Decimated by injury, Flyers recall high-priced defenseman MacDonald

High-priced veteran defenseman Andrew MacDonald is heading back to the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Flyers recalled MacDonald from Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League, the team announced on Monday. MacDonald has recorded one goal, 12 assists and a plus-4 rating in 23 games with the Phantoms this season.

The need for the 29-year-old MacDonald came about after fellow defensemen Luke Schenn (ankle) and Mark Streit (lower body) suffered injuries and Radko Gudas was suspended for three games by the NHL. The Flyers don't have much time to dwell on their depleted blue-line situation with a date against MacDonald's former team in the Metropolitan Division-rival New York Islanders on Tuesday.

MacDonald was placed on waivers Oct. 5, nearly 18 months after he signed a six-year, $30 million deal with Philadelphia.

Once thought of as one of the league's best bargains at the 2014 trade deadline, MacDonald quickly fell out of favor with the Flyers. He sustained a knee injury early in the 2014-15 season and collected two goals and 10 assists in 58 games for Philadelphia.