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Tampa Bay Lightning Likely on the Verge of Trading $74 Million Defenseman, Per Insider

Originally posted on House of Hockey | By Jack Sutherland | Last updated Jul 17, 2025 10:41 PM ET

Per a new report from analyst Nick Kypreos, the Tampa Bay Lightning could be considering a trade of defenseman Ryan McDonagh for what would be the 2nd time in just a few years.

The Tampa Bay Lightning already traded defenseman Mikael Sergachev to the Utah Hockey Club last summer - are they on the verge of trading another veteran defenseman?

Per a new report from NHL analyst Nick Kypreos, the Lightning could be considering a trade of defenseman Ryan McDonagh, who they have already traded once before.

After the Lightning failed to win the Stanley Cup for what would have been a 3rd straight year, Tampa Bay traded McDonagh to the Nashville Predators, where he instantly became one of their most reliable blue liners.

But he was brought back to the Lightning in May of 2024 for a 2nd round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and a 7th round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. In March, he played in the 1,000th career NHL game.

He's about to enter the final year of his contract that carries an AAV (average annual value) of $6,750,000. His career earnings to this point are about $74 million!

The former captain of the New York Rangers, McDonagh was brought to the Rangers in the ill-advised trade by the Montreal Canadiens for Scott Gomez, a deal that still haunts Habs fans to this day.

He had been taken 12th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Canadiens before the trade.

In 1,010 NHL games, McDonagh has 420 points (80G, 340A). He's also won the Stanley Cup twice with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021.

This article first appeared on House of Hockey and was syndicated with permission.

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