The Tampa Bay Lightning have locked up defenceman Ryan McDonagh, signing him to a seven-year extension worth $47.25 million.
The deal carries a $6.75-million cap hit.
“I’m very excited to sign an extension that will keep me with the Lightning organization for the next eight seasons,” McDonagh said, via the team’s press release. “Since being traded to Tampa Bay earlier this year, my experience with the city, my teammates and the fans has been nothing short of world-class. My family and I are very excited to continue to play and live in Tampa with the ultimate goal of helping to bring the organization its second Stanley Cup.”
McDonagh, 29, has one season remaining on his current deal, counting for $4.7 million against the Lightning’s cap for the 2018-19 campaign before this new deal kicks in.
General manager Steve Yzerman made no secret of his desire to lock up McDonagh, a pending 2019 UFA, to a long-term deal.
The former New York Rangers captain joined Tampa at the trade deadline in a blockbuster deal and fit in well with the Lightning. (Forward J.T. Miller, who re-signed with the Lightning earlier this week, was also part of that blockbuster deal between Tampa and New York.)
McDonagh registered two goals and an assist in 14 games with Tampa to end the regular season and followed it up with five assists in 17 post-season games with his new team. The native of St. Paul, Minnesota, has tallied 53 goals and 188 assists for 241 points in 530 career regular season games.
July 1, 2018
Tampa Bay Lightning
