Dan Petriw: Under Pressure: The Islanders D-Man with the most to prove this season

Hadn't thought about AMac on the offensive side of the ice, good read. I still think he gets pushed aside this season at some point

We need a true offensive d man. Hopefully Lubo is that guy but I don't think hes as offensive as he used to be. Maybe Donovan can step up?

We need a true offensive d man. Hopefully Lubo is that guy but I don't think hes as offensive as he used to be. Maybe Donovan can step up?
- mighty13duck

Lubo is the clear number one....I think Macdonald has 30 points in him and we need to find that out. Donovan has off the charts offensive ability I just don't think we can count on him to put up 30 plus points in his rookie season

Lubo is the clear number one....I think Macdonald has 30 points in him and we need to find that out. Donovan has off the charts offensive ability I just don't think we can count on him to put up 30 plus points in his rookie season
- Dan Petriw

A-Mac is a really good guy, and he has shown flashes of being a very good D-men. But if he doesn't show more then just flashes he will slide down that depth chart really fast... we have 2 guys that will be fighting for 1 spot in camp and then next year we could have as many as 3 guys ready to fight for spots. I hope A-Mac plays his heart out this year... Id really like to see him "make it", but if he doesn't thankfully there is now talent behind him worthy of the chance.

XxNYIxX

A-Mac is a really good guy, and he has shown flashes of being a very good D-men. But if he doesn't show more then just flashes he will slide down that depth chart really fast... we have 2 guys that will be fighting for 1 spot in camp and then next year we could have as many as 3 guys ready to fight for spots. I hope A-Mac plays his heart out this year... Id really like to see him "make it", but if he doesn't thankfully there is now talent behind him worthy of the chance.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

great post this is dead on...we need to see more than flashes

Dan Petriw: Under Pressure: The Islanders D-Man with the most to prove this season
- Dan Petriw

MacDonald is a third pairing Dman. Don't hate him just think he doesn't have any buisness being on the first 2 pairings and logging the minutes he does.

great post this is dead on...we need to see more than flashes
- Dan Petriw

I don't think there's enough "flashes" to even humor the idea of him being a legit 2nd pairing Dman let alone 1st pairing.

MacDonald is a third pairing Dman. Don't hate him just think he doesn't have any buisness being on the first 2 pairings and logging the minutes he does.
- Cptmjl

I mostly agree.

I feel as though MacDonald is a 4-5 guy. He's solid enough defensively to play in the top 4 and not look too out of place but if he was on the third pair he'd look great. He's got good skill and positioning and a very active stick in the defensive zone which helps to overlook his lack of physicality. I know not every defenseman needs to be super physical but it does help. He does show some offensive skill but he definitely needs to hit the net more. Honestly, I think we as Islander fans sometimes feel he's better than he is due to our pretty aweful defense we've had for many years now. He's definitely a solid nhler but he shouldn't be playing as many minutes as he is.

MacDonald is a third pairing Dman. Don't hate him just think he doesn't have any buisness being on the first 2 pairings and logging the minutes he does.
- Cptmjl

Agreed, he has been serviceable the past few seasons but with the prospects like Pedan, Mayfield, Reinhart, DeHaan, Donnovan all fighting for a spot (some this season and almost all next season) I don't think it would be too crazy to say good bye to him next season. Unless of course he wants to sign a deal that makes me a 6/7 d-man that spends most nights in the press box with Carkner.

Great kid from a small town in Nova Scotia. The Maritimers have heart. He grew up not far from Al McInnis.

Haha not to go back to the last blog, but how is the 3 (would have been 4) time 30-goal scorer the Islanders forward with the most to prove over forwards who literally haven't proven themselves?

I think McDonald gets 4-5 years around $3.5m to $4m.

In a few years we'll be looking at:

Hamonic - Pulock -- shutdown & offensively aware
Reinhart - MacDonald -- pure shutdown
deHaan - Donovan - shutdown & offensively aware

Plus we really don't even know what Pedan, Pelech, Mayfield, etc. may turn into.

All I know is we WILL have stellar defense by the 2015 season.

EDIT: Reinhart & Pulock give me a Suter & Weber feel. One is in control of the offense and the other plays an exceptional 2 way game.

I think McDonald gets 4-5 years around $3.5m to $4m.

In a few years we'll be looking at:

Hamonic - Pulock -- shutdown & offensively aware
Reinhart - MacDonald -- pure shutdown
deHaan - Donovan - shutdown & offensively aware

Plus we really don't even know what Pedan, Pelech, Mayfield, etc. may turn into.

All I know is we WILL have stellar defense by the 2015 season.

EDIT: Reinhart & Pulock give me a Suter & Weber feel. One is in control of the offense and the other plays an exceptional 2 way game.
- kcNYI

This team is rounding into something special, for years, if they can keep them togehter

A-Mac. Very interesting case going forward. No doubt, a bargain at $660+K per year, but he's not a top pair talent, even if the Isles play him as such.

A-Mac could be another Moulson situation. The market is going to drive A-Mac's price way up, proabably to a number the Isles aren't going to be comfortable paying. He could be a trade chip at the deadline if the Isles are out of it, but I don't see that being the case.

I don't think there's enough "flashes" to even humor the idea of him being a legit 2nd pairing Dman let alone 1st pairing.
- Cptmjl

Problem is, he is played like a top pair guy with the match-ups he is given. I agree that he's a #5 d-man on a good team. I would love him to re-sign. But I also know #5 d-men are getting $5M per year offers in the open market, which A-Mac clearly isn't worth.

I think McDonald gets 4-5 years around $3.5m to $4m.

In a few years we'll be looking at:

Hamonic - Pulock -- shutdown & offensively aware
Reinhart - MacDonald -- pure shutdowndeHaan - Donovan - shutdown & offensively aware

Plus we really don't even know what Pedan, Pelech, Mayfield, etc. may turn into.

All I know is we WILL have stellar defense by the 2015 season.

EDIT: Reinhart & Pulock give me a Suter & Weber feel. One is in control of the offense and the other plays an exceptional 2 way game.
- kcNYI

MacDonald should not be referred to as a shut down Dman. Unless you have an askewed view of what one should be. He gets outmuscled in front of his own net on a consistent basis, he has zero physical aspect to his game, and the one area he needs to be strong in which is his positional play due to his lack of physicality he isn't. He's just not that good. If he's on our second pairing in 5 years I'd have a hard time calling our defense stellar in any way unless he shows drastic improvement in his game.

MacDonald should not be referred to as a shut down Dman. Unless you have an askewed view of what one should be. He gets outmuscled in front of his own net on a consistent basis, he has zero physical aspect to his game, and the one area he needs to be strong in which is his positional play due to his lack of physicality he isn't. He's just not that good. If he's on our second pairing in 5 years I'd have a hard time calling our defense stellar in any way unless he shows drastic improvement in his game.
- Cptmjl

LOL

Problem is, he is played like a top pair guy with the match-ups he is given. I agree that he's a #5 d-man on a good team. I would love him to re-sign. But I also know #5 d-men are getting $5M per year offers in the open market, which A-Mac clearly isn't worth.
- Jethro09

He is being misused for sure. I would like him in a more limited role like you said. I just don't see the point in extending this guy for long term at an inflated salary like you also stated? It makes no sense. Dmen with his skill set are not terribly hard to find contrary to what a lot of Isles fans think. He gets the time he does and the assignments he does for two reasons. One being Jack Capuano, I don't think I need to explain that further? The second is we just don't have quality Dmen in our lineup yet. Hopefully that'll change with some of our prospect depth but for now we are thin on the blue line to the point that some fans think MacDonald is a legit 2nd pairing Dman and a laughable 1st pairing. He would have a hard time breaking into some other teams line ups let alone 1st pairing. I'd like him as a 5/6 at 3 million per for 2 more years. That's my final offer

LOL
- kcNYI

What's so funny?

LOL
- kcNYI

Oh boy

Oh boy
- Vukota

Interested to know what part of my post wasn't accurate and where it became funny?

What's so funny?
- Cptmjl

"MacDonald should not be referred to as a shut down Dman. Unless you have an askewed view of what one should be. He gets outmuscled in front of his own net on a consistent basis, he has zero physical aspect to his game, and the one area he needs to be strong in which is his positional play due to his lack of physicality he isn't. He's just not that good. If he's on our second pairing in 5 years I'd have a hard time calling our defense stellar in any way unless he shows drastic improvement in his game. "

Interested to know what part of my post wasn't accurate and where it became funny?
- Cptmjl

I thought it was pretty much dead on

I think McDonald gets 4-5 years around $3.5m to $4m.

In a few years we'll be looking at:

Hamonic - Pulock -- shutdown & offensively aware
Reinhart - MacDonald -- pure shutdown
deHaan - Donovan - shutdown & offensively aware

Plus we really don't even know what Pedan, Pelech, Mayfield, etc. may turn into.

All I know is we WILL have stellar defense by the 2015 season.

EDIT: Reinhart & Pulock give me a Suter & Weber feel. One is in control of the offense and the other plays an exceptional 2 way game.
- kcNYI

I just don't see the benefit he would serve when we have bigger and more physical guys coming up. He is an undersized "shutdown" dman that doesn't hit. I would rather have Pedan, Pelech or Mayfield...someone that actually can move a big guy out of the front of the net!!