In the 2009–10 season, MacDonald scored his first NHL goal on December 17, 2009, in a 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers.[1] On February 25, 2010, MacDonald was re-signed by the Islanders to a four-year contract extension.[2]
Philadelphia Flyers
During the final year of his contract in the 2013–14 season, MacDonald was traded by the Islanders to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for minor leaguer Matt Mangene, a second round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, and a third-round pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft on March 4, 2014.[3] The Flyers signed MacDonald to a six-year, $30 million contract extension on April 15.[4] On October 5, 2015, the Flyers put MacDonald on waivers. On October 6, 2015, MacDonald cleared waivers and was assigned to the Flyers' AHL affiliate team, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.[5]
During the 2018–19 season, MacDonald appeared in 47 games, producing just 9 assists, as the Flyers missed the playoffs.
On June 15, 2019, the Flyers placed MacDonald on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract. He was entering the final year of his six-year contract he signed in 2014. The move allowed him to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.[7]
Europe
As a free agent, MacDonald went un-signed over the following summer before agreeing to an invitation to attend the Calgary Flames 2019 training camp on a professional tryout contract.[8] MacDonald remained with the Flames through camp and pre-season before he was released from his tryout on October 4, 2019.[9]
With the 2019–20 season underway, MacDonald opted seek a contract abroad for the first time since his stint during the 2012–13 NHL lockout in the Czech Republic. On October 21, 2019, MacDonald agreed to a one-year contract for the remainder of the campaign with Swiss club, SC Bern of the National League.[10] He made 15 appearances with Bern, unable to help the club qualify for the postseason. On March 3, 2020, MacDonald left the club at his own request and against the express will of SC Bern prior to their relegation series playoffs.[11]