ANDREW MacDONALD GETS CONTRACT EXTENSION
Young defenseman rewarded with four-year deal
Off an impressive 38-game stretch this season, Andrew MacDonald has been given a four-year contract. As they did two years ago with a similar deal for Frans Nielsen, the Islanders have identified a young player they believe is worth locking up early with a low-cost, long-term deal. The 23-year-old MacDonald has a goal and four assists in 2009-10. In the last ten games, he averaged more than 24 minutes.
58 Responses to ANDREW MacDONALD GETS CONTRACT EXTENSION
Young defenseman rewarded with four-year deal
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Madchef says:
best contract signing in awhile for the isles. nice to see him be with us for the future
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Bill says:
Smart move & the kid deserves it.
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jimisles says:
Steady and logging tons of minutes.
Good for Andy.
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Kevin says:
Giddyup! Lets hope Andy keeps it up. If he continues to play like we have seen this is a great move!
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Matt S. says:
Smart move by Snow. if i was his agent i don’t think i would have wanted a contract that was so long. 4 years is a long time and he looks like he will be even better in 2 years. the islanders will probably have a real Cheap 4th D-Man in 2013 an 2014.
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Jerky says:
I like this signing – he’s been a very pleasant surprise.
CB – is this a one-way contract or will they have the option of sending him down to work out any issues if he runs into the sophomore jinx?
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Islesfan in Vancouver says:
he’s been playing top two minutes for a while now and definitely shown he can play. One of our better young players and I’m excited he’ll stick with the Isles for another four years.
Now we just need a replacement for Bruno. quickly.
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Chris A says:
Good stuff looking forward to see him become a big name
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The new isles gm says:
Another smart move by Garth. The real test starts monday morning….
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C.J. says:
Good signing.
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Eastonhockey says:
Perfect player for isles…good but not great…those players cost to much $$$
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Spartiarti-RVC says:
great signing. long term and cheap. he will be great 5-6 dman for us.
He should work on his slap shot and how to be more physical and he could be top 4 dman.
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Danbury Islanders Fan says:
I like the move and I hope Jack Hillen is the next to get a contract.
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steve says:
Excellent news.
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jva says:
Who would have thought in the beginning of the season he would be as solid a defenseman as he is. Nice to see we do have some talent in Bridgeport.
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Les Beaver says:
Welcomed news. Andy Mac has been solid back there and he’s only 22. I just hope his deal is better than Franz’s was. Nielson deserves a big, fat raise at the end of next season. Garth is savy, gotta give him that.
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Jzimm says:
Good move by both sides. A little security for all involved.
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NYICHAMP39 says:
great move. But after this signing, the probable signing of jack hillen, and the departure of Sutton our D is averaging around 6 feet. NOT good. If they dont sign or acquire some size our D is going to get tossed around next year especially in front of a hopefully healthy rick dipietro.
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Great young kid. I look forward to seeing him play for the Isles for years to come
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boss15 says:
I like this move, worst case he is a 3rd pairing for real cheap. If they trade Sutton for a 1st rounder they should be able to pick up Dylan McIlrath. He can replace the toughness of Sutton and then some, but probably not before at least a year of AHL.
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I feel like Garth has a “can’t judge my moves now” type of security blanket. I think a move like this though, will definitely help with that “Ah Ha, Garth is a genius!” type of moment.. at least I hope so. Go Isles.
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neologizer says:
Interesting that of all the RFAs MacDonald is the first resign with a 4year. what’s Garth gonna do with the other RFAs Shremp, Moulson, Bergy and Tamby…. long short or in between?
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Smokey a.k.a. Botta is God says:
#25 neologizer:
My predictions… Schremp gets 2 years, Moulson gets 4, Bergenheim gets 3, Tamby gets cut loose. All of them at pretty low-end prices. The only one who might go much over $1 million per year is Moulson.
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SneakyPete77 says:
Well deserved. Hillen and MacDonald have really saved this team on defense this year. Hope Capuano and his staff in Bridgeport can mold a few more youngsters for the big club. They did an A+ job of developing this kid. Reminds me of what the Devils have been doing for years.
Now, trade Rolie and Sutton to the highest bidder and get us some more young talent.
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JKP in Halifax says:
Nova Scotia extends our congratulations and pride in our boy from Judique! Great stuff!
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Steve says:
Love this move!
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cusi says:
Congrats and a great move by all.
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Strummer's Army says:
Happy for Andy. I love seeing anyone grab financial success.
I’m not sure he is part of the young core moving forward as Snow indicated but I’m sure it’s a fair contract so if he is then he’s locked in at a fair price and if not easily moved.
He’s solid but not overly physical. Hillen, De Haan and Striet also aren’t physical. If those 4 are your core it’s not a physical enough team, even with Hamonic and someone else. Defense has to be bigger, more talented, and more physical.
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nystrom23 says:
Love the move…great signing and this guy has definetely turned out to be a steal..keep developing A-Mac…be happy to see u the next few years
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Tom says:
Who says Charles B. Wang has no money?
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Jeff says:
Too bad he only had 38 games to impress. Had he had the full 62 games, he might have received a 15-year deal.
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Jim Clark says: Four years? Isn’t that a bit long for someone without a substantial body of work?
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Irish Isle says:
Should proivide some nice defensive depth, as some of our other prospects with higher ceilings gain experience.
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Billy-no-not-Jaffe says:
It has been a short audition in length of games, but AMac has been playing big minutes in all situations and has been found to have the abilities of a solid middle pairing NHL defender. If that turns out to be a head fake, the worst he drops to is a regular, but reliable bottom pairing everyday player. Can’t fault the signing, as AMac was intended to be no more than an injury replacement this year, and an uncertain future.
He has shown composure, intelligent play, can handle the physical, and is mobile enough to join the offense.
He can still develop or at worse consolidate his skills.
A small but important part is signed for 4 more years at small cap hit. -
Alex says:
Great signing. Cheap on the payroll for a potential top 4 D-Man. Next up, sign Jack Hillen.
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4theisles says:
It’s going to be an interesting week or so. This is an area where Snow excells.
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Cary says:
I’m happy with the MacDonald signing but I don’t want the expectations to get too high for him too soon.
Streit, Hillen, Martinek, MacDonald, Gervais, and Kohn is a very bad defense corps for next year.
I would hope Kohn starts the year in the Bridge and that Gervais goes buh-bye in favor of 1 vet and 1 young kid both with snarl.
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GE of GN says:
I don’t think you can deny this was a good move by Snow. AMac just needs to work on developing that slapshot from the point. God knows we need to get some kind of firepower on the power play next year.
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islesfan999 says:
A-Mac is going to be a #3 or 4 dmen in this league. He reminds me alot of Tom Poti.
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Frank nyc says:
Another SMART moe by the Garth. Amac is a good young player that will continue to grow in the system. He is good now and eats minutes. In a couple yrs he has def. top 4 potential.
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Nice move by Snow. MacDonald(+3 plus minus) deserves to finish in the Top 10 in Calder Trophy Voting. The Nielson contract extension was also a brilliant move. I think w/ this Signing we can say we have a very good Core of 5 Young D’ that we are rebuilding around. “THE FAB FIVE” A-Mac(23 yrs old), Hillen(24 yrs), Hamonic(19 yrs), DeHaan(18 yrs), Donavan(19 yrs)…
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Brian G says:
Now all we need is a #2 & #3 Defenseman for next year:
1.Streit 2. ?
3. ? 4.Martinek?
5.Hillen 6.MacDonald
7.Gervais -
Devon says:
Good signing.
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JoG/A's #1 Fan from Judique says:
Great News – Islanders will not be disappointed with this signing. A Mac is a force to be reckon with and has alot of talent yet to be seen. Thumbs up to Ted Nolan for seeing the talent and potential in this humble young man.
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Potvin5 says:
Nice move by Garth. Congrats Andy! IMO Andy has been the #2 pleasant surprise of the season after Hillen. I guess Moulson would have to be a close 2a. I only hope that this wonderful start to Andy’s NHL career continues on an upward plane and is not some aberration.
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Eric says:
Yea I dont think Macdonald is an aberration. The kid is a good skater. Hopefully he is a top 4 defensemen.
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19 Isle in NJ 22 says:
Congrats A-Mac!!
He’s what I call a steady reliable D-man … I’m happy about this.
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big dally mac says:
I think this deal may mean Bruno Gerais might be on the move come trade deadline day. He could be the pot sweetner for a team wanting inexpensive, cheap, young blue line depth that Bruno sometimes can masscarade himself as. We’ll see, I just have a feeling.
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Oh also forgot a good Cape Breton boy too! Go Cape Breton Islanders.
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TimQ says:
This is how you rebuild. Identify the talent and retain it. Good job all around.
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Mike P says:
31- Streit plays with some edge to his game, he is not a punishing physical D-man but he is not soft either. Hillen and Macdonald aren’t really soft either, they rub their man out and play good positionally and can both really skate. I think Hamonic will eventually be a guy who will be our mean physical D-man and they could go outside organization to find another.
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Brian in VA says:
Its a good signing but Geez judging from the comments its like Garth just extended Bobby Orr! Relax its Andy MacDonald a decent defenseman…. We are not talking Scott Stevens…
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MickeyBoy7 says:
Geez…reading these reviews I guess it’s time to name Snow the executive of the year. Everybody LOVES the signing. Well I don’t. I don’t want to say that The kid is not doing well. But what is with the Isles and ridiculously long contracts? Remember Yashin? Remember DiPietro? Look…I think the kid is a nice player and may even become worth the deal he got. But why tie him up so long, so fast? This is not Civil Service. Let these guys play like their life is on the line. I’m afraid this is just an attempt by our beloved organization to get a bargain. After all that’s what it seems to be all about. Keep the payroll at the minimum. If that were the criteria for winning a cup we’d be a dynasty again. Way to go Garth!!!
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YabbaDabbaDooDoo says:
Snow/Gordon/Wang braintrust is the most brilliant in the League!
10 years of undeniable success, and counting!
Ah… only in the “Country”.
I think he owes Ted Nolan a cut.