Jacob MacDonald

Jacob MacDonald
MacDonald at the 2018 AHL All-Star Game
Born	(1993-02-26) February 26, 1993 (age 31) Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	204 lb (93 kg; 14 st 8 lb)
Position	Defence/Right wing
Shoots	Left
NHL team (P) Cur. team Former teams	Colorado Avalanche Colorado Eagles  (AHL) Florida Panthers San Jose Sharks
NHL draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2015–present

Jacob Edward MacDonald (born February 26, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for the Colorado Eagles in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

MacDonald grew up in Brighton, Michigan, where he played in Compuware's midget hockey program before progressing to junior hockey in the United States Hockey League with the Waterloo Black Hawks. ^[1] He committed to and played collegiate hockey at Cornell University in the ECAC Hockey League. ^[2] While developing his defensive awareness with Cornell, MacDonald struggled offensively at the collegiate level, registering just 21 points through 104 games in his four-year career.

As a free agent following his senior season with the Big Red in 2014–15, MacDonald made his professional debut in signing with the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL to end the regular season on March 26, 2015. ^[3] In continuing with the Jackals in the 2015–16 season, MacDonald rediscovered his offensive touch in recording 17 goals and 37 points from the blueline to be selected to the ECHL's All-Rookie Team. He made his debut in the American Hockey League appearing in a one-game on loan with the Springfield Falcons.

In the 2016–17 season, MacDonald returned to the ECHL with the Toledo Walleye before signing an initial try-out contract with the Albany Devils, the New Jersey Devils farm team, on January 5, 2017. ^[4] In making an early impression with Albany he soon secured an AHL deal for the remainder of the season and an extension after he scored eight goals and 24 points in 34 games to close out the year. ^[5]

In his first full season in the AHL in 2017–18, MacDonald led the league's defensemen with 20 goals and 55 points and earned an AHL All-Star berth with the Binghamton Devils. Despite missing the post-season, he was selected to the AHL's First All-Star Team. ^[6]

As a free agent, MacDonald opted to leave the Devils organization and sign his first NHL contract in agreeing to a two-year, two-way contract with the Florida Panthers on July 3, 2018. ^[7] After attending the Panthers 2018 training camp, MacDonald impressed to make Florida's roster for the 2018–19 season. ^[8] He made his NHL debut on opening night, and scored on just his third shift, and first career shot in a 2–1 shootout defeat to the Tampa Bay Lightning on October 6, 2018. ^[9] After two games with the Panthers MacDonald was re-assigned to AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, for the remainder of the season. MacDonald assumed a top-pairing role with the Thunderbirds and in 72 games he led all blueliners in scoring with 14 goals and 43 points.

Following his first season in Florida, on June 29, 2019, MacDonald was traded by the Panthers to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Dominic Toninato. ^[10]

MacDonald was suspended for two games on April 8, 2021, following a hit on Ryan Hartman. ^[11]

In the 2022–23 season, MacDonald began the season as a healthy scratch on the Avalanche opening roster. With the team suffering through a blight of injuries, MacDonald was inserted into the lineup in both defensive and forward roles through the first half of the season, registering just 2 assists through 33 games. On January 25, 2023, MacDonald was traded by the Avalanche alongside Martin Kaut to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Matt Nieto and Ryan Merkley. ^{[12] [13]}

At the conclusion of his contract with the Sharks, MacDonald as a free agent returned to the Colorado Avalanche, inking a two-year, two-way deal on July 1, 2024. ^[14]

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2009–10	Compuware	T1EHL		28	4	11	15	14		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Waterloo Black Hawks	USHL		29	4	6	10	8		2	0	0	0	0
2010–11	Waterloo Black Hawks	USHL		58	8	22	30	42		2	1	0	1	0
2011–12	Cornell University	ECAC		8	0	1	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Cornell University	ECAC		33	0	3	3	39		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Cornell University	ECAC		32	2	6	8	4		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Cornell University	ECAC		31	2	7	9	8		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Elmira Jackals	ECHL		8	1	2	3	2		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Elmira Jackals	ECHL		72	17	20	37	34		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Springfield Falcons	AHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Toledo Walleye	ECHL		30	7	19	26	24		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Albany Devils	AHL		34	8	16	24	9		2	0	0	0	0
2017–18	Binghamton Devils	AHL		75	20	35	55	35		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Florida Panthers	NHL		2	1	0	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Springfield Thunderbirds	AHL		72	14	29	43	27		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Colorado Eagles	AHL		56	16	26	42	22		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		33	1	8	9	8		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Colorado Eagles	AHL		33	10	15	25	30		7	1	4	5	2
2021–22	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		8	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		33	0	2	2	11		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	San Jose Sharks	NHL		25	1	5	6	12		—	—	—	—	—
2023–24	San Jose Sharks	NHL		34	7	2	9	23		—	—	—	—	—
2023–24	San Jose Barracuda	AHL		6	0	4	4	2		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				135	10	17	27	56		—	—	—	—	—

Awards and honors

MacDonald representing the Binghamton Devils at the 2018 All-Star Game.

Award	Year
ECHL
All-Rookie Team	2016
AHL
All-Star Game	2018
First All-Star Team	2018	[6]
Second All-Star Team	2020	[15]

References

1. "MacDonald rising through the ranks of pro hockey". American Hockey League. February 3, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
2. "MacDonald answers Cornell's call". oursportscentral.com. February 15, 2011. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
3. "Jackals sign Cornell defenseman". Elmira Jackals. March 26, 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2015.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
4. "Albany sign Jacob MacDonald to PTO". January 5, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017– via Twitter.
5. "Devils ink Jacob MacDonald to two-year contract". Albany Devils. March 7, 2017. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
6. "2018 AHL First, Second All-Star Teams unveiled". American Hockey League . April 5, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
7. "Panthers agree to terms with Paul Thompson and Jacob MacDonald". Florida Panthers. July 3, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
8. "Unheralded Panthers defenseman MacDonald on target in his NHL debut". Miami Herald . October 6, 2018. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
9. "MacDonald '15 scores 1st NHL goal in debut for Florida Panthers". Cornell Sun. October 6, 2018. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
10. "Panthers acquire Dominic Toninato from Avalanche for Jacob MacDonald". sportsnet.ca. June 29, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
11. "NHL suspends Colorado Avalanche's Jacob MacDonald two games for hit on Minnesota Wild's Ryan Hartman". ESPN. April 8, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
12. "Avs get Nieto, Merkley from Sharks for Kaut, MacDonald". The Sports Network. January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
13. "Sharks acquire MacDonald and Kaut from Colorado". San Jose Sharks. January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
14. "Avalanche Signs Jacob MacDonald, T.J. Tynan". nhl.com. July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
15. "2019–20 AHL First, Second All-Star Team announced". American Hockey League. May 20, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database