Entering the NHL trade deadline, Tampa Bay Lightning was among the favorites to reach this year’s Stanley Cup, so no one thought the team will make a big splash when it comes to roster additions. However, the Lightning surprised everyone on Monday by acquiring defenseman Ryan McDonagh and forward J.T. Miller from the New York Rangers. The Rangers got forwards Brett Howden and Vladislav Namestnikov, defenseman Libor Hajek alongside two draft picks (2018 first-round and 2019 second-round) in exchange. The trade was confirmed on Tampa Bay Lightning official Twitter profile.
Welcome to the @TBLightning , Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller! Get your No. 27 and No. 10 jerseys and shirts in-store at tonight's game and online soon! #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/IvDycdjoyv
— Tampa Bay Sports (@ShopTBSports) February 26, 2018
“Dan [Girardi] texted me and was pretty excited, and I couldn’t be more excited myself to get down [to Tampa] and be part of all their success.” – said Ryan McDonagh to reporters during a conference call. “[Steve] Yzerman said he feels that I’m a good character guy and that I can add a lot to the backend… I want to do whatever I can to help win. There’s some big expectations there that I’d love to help be a part of.“
He also added that he is “looking forward to reuniting with a lot of familiar faces in Tampa,” and that the fact that Miller was part of the deal “definitely sweetened everything.“
The 28-year-old McDonagh played 49 games for the Rangers in this NHL season, scoring two goals and having 26 points in total. He was also the team’s captain and averaged the most minutes. McDonagh was a first round pick in 2007 NHL Entry Draft, where Montreal Canadiens took him 15th overall. However, he was traded before he turned pro to the New York Rangers in 2009.
J.T. Miller, on the other hand, played 63 games so far, managing 13 goals and 40 points. He was second-ranked among all Rangers players in assists and points total.
