The New York Islanders are likely to be an active team in the days leading up to the March 5 NHL trade deadline, and one player expected to be dealt is veteran defenseman Andrew MacDonald.
The Isles are looking to acquire a first-round pick in return for MacDonald, according to Chris Botta of The New York Times.
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It’s no surprise Islanders general manager Garth Snow wants a first-round pick in exchange for his 27-year-old D-man. Snow owes a first-rounder (in 2014 or 2015) to the Buffalo Sabres as part of the Thomas Vanek trade from earlier this season, and as one of the better defensemen rumored to be available, MacDonald might be enough to get New York another top-30 selection.
With a salary of just $550,000, MacDonald would be a low-cost addition for a contending team in need of depth on the blue line. He’s not physical enough to be a top-pairing defenseman on a championship-caliber roster, but he would be a good fit on several teams as a third-pairing player capable of logging 20-plus minutes per game and providing scoring from the blue line.
MacDonald has tallied 24 points (four goals, 20 assists) in 60 games this season. He’s an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and is seeking $5 million per year in his next contract, per Newsday.
