Player Discussion: Ryan McDonagh

[ccman68]

True shutdown defenseman who can do a bit of everything. Crazy how badly Yzerman fleeced the Rangers in that trade, and the one player of any value (Howden) that the Rangers got back in that trade was hated by Rangers fans and then dealt for peanuts to the Golden Knights, where he promptly turned back into the player he could be, being a big part of Vegas winning the 2023 Cup.

Hoping we can at least win another playoff round with McDonagh and potentially do more damage.

Rangers rushed Howden to the nhl for no goddamn reason. If we'd kept him he would've spent at least 2 years with the Crunch.

 

[LightningStrikes]

McThunder with a league leading +22, next on the team is Cirelli (+17).

 

[Sky04]

McThunder with a league leading +22, next on the team is Cirelli (+17).

Most underrated piece of our defense the last 7 years including the years he wasn't here. Night and day difference when he's not around.

On the other hand the team has not really missed Sergachev in the slightest. We're the highest scoring team in the league and top-10 in GA.

 

[Stammertime91]

McThunder with a league leading +22, next on the team is Cirelli (+17).

McDad is home.

 

[Outl4w]

all we wanted for christmas was for McDaddy to be home

 

[Stammertime91]

all we wanted for christmas was for McDaddy to be home

He came back with the milk after 2 years

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

*finished the night with 1,939

 

[LightningStrikes]

McD with 1,000 career games!

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

1. Marc-Edouard Vlasic - 2, 176
2. Mark Giordano - 2,164
3. John Carlson - 2,091
4. Alex Pietrangelo - 2,087
5. Kris Russel - 2,044
6. Ryan Suter - 2,028
7. Duncan Keith - 2,010
8. Ryan McDonagh - 2,001

* the NHL has only tracked the blocked shot stat since 2005

 

[ultra63]

1. Marc-Edouard Vlasic - 2, 176
2. Mark Giordano - 2,164
3. John Carlson - 2,091
4. Alex Pietrangelo - 2,087
5. Kris Russel - 2,044
6. Ryan Suter - 2,028
7. Duncan Keith - 2,010
8. Ryan McDonagh - 2,001

* the NHL has only tracked the blocked shot stat since 2005

From the Athletic. Starting the obvious The NHL’s top 10 most underrated defensemen and why they’re so valuable. Ryan McDonagh, Tampa Bay Lightning​

Everybody focuses on the Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei signings when discussing the Nashville Predators’ surprisingly catastrophic 2024-25 season. The huge offseason change people rarely talk about — one that gutted the defensive solidity of Nashville’s top four this season — is the loss of Ryan McDonagh. That, in a nutshell, perfectly captures McDonagh’s underrated reputation: People have always known he’s a good top-four player, but you don’t realize exactly how valuable and irreplaceable he is until he’s gone.

It’s a lesson the Lightning experienced firsthand during the last two seasons without McDonagh, when the club’s blue line and overall defensive structure suffered significantly in his absence.

Even at 35, McDonagh is one of the best shutdown defensemen in the NHL. The Lightning have controlled 58 percent of high-danger chances and surrendered just 1.85 goals against per 60 during his five-on-five shifts this season, which is one of the best marks in the league. Tampa Bay has outscored opponents by a whopping 23 goals when McDonagh is on the ice at five-on-five.

He’s helped revitalize longtime partner Erik Cernak, whose game had regressed hard during the two years when the hard-nosed veteran was in Nashville. He’s also the backbone of Tampa Bay’s elite penalty kill.

Dom Luszczyszyn’s player card

McDonagh is responsible for soaking up the hardest defensive matchups on Tampa Bay’s blue line. His success in that daunting role has freed up Victor Hedman to spend about 20 percent fewer minutes against elite competition compared to last season, according to PuckIQ’s data. And Hedman’s two-way numbers have improved a ton now that he isn’t carrying as large a defensive burden.