MacDonald is not a 3rd pair defenseman. That seems to be an invention here on Hockeybuzz. He is a top 4 NHL defenseman in this league, and has been for a number of years.
- MJL

He needs to come back and have a better year. His head was up his ass for most of the year. The amount of times he flubbed the puck was ridiculous. That being said yes with the right partner he's a solid 4

I can't recall one. If he was a racehorse, he'd be running sideways, dragging his jockey on the ground behind him out of the gate.
- Jsaquella

If he was a racehorse, after this weekend, he would have been shot.

If he was a racehorse, after this weekend, he would have been shot.
- BiggE

- Jsaquella

- MBFlyerfan

a man does not post one of the many face on the interweb

If Andrew MacDonald is a top 4 defenseman, than answer this. Would he have been in the top 4 in Chicago, Tampa, Anaheim or NY Rangers?

Yeah, didn't think so. Sure, he's a top 4 guy on a lousy to average D corps. He's not a top 4 guy on a good team.

Feel free to disagree. You'll still be wrong.


- BiggE

A top 4 is top 4. There's a lot of top 4 defenseman in this league, that might not make it in the top 4 on the treams you named. MacDonald is a bona fide top 4 NHL defenseman in this league, and he can be a top 4 on a good team, because he's a good player.

Feel free to disagree. You'll still be wrong

He needs to come back and have a better year. His head was up his ass for most of the year. The amount of times he flubbed the puck was ridiculous. That being said yes with the right partner he's a solid 4
- Just5

The Bruins might give the Flyers a good return to replace Dougie Hamilton's minutes. I think the Flyers should explore that option. He's even a few thousand less a year than they wanted to pay Doug. Win/Win.

He needs to come back and have a better year. His head was up his ass for most of the year. The amount of times he flubbed the puck was ridiculous. That being said yes with the right partner he's a solid 4
- Just5

I disagree that he "flubbed" the puck a ridiculous amount of times. Look at his giveaway totals. MacDonald played solidly defensively the majority of the season. He needs to improve his involvement offensively and become more of a factor there. Stop trying to play like a shut down defender, which he is not, and play more like a 2 way puck mover, which is what he is.

The Bruins might give the Flyers a good return to replace Dougie Hamilton's minutes. I think the Flyers should explore that option. He's even a few thousand less a year than they wanted to pay Doug. Win/Win.
- Flyers_01

Hurry up and get it done before Sweeney gets fired

Welp, have a good day fellas. If the Andrew MacDonald Defense team is going to spout off nonstop, it's time to go fishing or cut the grass....

I disagree that he "flubbed" the puck a ridiculous amount of times. Look at his giveaway totals. MacDonald played solidly defensively the majority of the season. He needs to improve his involvement offensively and become more of a factor there. Stop trying to play like a shut down defender, which he is not, and play more like a 2 way puck mover, which is what he is.
- MJL

Unfortunately, with this D group, he has to play minutes and a role (shutdown) that he isn't suited for.
He is Matt Carle (needs Pronger) or Coburn (needs healthy Kimo) to really play the correct part.

there should be a demand for Luke Schenn

there should be a demand for Luke Schenn
- vejim

at 3.5 million/yr or at 500k/yr?

there should be a demand for Luke Schenn
- vejim

if only

I don't know how Luke Schenn is getting moved into part of the cap issue. One more year at 3.6 and will probably get less than that afterward. He is still a solid if unspectacular dman which is why I think the Flyers should keep him.

Unfortunately, with this D group, he has to play minutes and a role (shutdown) that he isn't suited for.
He is Matt Carle (needs Pronger) or Coburn (needs healthy Kimo) to really play the correct part.
- nails

Matt Carle didn't need Pronger, his production and numbers with the Flyers were actually better without Pronger than with him. Carle needing Pronger was a myth. Carle plays a top 4 role on a team that just went to the Cup finals. Coburn was asked to be this team's top defenseman without Timonen.
I think MacDonald's struggles in generating more offense had more to do with what has happened with him in the past, then the role he had with the Flyers to this point. One of the reasons Berube scratched him was that he wanted him to be more aggressive offensively, and use his skating more. MacDonald has to be remolded from a shutdown style, to a puck moving 2 way style, which is better suited to his abilities.

Nope. They really (frank)ed it up. On both ends. Apparently they had a better offer form Chiarelli, but didn't want to "help" his team out. Moronic and petty, and it seems as if the Jacobs family is re-asserting their power. This kind of childish, cut off our nose to spite your face crap was very prevalent during the 1990's for the B's.

They traded a huge value asset-a 22 year old, top pair, all situations stud defenseman for a mediocre return and then used the picks on three guys that were widely seen as reaches.
- Jsaquella

it's so awesome

it's so awesome
- -davies-

Frankly, that would be a ridiculous thought process on his part because there is no way he is getting that deal. It would be a defacto retirement for him. Do you think he is ready to retire?
- MBFlyerfan

I have no idea if he's "ready" to retire. I'll say this, though...I'll guess that both he and his agent know exactly what kind of interest is out there for his services. I'll further guess that there isn't much, and what little there is probably doesn't include much salary. So his question becomes this...do I give up multiple millions from Philly to play for $1-2m somewhere (where I might not even be happy playing and if I'm really not NHL caliber anymore I may end up in their press box), or do I stick it out in Philly and hope for the opportunity to play?