The Tampa Bay Lightning were unsuccessful in their quest to win a third consecutive Stanley Cup Finals, and now it's back to the drawing board as they look to return to hockey's biggest stage for the fourth year in a row. The Lightning face some difficult roster decisions this offseason, and without a lot of cap space to work with, the team is staring at an unfortunate reality regarding one of their most loyal defenders. According to Elliotte Friedman, the Lightning have begun exploring potential trade fits for star defender Ryan McDonagh.
https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1542577272456192001
The decision to move on from McDonagh is surely a difficult one, but the Lightning are forced to face the reality that they simply can't afford to bring back all of their free agents unless they move on from a key player. While McDonagh has a full no-trade clause, the Lightning are reportedly working with the defenseman in order to find a suitable landing spot, one which he would deem agreeable.
McDonagh was a key cog in Tampa's two Stanley Cup Finals victories, and was crucial to them staying alive to see six games in their series against the Avalanche this season. A fan favorite and one of the most beloved players within the organization, there won't be a soul not saddened by the departure of McDonagh, should a trade get worked out.
The Lightning signed McDonagh to a seven-year, $47.25 million contract in 2019. He's making an average of $6.75 million per season and is due to make a base salary of $5.46 million in 2022-23. Last year, McDonagh featured in 71 games and provided 26 points, coming up big on the defensive end for Tampa.
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