After barely missing out on their third consecutive Stanley Cup championship, the Tampa Bay Lightning may be forced to do some drastic reshuffling of the core. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports that the team is working with Ryan McDonagh to find out if there is a fit somewhere else in the league. McDonagh has a full no-trade clause and can essentially decide where he plays at this point.
Friedman notes that the team wants to retain both Nick Paul and Ondrej Palat (among others) who are set to become unrestricted free agents. Moving McDonagh would essentially be a cap move, given the $6.75MM hit he carries through 2025-26.
It’s shocking news, given how good McDonagh has been for Tampa Bay since arriving in 2018. Acquired from the New York Rangers along with J.T. Miller for a package that revolved around Brett Howden, Libor Hajek, and draft picks, it was a move that was critical in building the squad that won two years later. McDonagh has averaged nearly 22 minutes a night with the Lightning, eating up the toughest defensive assignments to allow Victor Hedman, Mikhail Sergachev, and others to contribute more at the offensive end of the rink.
Now 33, with nearly 1,000 tough, physical games under his belt, it might be prudent for the Lightning to get out from under McDonagh’s contract before it becomes an issue. He is signed longer than any other defenseman on the roster and yet is several years older than most. Despite his continued strong play, and the fact that he is “hugely popular” in the locker room according to Friedman, the Lightning need to make a change somewhere if they’re going to keep Palat and Paul.
The team already projects to be over the cap for next season, though Brent Seabrook’s contract will provide a little bit of long-term injured reserve wiggle room. Jan Rutta, a depth defenseman that has been useful over the last few years, and Riley Nash, who stepped into the lineup in Brayden Point’s absence this postseason, are also both scheduled to become UFAs.
There have been other players jettisoned from the Lightning over the years. Miller, Tyler Johnson, and Yanni Gourde left with money still on their contracts. Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow couldn’t be re-signed because of higher bidders on the market. Still, none of those moves seem as important as a McDonagh move would be, given how integral he has been to the defense over the last several years. His absence would leave a gaping hole on the second pairing, one that the team doesn’t appear to have an internal candidate for.
Perhaps a player like Cal Foote could step into an increased role, but a McDonagh move could leave the Lightning looking outside the organization for an answer. A cheaper answer, it would be, and likely one that isn’t quite as effective as the veteran–at least for the time being.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Love watching McDonagh play the game! He Is special.
McDonagh has been a beast for years. The type of d-man any contender would welcome. But he’s 33 & has got a ton of mileage on him. With that, his salary & his NMC it’ll take some serious maneuvering to pull off a trade.
It was inevitable given Tampa’s cap crunch. If they’re going to make any attempt at keeping Palat they’re going to need to cut their losses and move McDonagh. 3 cup finals in a row and 2 cups is a pretty good run. Tampa is going to take a step back this summer.
Please come to Detroit
I doubt it he fits into the yzerplan.
Sure he does, He’d be the perfect partner with Mo Seider.
The Rangers will take him back. We’ll trade you Libor Hajek back, Patrick nemeth and a 7th. I’m just kidding! Mac is a great D man and he deserves to control where he plays
OOOPS!
link to bleacherreport.com
that d-corps falls apart the minute they ship him out…. he’s a force for Tampa…
His absence would indeed create a gaping hole in their lineup. Not sure he’s a guy you want to lose.
You are correct in saying that there is a Tampa defenseman that, when he leaves, will create a gaping hole in the lineup.
However, it is the big Swedish one.
McDonagh was not himself in the final. Took bad penalties and was a step behind in several cases. Detroit could use him to fill in and mentor the kids. 4 more years at $6.75M! And an NMC and the M-NTC in 1-2026 of 12 team no trade. That is a long commitment for him. Maybe Stevie just gives them Jerid McIsaac for him.
Completely agree, McDonagh has lost a step and the Bolts woukd be wise to move him and promote Sergachev to his spot on the 2nd pairing with Cernak. They are a wise organization that’s not going anywhere as much as their competitors hope for their demise.
Since the Bolts will soon only have 1 goalie in their system, maybe McDonagh goes to Detroit for Jerid McIssaac and Victor Brattström (waiver eligible) or Kaden Fulcher. Detroit has too many goalies in their system.
Wish McDonagh the best regardless of where he plays next year. He is a warrior.
if this is the case & they are foolish enough to dump him for nothing or giving him away along with draft picks, it will further validate my belief & comments last summer that they shoulda left him unprotected instead of yanni.
I thought so too
Any time McDonaugh was out of the lineup, Tampa’s defense suffered. I wouldnt have offered Paul so much. He said he wanted the cup and wanted to stay. He seems to be a good player but worth over 3 mil….I dont know about all that. I guess we will see how he is in an 82 game season.
anyone who doesn’t plainly and clearly see the insane value of the incredulous Paul contract either doesn’t watch hockey or needs to go get their vision checked. i hate being that derogatory without being directly prodded but it’s not even debatable how awesome of a player that dude was for us – THE ENTIRE TIME AFTER THE TRADE NOT JUST IN THE PLAYOFFS.
dude. does. EVERYTHING. there’s a reason “Do it All Paul” became a thing. if the dude stays healthy, that’s gonna be one of the best team contracts in the league. easily.