The Philadelphia Flyers Andrew MacDonald signed a six-year $30 million deal last season. After he signed the contract, the Flyers NHL online sports betting odds to make the playoffs improved, but MacDonald said he was overwhelmed by the new contract.
By the end of the season, MacDonald was so ineffective that he was sent down to the minors, making him the highest paid player in the AHL.
After his demotion to the AHL, MacDonald was able to regain his confidence playing alongside Shayne Gostisbehere. Six months later, he was called up to rejoin the Flyers and has been instrumental in their race for a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
While he hasn’t been perfect, MacDonald has played very well for the Flyers and has given them a significant upgrade at the position. He seems to be having fun on the ice again and has been very active defending shots and covering for his partner Gostisbehere whenever he makes a push for the offensive zone.
When asked about his success this season compared to last season when he visibly struggled, MacDonald said he had been weighed down by the contract he signed last season and was trying to prove that he deserved the contract, instead of playing his game.
MacDonald also said the time he spent in the AHL helped him play without thinking about the pressure that came with his new contract which allowed him to be his old self.
Head coach Dave Hakstol had nothing but praise for MacDonald. Hakstol told reporters that MacDonald was a very steady and reliable player, which is what makes him a good pro. Hakstol also said that the chemistry that MacDonald and Gostisbehere have is very positive and played a big role in the success both players have had this year.
Hakstol attributed the chemistry to the time that MacDonald and Gostisbehere spent together in the AHL.
When asked why he has such good chemistry with Gostisbehere, MacDonald said it was pretty easy to play with Gostisbehere in the AHL because he makes great reads when he is on the ice, which makes things easier for the other players.
Despite attributing a lot of his success this year to the time he spent in the AHL, MacDonald said it was still a very painful learning experience for him. MacDonald said he put too much on himself after he signed the contract and it affected the way he played because he tried to do a little too much.
According to MacDonald, injuries were also part of the reason he struggled so much last year. This season, MacDonald said he was able to put his struggles behind him because he stopped overthinking things. He also worked on his footwork and is moving better when he has the puck.
According to Gostisbehere, MacDonald helped him with his game during their time in the AHL. Gostisbehere called MacDonald a great role model because as an experienced player, he had a lot of good advice for him. Gostisbehere also appreciated the way MacDonald took care of his body both on and off the ice, which has helped him avoid major injuries for most of his career.
MacDonald believes that what he went through in the last year not only made him a better hockey player, but a better human as well.
