The Colorado Avalanche have signed defenceman Jacob MacDonald to a two-year contract extension. The deal will carry the 27-year-old through 2021-22. He was originally going to be a free agent after this season but Colorado wanted to secure one of its depth blueliners. The team announced the move early Friday afternoon.
Jacob MacDonald has been signed to a two-year contract.#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/Gzl4GkiHgw
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 27, 2020
Avalanche Extend Jacob MacDonald
MacDonald was never drafted but did appear briefly in 2018-19 with the Florida Panthers. The 6’0″ defender played in two games last season with one assist, one hit and one block. He was much better with Springfield in the AHL. MacDonald had 14 goals and 43 points in 72 games in the lower level.
The Avalanche acquired MacDonald over the summer in exchange for forward Dominic Toninato. MacDonald was having a good season in the AHL but did not appear in the NHL before all hockey operations were suspended. He had 16 goals and 42 points in 56 games. MacDonald doesn’t have an extensive record of high-level success but might be an average penalty killer who can score an occasional point.
What This Means for Colorado
The Avalanche continue to secure more depth for the future when hockey resumes. The organization signed T.J. Tynan to an extension yesterday in a similar move. They will likely continue to sign extra depth through the spring and summer as insurance against the uncertainty surrounding the game.
MacDonald might not ever be a contributor at the NHL level. However, the Avs might consider him as a seventh defender while he plays his new contract out. The team will likely let at least two defenders walk away in free agency this summer. One or two more could end up as trade pieces to clear space for prospects like Bowen Byram. MacDonald has shown he can succeed at the minor league level. He just needs an opening to carve out a role at the top-tier of play.
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