Report: Flyers sign Hunter McDonald to a PTO contract

Right after the Flyers secured 1-point against Carolina on Thursday night, word on the streets is they have signed 6th-round pick (165th overall) in 2022, Hunter McDonald, to a PTO contract.

Hearing PHI has signed Hunter McDonald to an ELC.
— Anthony Di Marco (@ADiMarco25) March 22, 2024

According to Anthony Di Marco this morning, the contract isn’t an ELC but a PTO contract, so he can play with the Phantoms this year.

To further clarify my report from last night:

PHI has signed 2022 6th round pick defenseman Hunter McDonald.

The deal is not an ELC; McDonald is signed just to play for LV, for now.
— Anthony Di Marco (@ADiMarco25) March 22, 2024

McDonald is 6’4, 206 lbs, and has played his college hockey for Northeastern University.

He isn’t known for offense (only has 1G-5A-6P in 23 games) but he is known to be a strong, stay-at-home, defensive defenseman that can clear the crease.

Wow. Did not expect this, but Hunter McDonald is moving on from Northeastern. https://t.co/9wiTlIVb7B
— Robert Chalmers (@IvanIvanlvan) March 22, 2024

For a guy his size, he isn’t the worst skater in the world. Some-what mobile.

McDonald also won Hockey East’s’ best defensive defenseman award in 2022-2023.

For his most likely spot as a pro? For me, he seems like a Seeler-type of guy. Block shots, stay-at-home, clear the grease. Dirty work. If he puts it all together I could see him being a serviceable 6-7 defenseman.

I remember hearing about how big Keith Jones was on this kid and how much he believed he could be more than I talked about beforehand. So naturally, I had to go find it to make sure I wasn’t thinking of things.