The Philadelphia Flyers have announced a new multi-year contract extension with defenceman Andrew MacDonald. The Flyers acquired MacDonald from the New York Islanders at the NHL trade deadline in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, a 2015 second-round pick and minor-league forward Matt Mangene. He was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st.
According to reports, the deal is for six-years and $30 million (aav $5 million). In terms of structure the deal is backloaded with Andrew MacDonald getting $4.25 million next year, with escalating values over the following five seasons of $4.5 million, $4.75 million, $5.25 million, $5.5 million, and $5.75 million.
“We kind of hashed it out a couple different ways,” MacDonald said. “Ended up finishing on six [years], and I felt like a good, long-term commitment was great for me and they agreed with it. Obviously it’s a big commitment for them, a big commitment for me. It’s a good deal.”
“Before I got traded here I identified this as a place I’d like to look into if I did go to free agency,” he said. “It’s been great in that sense, got to check everything out before and was really happy with everything.”
The 27-year-old MacDonald led the NHL in blocked shots this year with 242. In 82 games split between the Flyers and the Islanders he scored four goals and 24 assists for 28 points this season. He has 17 goals and 96 assists for 113 career points in 314 NHL games in his career.
He is averaging 21:59 in ice time per game since joining the Flyers. Down a bit from the over 25 minutes a game he played with the Islanders. He has four assists in his 19 games with the Flyers.
“I think scaling back the minutes allowed me to be a little bit more efficient and effective out there,” he said. “… Coming into a new situation you try to ease your way in and try to find your way. I think with the controlled minutes the first little bit it obviously helped me get acclimated, learn the systems and personnel. That’s obviously important. I think it’s really helped.”
MacDonald was originally the Islanders 6th round draft choice, 160th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
The Flyers will face the New York Rangers in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Its a big raise for MacDonald who is making just $575,000 this year, in the final year of a four-year $2.2 million deal (aav $550,000).
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