 After he was kept scoreless in nine games with the Jets, he was reassigned to AHL affiliate, the St. John's IceCaps on November 18, 2011.McArdle contributed with 7 goals in 35 games with the IceCaps before he was again on the move, reassigned in an AHL trade to the Portland Pirates for the remainder of the season on March 2, 2012.Without a contract offer from the Jets and with the uncertainty of the 2012–13 NHL lockout, McArdle was invited to an AHL try-out at the Norfolk Admirals training camp for the 2012–13 season.