THE FIRST-PAIR APPARENT? TRY MacDONALD
Also: Kirill Petrov traded within the KHL
FanHouse: Why I’m all for the Wade Redden Loophole
10:15 am: No one needed to tell Andrew MacDonald what the long-term injury to Mark Streit meant for him.
“It was pretty much understood among all the D that this would be an opportunity,” said MacDonald, the 24-year-old defenseman who impressed in the second half of last season. “Management added a lot of depth and we have some great young players coming up, so if anything the competition is even more ramped up.”
MacDonald, who averaged 20 minutes of icetime over 46 games last season, could very well be the defenseman counted on the most during Streit’s absence. In a conversation with reporters earlier this week, coach Scott Gordon was asked about players such as Jack Hillen filling the void on the power play. Gordon made a point of bringing MacDonald’s name into the equation.
“I think one player we’ll want to take a look at is Andrew MacDonald,” said Gordon. “Over the last few years in Bridgeport and last season with us, Andrew has shown that he’s capable of handling a lot.”
Sure enough, MacDonald was one of the Islanders’ best players in his squad’s 3-2 loss to the Calgary Flames in Saskatoon on Wednesday. Since Streit went down with a major shoulder injury, MacDonald has been partnered at times with James Wisniewski. As poised off the ice as he is on it, the pride of Judique, Nova Scotia is handling Gordon’s vote of confidence as if it was an oncoming forechecker.
“It’s always nice to hear the good stuff, but I have to prove it on the ice,” said MacDonald, who had a goal and six assists in the NHL last season. “One thing I’ve learned since junior is that when you think too much, when you over-analyze a situation, you put yourself in trouble. Last year, I was pretty much focused at the NHL level on my defense. If the coaches decide to give me more of an offensive role, I would welcome the opportunity.
“The one thing I can pretty much guarantee you is, not one guy is going to replace Mark Streit.”
Notes: Kirill Petrov was traded within the KHL from Ak Bars to Yugra for a fifth round pick in the 2011 KHL draft. Since Ak Bars is a veteran-filled powerhouse and Yugra is not, this could lead to much more icetime for the talented Petrov. For the third straight season, Petrov was hardly playing for Ak Bars.
“This is a fresh start for Kirill,” said his agent, Sasha Tynjynch. “Yugra is a new team and their coach really likes Kirill’s play. I’m thankful Ak Bars did this good thing for us by placing Kirill with a team where he has the chance to get much more icetime. This is good for the Islanders because it is good for Kirill’s development as a hockey player.”
Petrov will play the rest of this season in the KHL. After that, no one knows. Still, this is potentially good news for the Islanders, who hope to have Petrov in North America next season or – at the latest – hopefully in 2012.
Comments.
33 Responses to THE FIRST-PAIR APPARENT? TRY MacDONALD
Also: Kirill Petrov traded within the KHL
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Yashin for President says:
Never heard of this Yugra team. A 5th pick? There must be something going on in the KHL and Petrov might pull a Malkin, who knows.
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Brian says:
Like MacDonald says not one player is going to be able to replace the loss of Streit however, I like the depth our D has going into the season. I think Eaton and Mottau are solid, no thrills type pick ups. Wisniewski should be more. Hopefully MacDonald and Hillen also take another step forward in their development.
Good news on Petrov, can’t be a worse situation then he was in.
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gary9-19-22 says:
Lets hope this young group of guys takes the challenge of losing the two best players om the team (Streit and KO) and turns it into something positive.
Nothing would make all of us Isles fans happier than to root for a team that works hard, compeats and makes a serious push for the playoffs.
These kids have no idea how we can ltterally shake the old barn to its foundation when we have a little playoff success.
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PotvinRocks says:
I really really hope that this means that Petrov gets to the Islanders. I guess if you look at his ice time we’ll know wheather or not they will transfer Petrov. Fingers crossed.
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Vlad from Brooklyn says:
AMac is solid, pregressive, and consistant. All you can ask from the guy in his age.
Petrov for 5th rounder? Is this the reason they did non want to give him up? Weird. At least he’ll play some hockey now. -
the bomber says:
i think we all think too high of petrov (myself included). he just got traded for a 5th round pick in the russian league. Now it could be because they know he wants to bolt, but im assuming its more cause he cant even ,make the top division team of ak bars yet. but he is still 20 and 6’3″ so I’m not giving up hope yet.
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Big Van Vader says:
Question: If the Isles were to somehow get Petrov out of his KHL situation during this NHL season, would he come over and play immediately with the big club or be put into Bridgeport?
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Islander86 says:
I think if he(Petrov) would be any good, Isles would find the way to convice AK BARS to let him transfer to the NHL.
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drive45 says:
I really don’t get the Petrov hype. Is the Ak Bars team so much better than the Islanders that he can’t even crack their lineup? We all seem to expect him to come to the Isles and excel, but he can’t get off the bench in the KHL. What gives? Maybe he isn’t as great as we all think.
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The Isles organization is not allowed to have anything to do with this situation. They cannot buy him out, they cannot make deals with a KHL team regarding Petrov, etc. Its not allowed. CB has explained that, Snow recently explained that in his blog box interview, thats just how it is.
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admin says:
Post is updated with Petrov status and a quote from his agent…CB
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mark p says:
Great news on Petrov….Isles get free development at AHL level (KHL basically AHL level)
When he finally gets here he will be a bit older and stronger……Would 12 goals and 11 minutes of Ice time per game really helped us anyway? When he gets here maybe he will be an impact player.
Andy McDonald is smooth enough for top 4 minutes…..but a ways away from a 50 point D man. Its going to be a long season. -
eric says:
Andy MAC i think can be huge player for the isles, just imagine when he devops his skills to full development. He looked like a veteran in his first year only good things to come for Andy…LETS GO ISLANDERS!!!!!!
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Stumpy32 says:
There is little question that our top 4 are, in order, Wiz, Hillen, AndyMac, and Eaton. I’m for whatever coupling they become comfortable with, but make it happen in preseason and stick with it once the season starts. The best and only way we will even think of replacing Streit is to set strong D-pairs that are comfortable with each other from the start. Mix and match has never worked for us.
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Hishutzi Skorz says:
Maybe Garth can trade a 4th round pick to Yugra for KP!
Seriously, a year of full ice in the KHL will obviously help him and the Isles in their evaluation of him.
If Slumpy’s top 4 D are correct, it will leave us with Mottau & Martinek as 5-6, a marked improvement that even this board’s naysayers should agree with. -
Ari From Long Island says:
You guys don’t understand what the KHL is like. Most of the teams are filled with veterans and they don’t like to test out young players, regardless of the potential that they may have. Ak Bars not letting Petrov play on their big team does not have anything to do with his abilities, absolutely nothing to do with that at all.
Petrov will be worth the long wait.
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Chris R says:
Throw Yugra 3 million dollars and a jar of humis and they’ll release him right now
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UIF says:
Yeah, I was down on Petrov b/c of the numbers as well until I saw him in the WJC last year. Everyone was salivating over Filatov, but they stripped him of the captaincy and gave it to Petrov, who was, imo, the most noticeable player on Russia. Then I started reading about how he gets no ice time with Ak Bars. Not sure if it’s fair to blame a guy for not getting points when he sometimes gets 0 minutes of ice time!
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Brian G says:
this D is pretty bad – bottom 5 in the NHL
Gordon better change his system to the trap and make a team wide mandate to block every shot..to give this team any shot at a playoff spot -
Spartiarti RVC says:
No doubt McDonald Has opportunity and he has really been a pleasant suprise for us. Can you eat up 20 mins and play great defense.yes. Suddently go from 10 pts to 50pts. not likely.
Also who here thinks the isles scrimmage hardest shot was complete HOAX.
how did we from team that had only streit shooting in 90′s at 2008 all start game to a team with 7 or 9 90mph+ shooters and 3 guys that can shoot over a 100. give me a break.
With this trade, yes great for petrov development, but means we wont see him ofr another 2 years. if he anywhere as good we say he is, his new team will keep him.
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Strummer's Army says:
Good news about Petrov. Hopefully MacDonald turns out to be as capable as the Isles hope. Perhaps they could let him and some other upcoming young players have better jersey numbers? Just good marketing. They are always complaining on how much money they lose but if their promising prospects are given good numbers (rather then those prime ones going to scrub players on short term deals) then fans are more likely to purchase a jersey or gear with that number. Fans are going to love Hamonic but a #4,6, or 33 jersey will sell a ton better then a 36.
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19 Isle in NJ 22 says:
This is what I needed after a week of lows on the Isles’ immediate future front. A nice development opportunity for a potential future top 4 d-man, and a potential future top 6 forward. Emphasis on “potential”. Of course they both need to take this opportunity and run with it to capitalize on their chances.
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EAF says:
there are not idiots there in Russia. they have guys like Larionov, Fetisov, Nemchinov, etc running the teams. They would trade for him. i am sure if Petrov was any good he would play for one of the elite clubs in Moscow or St. Petersburg and not for some unknown team in the middle of nowhere
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backstop87 says:
Even if Streit had not been injured our defense would still be below average. We do have good depth at D, but lack a true top pairing. Maybe Wisniewski can step it up and be our man, then next season we’ll have a true top pair (streit/wisniewski) with a respectable defense corp(Macdonald, Eaton, Mottau, Hillen). Defense has been this teams main weakness for several seasons now.
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IronISLANDER77 says:
I think this is bad news with Petrov going to yoda or where ever that is. With the Ak Bars, he was unhappy and wanted out. Now he might be happy and just stay in the KHL for the ice time & $$. I wonder if all the NHL interest was just a ploy to get him out off the Bars…
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Joe SHmoe says:
Okay, you have to wonder. If Ak Bars was willing to let him go for a 5th round pick, why wouldn’t they take Bruno Gervais from us for him? Afterall, the kid can cook! We could have at least offered some cash.
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LMAO @ Joe SHmoe!
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IslanderFAN says:
Not funny
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LMAO with IronIslander77 @ Joe SHmoe
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jamal says:
good news on petrov. now we know if we can come to the isles when his contract is up that he will be more developed than if he were a scratch or 4th liner on kazan
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anthony c says:
At least Petrov will get some well deserved ice time. Still wish he was on the Isles this season, but as long as he can truly develop his skills and improve overall then I’m cool with this.
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Michael says:
Maybe we can make a deal with this new club and get him over here. How much cash do you think it will take?
Andre Mac is one of my favorites on D. I think him and Wiz would make a nice pair and one I would have confidence in. Can’t wait to see what he can do on the PP if given the chance.
Good news about Petrov. Even if he doesn’t come over until his KHL contract ends, at least now it seems like this won’t be a wasted year-plus of development.