If Logan MacMillan’s future in the Ducks’ organization was not doomed by his lack of offensive production, his injury history, or his DUI arrest in January, it was doomed Wednesday when the former first-round draft pick was traded to the Calgary Flames for minor-leaguer Jason Jaffray.
The 19th overall pick in 2007, MacMillan never lived up to his lofty expectations in Anaheim. Some of it was hardly MacMillan’s fault.
After the 20-goal 2006-07 campaign for the Halifax Moosheads that got him drafted, MacMillan was beset by injuries and could not improve on his goals or assists totals over his final two seasons in the QMJHL. He signed a three-year, entry-level contract in 2009 but was bothered by back spasms early in the 2009-10 season with ECHL affiliate Bakersfield.
When healthy, MacMillan was a responsible defensive forward and penalty-kill specialist in Bakersfield. But he never displayed the scorer’s touch that one would expect from a first-round draft pick. MacMillan scored two goals in 30 games for the Condors before he was sent home following his arrest. He resurfaced late in the season to play seven scoreless games for the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat, the Flames’ top minor-league affiliate.
MacMillan had two years left on his entry-level contract at just more than $1 million per season.
Jaffray, 29, is a minor-league journeyman. In eight pro seasons, the left wing has played in 36 NHL games, 372 AHL games and 141 ECHL games. He has four goals at the NHL level, the first coming in his debut game as a Vancouver Canuck on Dec. 12, 2007 against the Ducks’ Jean-Sebastien Giguere. He will become an unrestricted free agent after the next season.
Either the Ducks or Flames could also receive a conditional seventh-round selection in the 2013 Entry Draft in the trade.