Last season, Joey MacDonald emerged as the Detroit Red Wings' backup goalie. For a time, he was actually the starting goaltender with Jimmy Howard out because of an injury. Ty Conklin originally stepped in as the temporary starter, but that experiment didn't last long and MacDonald ultimately took over the starting job and later the backup job when Howard returned.
While MacDonald was solid in net for the Red Wings, back issues popped up toward the end of the season. For that reason and to simply add some competition to the goalie position, the Red Wings signed Jonas Gustavsson on the first day of NHL free agency. The backup job is his to lose, meaning MacDonald will probably be in the AHL in 2012-13 if he remains with the Red Wings. MacDonald would prefer not to do that, and he has reportedly requested a trade. As reported by MLive's Ansar Khan, Red Wings general manager Ken Holland is accommodating MacDonald's request.
"His agent called, he wanted to know what the plan was with Joey,'' Holland told MLive.com. "He doesn't want to be in the AHL. Certainly, if we can find Joey an opportunity in the NHL we'll do it.''
MacDonald is on a one-way contract for the 2012-13 season, meaning he will make $550,000 regardless of whether he's in the NHL or AHL. Even so, he wants the opportunity to play in the NHL, and if the Red Wings can find a trading partner that offers that chance, he will likely be moved.
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