Lightning sign Ryan McDonagh to three-year contract extension

McDonagh is in the final season of his seven-year contract that he signed with the Lightning in July 2018, when current Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman was in charge. That deal has a cap hit of $6.75 million, with a modified no-trade clause for this year.

The St. Paul, Minn. native has been a staple on the Tampa Bay blue line for several years. Since he was traded to the Bolts from the New York Rangers before the trade deadline in 2018, McDonagh has delivered consistency and effective play during his time with the organization.

He helped the team win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021, pushing the Lightning to a third straight Eastern Conference Final appearance in 2022. He was then traded to the Nashville Predators, where he played for two years before being dealt back to Tampa in May 2024.

McDonagh has played 364 games with the Lightning across seven seasons, scoring 27 goals and 109 assists for 136 points. He also has a career plus/minus of +118 with the team, good for fifth in franchise history. He’s also appeared in 94 postseason games with the team, ninth all-time, scoring two goals and 24 assists for 26 points.

This season, having missed time due to injury, the 36-year-old has scored three goals and three assists for six points in 15 games. In 1,025 career games, he has notched 83 goals and 343 assists for 426 points, having blocked 2,037 shots, good for seventh in NHL history.

The Lightning (16-8-2) currently sits atop the Atlantic Division. They will be hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night.