MacDonald is a 13-year veteran, who's split time between the American Hockey League in the NHL. Most recently, he was with the Calgary organization and played 11 games for the Flames. After signing a one-year, two-way contract with Montreal, MacDonald appears headed for a spot on the roster of its AHL affiliate, the Hamitlon Bulldogs.
MacDonald is one of a number of candidates vying for the starting job in Calgary after Miikka Kiprusoff's retirement. He's basically a career backup, but played decently in 17 games last season, with an 8-9 record and 2.84 goals against average for a terrible Flames team. It's hard to know if he has the strength and stamina to carry a starter's workload in the NHL. And even if he does win the starting job, he'll face the unenviable task of backstopping a young, rebuilding squad that will likely be prone to many mistakes. His fantasy value is minimal in that situation.
The Wings added Jonas Gustavsson to the mix this summer to work as the backup behind Jimmy Howard, leaving MacDonald to serve as a mentor/veteran depth option at Grand Rapids if he remains in the organization when the season begins.
MacDonald played well when called upon by the Wings last season, but ultimately didn't give the front office enough confidence in his ability to hold the backup job behind Jimmy Howard. With the addition of Ty Conklin in free agency, MacDonald will open the year at Grand Rapids (AHL) barring an injury to either Howard or Conklin before Opening Night.
MacDonald is insurance for the Maple Leafs so his time in the NHL will be restricted to injury relief. No fantasy value there.
MacDonald will compete for the role of backup to Rick DiPietro. Even if he does win the job, his fantasy value will range from minimal to none.
Signed by the Isles in the offseason, MacDonald is expected to man the pipes in the AHL in 2007-08.
They're keeping him around as the third goalie, if that matters to you. It's a curious move, one that suggests the Red Wings aren't too sure about the staying power of veteran goalies Dominik Hasek and Chris Osgood. MacDonald is caught in no-man's land to some extent, as Jimmy Howard is considered the team's goalie of the future.
He's fourth on the goaltender depth chart at best, which is all you need to know. He'll need planetary alignment to be worth anything to the Wings this year, now that young Jimmy Howard has been added to the mix along with Manny Legace and Chris Osgood.
