively, and is mediocre overall at ES play, and then say, see look at the numbers. He's not that good! It's flat out asinine!

OK, folks. I did it again, got into an Internet Slapfight about the Flyers. Ridiculous, yeah, I know.

But it's time for some of this Andrew MacDonald Clown Show to be put to rest, because while I do have some concerns about the length of the contract and some aspects of his play, it's really time for some of his ardent critics -- and while I love all of you guys 99.999999 percent of the time, some of you are in this fanbase -- to let up a bit on the advanced stats measuring the guy and, again, take a look at the scoreboard.

Again: I use advanced stats. But I've always said that they're a tool, a snapshot, an indicator. They're not all that a player encompasses, and they're not all that matters.

So. We all know by now that MacDonald's advanced stats are troubling. Fine. Numbers have been crunched. Math has been performed. OK, then.

But there's some more math that can be busted out. Math that should appease at least some of our fanbase until the guy plays a full season with the Flyers, while shutting the hell up trolls from other teams.

What numbers? These: 10-6-3. 23/38. (.605). 99. 2.52.

Anybody want to guess what those are?

10-6-3 is the Flyers' record with Andrew MacDonald in the lineup, for 23 out of a possible 38 points, which is a points percentage of .605. You drop a .605 points percentage for an 82-game season, you wind up with 99 points. The 2.52 is the Flyers' GAA for the 19 games MacDonald played.

More numbers: 32-24-7. 71/126. (.563). 92.

I didn't throw a curveball in there; the breakdowns are the same.
32-24-7 is the Flyers' record WITHOUT Andrew MacDonald in the lineup, for 71 of a possible 126 points. That's a points percentage of .563, which over an 82-game season equates to 92 points.

Now, some disclaimers: Those are just snapshots, really basic stuff, simple math. And clearly, the much larger sample size in this admittedly basic model belongs to the games in which MacDonald did not play, so whatever flaws the Flyers had would have more time to show up.

Again: This basic model is NOT, I repeat NOT, something that I'll be quoting often.

HOWEVER, there is enough there to say a couple of things:

1. The Flyers were clearly able to win games with Andrew MacDonald in the lineup.

2. The Flyers' GAA with MacDonald in the lineup was 2.52.

3. Steve Mason played 13 of the 19 games MacDonald played. In those games, Mason had a GAA of 2.31. Mason's season GAA in 61 games? 2.50.

3. Ray Emery played six of the 19 games MacDonald played. In those games, Emery had a GAA of 2.83. Emery's GAA in 28 games for the season? 2.96.

Again: Those are snapshots in time. It's a team game. The sample size for MacDonald's stretch as a Flyer isn't as big as the one without.

But you know what?

Now, call me crazy, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that maybe, just maybe, Andrew MacDonald, despite his individual metrics, did SOMETHING TO HELP THE FLYERS WIN.

Whether it's eating minutes that Gus and Meszaros couldn't so Timonen and Coburn could rest and be more effective, whatever, you don't have to be Andrew MacDonald's effing agent to see that the guy does SOMETHING VALUABLE FOR THIS TEAM THAT ISN'T IN THE METRICS.

Again. I'm shouting loud enough so those clowns from those two joke franchises that were trolling this afternoon can hear it.

The Flyers have lost Timonen, and that's a big loss. But it's entirely possible that MacDonald, after a full training camp with this team and with the security of a new contract, does whatever the hell he does that helps this team win that isn't showing up in the metrics, at an even higher level.

Everybody on board with that, I hope?
- AllInForFlyers

Standing ovation!

i always want to pronounce it harmonic

hate his actual name
- Crimsoninja

He's no Zarley Zalapski

I started to watch Ironman 3 and then I noticed this post. By the time I finished reading this post, the movie was over.
- SuperSchennBros

Well, um, er, um...I'm sorry?

Well, um, er, um...I'm sorry?
- AllInForFlyers

I see your point about Andrew MacDonald and I view him the same. To me he's the Nickolback of the team. I'm not in love with him but he gives me exactly what I need.

i always want to pronounce it harmonic

hate his actual name
- Crimsoninja

travis?

Just because you don't see him as a core guy, doesn't mean that he isn't. Obviously the team does see him as a core guy, or they wouldn't have re-signed him to a 5 year deal.

I'll state this as plainly as I can. He is not a top pair defenseman. Not by any measure. I don't believe the Flyers feel he is a top pair defenseman. What he is, is a solid, 2nd pair puck moving defenseman, that is skilled with the puck and solid defensively. And will help the Flyers become a better team.

He is not a difference maker in the model that Timonen and Pronger were. He is not a player that is going to transform the Flyers from a playoff team to a contender. Anyone judging him to that standard is kidding themselves. Not saying that you are.

Furthermore, with the loss of Timonen, they may have to use him more then they really want to, in tougher situations. If the Flyers as a team don't become a better ES and defensive team, some of the Flyers defenseman, including MacDonald, will struggle at times.

It makes zero sense that some fans can't understand that if you take a 2nd pair level defenseman, and play him and use him as you would a first pair defenseman, behind a team that is poor defensively, and is mediocre overall at ES play, and then say, see look at the numbers. He's not that good! It's flat out asinine!
- MJL

woah nelly so you're saying clarkson is a core guy in toronto

He has an outside chance at a 9-game tryout. But that's it.
- jmatchett383

So your saying there's a chance?

Powe make the roster and Rinaldo be lost on an island.
- ob18

The fight for the right to wear number 36?

I see your point about Andrew MacDonald and I view him the same. To me he's the Nickolback of the team. I'm not in love with him but he gives me exactly what I need.
- SuperSchennBros

- -davies-

- SuperSchennBros

you're on a roll lately

Geez it was Troll-a-palooza in here earlier today

you're on a roll lately
- -davies-

It's nice to have a fan.

SOT last 2 days pls

OK, folks. I did it again, got into an Internet Slapfight about the Flyers. Ridiculous, yeah, I know.

But it's time for some of this Andrew MacDonald Clown Show to be put to rest, because while I do have some concerns about the length of the contract and some aspects of his play, it's really time for some of his ardent critics -- and while I love all of you guys 99.999999 percent of the time, some of you are in this fanbase -- to let up a bit on the advanced stats measuring the guy and, again, take a look at the scoreboard.

Again: I use advanced stats. But I've always said that they're a tool, a snapshot, an indicator. They're not all that a player encompasses, and they're not all that matters.

So. We all know by now that MacDonald's advanced stats are troubling. Fine. Numbers have been crunched. Math has been performed. OK, then.

But there's some more math that can be busted out. Math that should appease at least some of our fanbase until the guy plays a full season with the Flyers, while shutting the hell up trolls from other teams.

What numbers? These: 10-6-3. 23/38. (.605). 99. 2.52.

Anybody want to guess what those are?

10-6-3 is the Flyers' record with Andrew MacDonald in the lineup, for 23 out of a possible 38 points, which is a points percentage of .605. You drop a .605 points percentage for an 82-game season, you wind up with 99 points. The 2.52 is the Flyers' GAA for the 19 games MacDonald played.

More numbers: 32-24-7. 71/126. (.563). 92.

I didn't throw a curveball in there; the breakdowns are the same.
32-24-7 is the Flyers' record WITHOUT Andrew MacDonald in the lineup, for 71 of a possible 126 points. That's a points percentage of .563, which over an 82-game season equates to 92 points.

Now, some disclaimers: Those are just snapshots, really basic stuff, simple math. And clearly, the much larger sample size in this admittedly basic model belongs to the games in which MacDonald did not play, so whatever flaws the Flyers had would have more time to show up.

Again: This basic model is NOT, I repeat NOT, something that I'll be quoting often.

HOWEVER, there is enough there to say a couple of things:

1. The Flyers were clearly able to win games with Andrew MacDonald in the lineup.

2. The Flyers' GAA with MacDonald in the lineup was 2.52.

3. Steve Mason played 13 of the 19 games MacDonald played. In those games, Mason had a GAA of 2.31. Mason's season GAA in 61 games? 2.50.

3. Ray Emery played six of the 19 games MacDonald played. In those games, Emery had a GAA of 2.83. Emery's GAA in 28 games for the season? 2.96.

Again: Those are snapshots in time. It's a team game. The sample size for MacDonald's stretch as a Flyer isn't as big as the one without.

But you know what?

Now, call me crazy, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that maybe, just maybe, Andrew MacDonald, despite his individual metrics, did SOMETHING TO HELP THE FLYERS WIN.

Whether it's eating minutes that Gus and Meszaros couldn't so Timonen and Coburn could rest and be more effective, whatever, you don't have to be Andrew MacDonald's effing agent to see that the guy does SOMETHING VALUABLE FOR THIS TEAM THAT ISN'T IN THE METRICS.

Again. I'm shouting loud enough so those clowns from those two joke franchises that were trolling this afternoon can hear it.

The Flyers have lost Timonen, and that's a big loss. But it's entirely possible that MacDonald, after a full training camp with this team and with the security of a new contract, does whatever the hell he does that helps this team win that isn't showing up in the metrics, at an even higher level.

Everybody on board with that, I hope?
- AllInForFlyers

This is a great post

It's nice to have a fan.
- SuperSchennBros

we all need to feel special sometimes

This is a long post
- JonnyHammerstix

Fixed