There are a lot of reasons why Andrew MacDonald has become such a popular scapegoat among Philadelphia Flyers. His albatross of a contract certainly doesn’t help things (6 years, $30 million? Really, Paul Holmgren?) but the larger issue has to do with the discrepancy between how the Flyers and the fans view MacDonald.
In the minds of Ron Hextall, Dave Hakstol, and the rest of the Flyers’ front office, AMac is the quintessential reliable veteran. He’s strong with the puck on his stick, makes the right decisions, and provides a steadying presence for the team’s youthful blue line.