Heard from Mac

Good for Brad. Still getting the chance to do his work in front of sellout crowds. I was already looking forward to Komet/Eagles games, now I can look forward to Mac vs. Schrock.

It's a shame that when the schedule is finally released Fort Wayne Vs. Colorado won't be on it! I guess we will have to hope for a playoff matchup if we want to see those two teams play each other.

I wonder how many times he'll break his nose and hand this year.

I'll bet that the Komets and Eagles play at least 4 times.

I'm betting he breaks both as many times as it takes. The guy doesn't back down. Just because he's not in Orange anymore, I'm not taking shots at him. I respect what he does.

Well said, JM.

Blake, Any indication on why he wasn't back in FW? From reading between the lines it seems the Komets weren't persuing Mac. Was he offered a contract at all?

No, he was not. I was told they just weren't offering him one.

i have to agree JM ... certainly wont change my opinion of Big Mac regardless of the jersey he wears but at the same time ... why was he not brought back ??

So who fills that role do we know ?? Any real Possiblities?

My best guess is a big horse will be in the mix. At least I hope so!

Im right there with you on a bigger guy ... but also a guy that will play a regular shift.

Loved Mac's contribution to championship teams while he was here... Has middleweight size, fighting heavyweights, and never backed down... A true on ice warrior; but I have to wonder if some of his on ice judgements (or lack there of at times) is what contributed to his lack of an offer this coming season???

Thanks to Mac for the countless memories! Good luck with another good organization in Colorado...

Bigger body doesnt always equate to a bigger heart....

thats true but size is just something this team lacks at the moment in my opinion... but i agree

So why not go back to Huk and offer him a contract? Since Chaulker and Syro (who they really wanted and would've cost them some bucks) and Mac (who they obviously did not) are not coming back, there should be some money left over, especially if Guy doesn't sign. I'm sure it wasn't Huk's choice to quit. We all know there's not a better defensive forward player out there to be found right now.

I think it's pretty obvious that Dupuis will be back....along with DeAnglis and Warner.

The new "tough guy" played overseas last year :)

Mac's medical expenses might have played a part, unless they're paid from the player's own pocket.

I liked Mac's tenacity and integrity. When he first came onto the scene he caused problems for teams, but after awhile they figured him out and he wasn't as effective.

Sometimes fighters are just overmatched, no matter how big their heart is.

I was never a big fan of MacMillan. He was a little too hard-hitting for my taste and the suspensions bothered me. All but the longest of them, that is. Rash or not, it took guts to come out of that penalty box on Halloween, knowing full well what the consequences would be if he did. At least someone did something.

What do you mean by "a little too hard-hitting", Wendy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHX3V_8QA4o

I liked that about Macmillan ... very solid when it came to taking the body , i just hope our next "enforcer" will bring more size to the table

as big as Goulet, but tougher :)

I'll miss Mac, he really helped the new players and was able to make contributions beyond his fighting. Good luck Mac! Colorado is sure beautiful.

Goulet works for me

As long as it is not Cowan....big goon. I don't like that guy much. Goulet is not my favorite either, but I guess as long as he's in orange and black, I could stand him. He never really did anything dirty that I can remember, just not one of my faves.

And I loved Mac on this team. I liked that way he was always, and I mean always, there for anyone who needed him. Like Wendy said, he was there even when it cost him plenty on Halloween night. It may not have been even a decision for him, I think it was just an instinct for him. He took a lot of crap in the public forums (papers, blogs, interviews, people talking to him in the hallways, etc) for some of the things he did. That is a very difficult role to fill on a team. He always did it with class and grace, and he paid a heavy price for it at times. I, for one, appreciate it and will miss him enormously. He quickly became one of my favorites due to his hard-hitting style (thanks, Wendy!), and I will miss that.

I'll welcome someone new filling that role, but those are some pretty big skates to fill.

Nicely said BLB, you will really like the komets new "tough guy" :) / all red headed hockey chicks RULE.

Just that I felt like the people he came up against were in danger of getting seriously injured. I'm not saying it was intentional -- things just happen sometimes when you're a player like Mac. I was just more a fan of the way Woods fought back in 2007-08 -- using speed and confidence to get the upper hand and throw the other guy on his arse without serious injury to anything other than his pride.

A more recent case-in-point would be Schrock. He's the same way. But I admired Brad's dedication to his teammates immensely. He wasn't just playing the role like some guys do.