Ryan McDonagh signed a three-year, $12.3 million extension
The Tampa Bay Lightning are playing great hockey, winning seven in a row before falling to the New York Islanders 2-1 on Tuesday night. This was it amid a string of injuries for the Lightning. One of those injuries was to defensive lineman Ryan McDonagh, but that didn’t stop the team from giving him a new contract extension.
According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Lightning and McDonagh agreed to extend the contract for three years worth $12.3 million. The blueliner is making $6.75 million this season in the final year of his contract, and was set to be an unrestricted free agent in the summer.
McDonagh has not played since Nov. 8 against the Washington Capitals, when he left the game early. He was later placed on IR with an undisclosed injury. The defenseman played well, finding the back of the net three times, adding three assists and averaging over 20 minutes of ice time per game.
The American-born defenseman was selected 12th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens, but his rights were traded to the New York Rangers before he signed. After his time at the University of Wisconsin, he would sign an entry-level contract with the Rangers and make his debut in the 2010-11 campaign. He was traded to the Lightning in February 2018 and would play for the club until he was traded to the Nashville Predators in the summer of 2022.
After two seasons with the Preds, he was traded back to the Lightning in May 2024.
McDonagh played 1,025 games in the NHL, scoring 83 goals and providing 343 assists. He helped the Lightning win two Stanley Cups and is the second in franchise history in postseason plus/minus, blocked shots and defensive tackles.
The Lightning are now 16-8-2 this year, good for first place in the Atlantic Division. They return to the ice Thursday night, hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins.
2025-12-04 15:05:00
