Report: MacDonald Rejects 4-Year, $16 Million Offer From Islanders

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Andrew MacDonald is going to shoot for a contract that pays him in the neighborhood of $5 million per season during the offseason.

The 27-year-old defenseman just isn't going to get it from his current team, the New York Islanders.

That's because general manager Garth Snow is now shopping the veteran blueliner after he rejected a four-year, $16 million contract offer, the NY Post reported on Thursday.

"You have to think about it," MacDonald told The Post on Wednesday about the possibility of being traded. "There are rumors going around, it's part of the game, part of the business. For me, I try not to think too much about it or read too much."

It's been a rough week for the Islanders. On Monday it was learned forward Thomas Vanek rejected Snow's substantial offer of reportedly seven years and $50 million, insisting he wants to test unrestricted free agency. Now the Islanders are faced with dealing MacDonald before the March 5 trade deadline as well.

The belief around the NHL is MacDonald could get what he's looking for, considering he is on the verge of completing one of the most cost-effective deals in the league. The Islanders signed MacDonald to a four-year, $2.2 million contract back in 2010 and he has since developed a reputation for being a gifted, offensive-oriented defenseman.

But there are also many out there who believe MacDonald is in no way worth $5 million per season, as he has reportedly demanded, and the Islanders are right to not cave. He has issues matching up with big, physical forwards and has a penchant for giving the puck away in his own end. Over the last four seasons he has a minus-1o rating, including minus-12 this season.

Offensively, MacDonald has 16 goals and is averaging just a shade more than 20 points over the last four seasons, and has never quite developed into the type of power play quarterback many figured he was destined to become.

Snow has received at least one substantial offer for MacDonald, but turned it down, The Post reported. It is believed the Islanders are looking for at least a first round draft pick in return.

"I'm here right now, I'm an Islander. It's what I've always been, it's what I want to be, but at the end of the day, Garth has a decision to make and it is what it is," MacDonald said.

MacDonald and the Islanders, who are desperately fighting to stay in the Eastern Conference playoff race, will host the Calgary Flames on Thursday and then close out the pre-Olympic break schedule with a game against the visiting Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.

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