Flyers sign restricted free agent Hunter McDonald to a two-year contract worth $1.825 million
McDonald was the final piece of offseason business the Flyers had on the table.
Hunter McDonald is sticking around Philly.
The hulking 6-foot-4, 238-pound defenseman and the Flyers agreed to a two-year, $1.825 million contract with an average annual value of $912,500 on Tuesday.
The first year is designated as a two-way deal, which means McDonald will be paid at a minor league rate for games he plays with Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League. The second season of the contract is one-way, which means McDonald will be paid at the NHL rate no matter what.
McDonald, who was a restricted free agent, was the final piece of business the Flyers had on the table. They also re-signed restricted free agents Trevor Zegras, Jamie Drysdale, and Nikita Grebenkin earlier in the offseason.
A sixth-round pick in 2022, McDonald, 24, made his NHL debut in the season finale of the 2025-26 season after the Flyers clinched the third seed in the Metropolitan Division the previous night at Xfinity Mobile Arena. He registered an assist on a goal by his defensive partner Oliver Bonk, who was also making his NHL debut.
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“Hunter took a big step last year in his development, and that’s why he played that game late in the season,” Flyers general manager Danny Brière told The Inquirer in early June.
“I think our coaching staff was really impressed on how he took a step forward this year. He put in the work and really elevated his game, earned that NHL game at the end, and he was around the team when we played in the playoffs as well.
“Really exciting to see him have growth to his development. It’s a big summer for him, but we’re excited about him. A big, physical defenseman like that is not easy to find, and we hope he’s going to be one of those guys, eventually. But he’s going to have to beat someone at some point to earn those minutes.”
Described as a “throwback” to the Broad Street Bullies by Jerry Keefe, his coach at Northeastern, he had three assists in 11 regular-season games and one goal in six playoff games with Lehigh Valley after his 2023-24 season ended with the Huskies.
Two seasons ago, his first as a full-time pro, he had four goals, 18 points, and 99 penalty minutes in 71 regular-season games. He led the team in games played and was tied for second in plus-minus (plus-12). The Western New York native added another goal in seven playoff games.
McDonald registered six assists and 92 penalty minutes in 65 regular-season games in his second full season. Out of the eight players who played in at least 60 games with the Phantoms, he was one of three (Zayde Wisdom and Tucker Robertson) who had at least an even plus-minus (even).
“He’s still learning the game and learning the type of player that he’s going to have to be to be an NHL player every day,” Phantoms coach John Snowden said.
“I thought he did a really good job with that. And maturing too and handling the ups and downs of the season, and knowing that you’re knocking on the door, and maybe you’re not the guy called up, and then you get your call-up, and what do you do with it? We saw his one game, and he was very good.”
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McDonald was also recalled by the Flyers in January for the three-game swing through Colorado, Las Vegas, and Utah, due to an injury to defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. He did not play in any of the games.
The expectation is McDonald will push for a spot on the Flyers’ defensive corps when training camp opens Sept. 17. While he said in January that he had been working at not getting sent to the penalty box as often, he said he’s still a physical blueliner.
“I think a bit. Kind of, hitting people,” McDonald said with a chuckle when asked if he considered himself a “throwback.”
“I want to get a stick on you, ending plays. I think that’s a super important part of the game. If I can end these plays in the D zone, be a pain to play against, and then we can go play offense.”