from Brett Cyrgalis of the New York Post,

If the Islanders trade Andrew MacDonald, it’s because of money.

A month a half ago, the Islanders defenseman turned down a four-year, $16 million offer, The Post has learned.

MacDonald and his agent had previously asked for a four- or five-year deal at $5 million per, and even got the Islanders to come up from their original starting price of $3.5 million per.

In turning down the offer, the pending unrestricted free agent has left himself as one of the league’s most highly coveted trade pieces, before both Friday’s 3 p.m. Olympic roster freeze and before the March 5 trade deadline.

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