I dont hate the deal. I feel like they could have shopped around a bit though. I doubt any team was going to match that offer. It's not like they saved a bunch by locking him up early. What if they could have gotten Boyle for 1 year or Markov for 2 years or Niskanen for close to the same rate?
- PhillySportsGuy

They absolutely need to replace Kimmo and get a guy for the #1 spot.

Coburn has shown he can be a solid #2 when paired with the right guy.

With Amac they just locked up a solid #3 for his prime years at a decent price considering his age and the going rate for UFA in 2014/2015. They may not like Niskanen for 6-7M, and Boyle and Markov probably will get 3 yr deals.

I'm thinking this is it for Kimmo, he's not coming back.

The Flyers aren't done with their D yet, the hardest piece to get still is left.

Happy to see the deal amac got. Fair value for a guy his age and 20 mpg.

Props to holmgren for signing him.
- moylander

You looked great dropping the puck for the NCAA final the other night, Homer.

I don't know why he keeps repeating the false claim that MacDonald is only a 4/5. He wasn't that in New York and he hasn't been that here.
- Feanor

It's the false belief that MacDonald is a dime a dozen player, who is easily replaced for lesser money.

You looked great dropping the puck for the NCAA final the other night, Homer.
- bodiva88

Please don't feed the trolls.

Thank god you aren't a GM..
- keatondixon

What level is that? A top end number 1-2 all situation d-man?
- jak521

I think he means a shot-blocking 2nd pairing defenseman who has a good transition game and puts up 25-30 points.

Ugh. Neither -- that can't be what we go with in trying to win the Stanley Cup.

I'm just one guy on the internet. But I don't think that giving these second-tier players that kind of term and money -- Jesus Christ.

He's not as good as Coburn. We need to replace Timonen -- and that's gonna cost money and assets. It's gonna be expensive -- and that HAS TO BE DONE. I don't think we can win a Stanley Cup if we don't!

God bless Andrew MacDonald, but if you're not as good as Coburn, and you're not as good as Timonen -- FFS, that's what we need!
- AllInForFlyers

I think this is what second tier players make now. Top tier defenseman are getting 6-7-8 million per.

They absolutely need to replace Kimmo and get a guy for the #1 spot.

Coburn has shown he can be a solid #2 when paired with the right guy.

With Amac they just locked up a solid #3 for his prime years at a decent price considering his age and the going rate for UFA in 2014/2015. They may not like Niskanen for 6-7M, and Boyle and Markov probably will get 3 yr deals.

I'm thinking this is it for Kimmo, he's not coming back.

The Flyers aren't done with their D yet, the hardest piece to get still is left.
- Marc D

Completely agree. There will be more moves at the draft and offseason. Will we be complaining if the flyers make a play for a dman like bogosian/gundbranson/buff/ also might be a good idea to look at a guy like millar from boston who i think is ufa at end of year. Could be solid 3rd pairing type

Well, they were always gonna try to sign the player. And the market said MacDonald was gonna get the $5 million.

But: I said before I wouldn't have paid him more than Braydon Coburn, and I wouldn't have. Not a penny more. He's not a better player than Coburn. And I would have saved that money and done what it takes to find a better player than Coburn, and gave that player that money.

But, it's done now. Just have to hope he plays up to the contract.
- AllInForFlyers

Here's the problem with this. If you want to compare the two players with salary. Ask the question what would it cost to sign Coburn if he was going into Free Agency this year? Then you have a comparable situation. You wouldn't get Coburn for 4.5M right now.

Thanks for your service then, friend
- Giroux_Is_God

That's all I ever wanted was a thank you your welcome
I spilt my my Bourbone while changing my kids diaper this morning so I'm a little pissed.
Last cup till I get hold of my sister for some $$ but not until 5pm

Dan Girardi @ $5.5M or MacDonald @ $5M?
- Tomahawk

Dan Girardi. So tell me how we can get Girardi for just the cost of the 5.5M cap hit?

Now, to be fair, some/most of those guys inked deals a few years ago, when the maker price for D was millions lower
- Giroux_Is_God

I was just about to say that. Fact is its market value esp when it comes to a team like the Flyers who quite frankly have very little bargening power with the need being so high.

I disagree..

I just went on capgeek.. At 5.0 mil, MacDonald would be the highest paid d-man on 9 NHL teams, and would check in as the 28th highest paid d-man in the league.

Names on the list?
Chara, Myers, Wideman, Keith, Seabrooke, Wisniewski, Gonchar, Campbell, Doughty, Suter, Markov, Weber, Girardi, Karlsson, OEL, Yandel, Martin, Letang, Boyle, AP, Bouwmeester, Carle, Phaneuf, Green, Buff, Enstrom, and of course.. Streit.

His skill set is remarkably different than ANY of those guys, except Girardi.
- jak521

What would all of those players get, if they were pending Free Agents this off season?

They absolutely need to replace Kimmo and get a guy for the #1 spot.

Coburn has shown he can be a solid #2 when paired with the right guy.

With Amac they just locked up a solid #3 for his prime years at a decent price considering his age and the going rate for UFA in 2014/2015. They may not like Niskanen for 6-7M, and Boyle and Markov probably will get 3 yr deals.

I'm thinking this is it for Kimmo, he's not coming back.

The Flyers aren't done with their D yet, the hardest piece to get still is left.
- Marc D

I guess I'm not seeing MacDonald as more than a #4 -- which is not a crime -- but when you already have Coburn, Grossmann, Streit and Schenn making what they do...and you still need the #1/2...how are you going to afford that?

We just gave Timonen's salary, all but $1 million of it, to MacDonald. But he isn't that player -- and by definition, that's the player we need!

If the Flyers wind up moving Grossmann or Schenn to acquire that kind of player, then I will feel better about this deal.

But a Coburn/MacDonald pairing? Do we really want to see that? Because no matter how much of a fan I am, you can't ignore that MacDonald got exposed under heavy minutes against top lines while he was with the Islanders -- we can't just pretend that didn't happen because it's inconvenient.

Wow that macdonald deal...he's been good for you guys since the trade but thats a real small sample size. I think you're gonna be regretting that midway through next season when he shows his true colors. There's a reason every islander fan is laughing at this.

Please don't feed the trolls.
- bodiva88

So we shouldn't respond to anyone defending the MacDonald signing right?

Wow that macdonald deal...he's been good for you guys since the trade but thats a real small sample size. I think you're gonna be regretting that midway through next season when he shows his true colors. There's a reason every islander fan is laughing at this.
- rangerdanger94

I'm hardly worried about what Islanders fans are laughing at.

I guess I'm not seeing MacDonald as more than a #4 -- which is not a crime -- but when you already have Coburn, Grossmann, Streit and Schenn making what they do...and you still need the #1/2...how are you going to afford that?

We just gave Timonen's salary, all but $1 million of it, to MacDonald. But he isn't that player -- and by definition, that's the player we need!

If the Flyers wind up moving Grossmann or Schenn to acquire that kind of player, then I will feel better about this deal.

But a Coburn/MacDonald pairing? Do we really want to see that? Because no matter how much of a fan I am, you can't ignore that MacDonald got exposed under heavy minutes against top lines while he was with the Islanders -- we can't just pretend that didn't happen because it's inconvenient.
- AllInForFlyers

I can almost guarantee that one of Grossmann/L Schenn will be gone come next season. And no, he's not Timonen, but no player like Timonen (even at this stage) will be available for just cap space. It's a market deal for a player like him. It may not be ideal, but it's not like Mac just raped the Flyers.

Wow that macdonald deal...he's been good for you guys since the trade but thats a real small sample size. I think you're gonna be regretting that midway through next season when he shows his true colors. There's a reason every islander fan is laughing at this.
- rangerdanger94

They laughed at the Streit signing too and now they are in the lottery and Streit had 44 points in 82 games at +3.

Rangers got Bodie from Union:
http://espn.go.com/new-yo...lege-free-agent-mat-bodie

Wow that macdonald deal...he's been good for you guys since the trade but thats a real small sample size. I think you're gonna be regretting that midway through next season when he shows his true colors. There's a reason every islander fan is laughing at this.
- rangerdanger94

They were also laughing at the Streit deal, and that's looked pretty good (so far).

Wow that macdonald deal...he's been good for you guys since the trade but thats a real small sample size. I think you're gonna be regretting that midway through next season when he shows his true colors. There's a reason every islander fan is laughing at this.
- rangerdanger94

There's a reason why everyone laughs at the islanders.

Wow that macdonald deal...he's been good for you guys since the trade but thats a real small sample size. I think you're gonna be regretting that midway through next season when he shows his true colors. There's a reason every islander fan is laughing at this.
- rangerdanger94

Islander fans are laughing at us? Was there a secret wc spot i didn't hear about that allowed them to make the playoffs. I forgot the islanders are so much better then the flyers.

What level is that? A top end number 1-2 all situation d-man?
- jak521

A solid all around puck moving top 4 NHL defenseman