Ryan McDonagh’s coronary heart was all the time in Tampa Bay.
The 35-year-old defenseman spent 5 seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the place he gained two Stanley Cup championships and was a part of one of many extra dominant NHL runs in latest reminiscence.
He by no means needed to depart Tampa Bay however was compelled out the door two years in the past when the cash-strapped Lightning traded him to the Nashville Predators for some much-needed wage cap aid.
However McDonagh approached Predators basic supervisor Barry Trotz this offseason and requested to be traded again to his previous group — a request Trotz granted and the Lightning pushed arduous for.
And now that he’s again at his previous stomping grounds, McDonagh seems to be in a significantly better headspace than he was at any level the final two seasons.
“It’s a really particular place for me and my household,” McDonagh recently told Da Magnificence League, by way of NHL.com. “Two of my children have been born there. Between that and successful, these have been some large moments I had there. And it’s a fantastic neighborhood. A fantastic place to boost your children and a fantastic market to play hockey, with a corporation that’s behind you. They’re all the time going to go for the Cup, so it’s enjoyable to be part of that once more.”
Although there’s loads of acquainted faces within the Lightning locker room, the group McDonagh is becoming a member of doesn’t look precisely just like the one he left. Notably, his shut pal and former Lightning captain Steven Stamkos is gone. Mockingly, the 34-year-old signed a four-year, $32M take care of McDonagh’s former group, the Predators, in free company.
Whereas McDonagh would’ve beloved to have been reunited together with his good buddy, he understands he’s not dwelling in an ideal world.
“That’s the enterprise facet of hockey,” McDonagh mentioned. “Generally issues don’t go based on the way in which you assume it’ll. … I can’t communicate for him, however I’m positive he needed to remain. However I do know he’s thrilled about Nashville too. It’s a fantastic alternative for him, and a fantastic group down there too.”
Ending out his profession in Tampa Bay was primarily the driving drive behind McDonagh’s offseason commerce request. He has two extra years left on his contract with a $6.75M cap hit, and he’ll be 37 by the point he’s eligible at no cost company.
However he’ll presumably will dangle up his skates earlier than he indicators with one other group.
