We have a trade to announce the day before the Conference Finals begin in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Tampa Bay Lightning are re-acquiring defenseman Ryan McDonagh from the Nashville Predators.

The Lightning are getting McDonagh and a 2024 fourth-round pick in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick and a 2024 seventh-round pick.

The Tampa Bay Lightning were going to be a team to watch this summer because of free-agent Steven Stamkos. Stamkos is due a new contract. In addition, defenseman Victor Hedman is due a new contract extension.

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The acquisition of McDonagh makes the summer even more interesting, especially surrounding the Lightning. The Predators are not retaining money on McDonagh’s $6.75 million salary cap hit. There are two years left on his deal.

However, the Predators have a salary cap hit of $5.55 million this season and $6.55 million next two seasons for the Matt Duchene buyout.

 

The Lightning now have a little over $5 million in cap space, and Stamkos needs a new deal. There is no rush in the eyes of Lightning GM Julien BriseBois to sign Hedman. Stamkos is the priority.

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The Predators have done an excellent job with these trades.

Marco D’Amico: The Nashville Predators paid the price of Philippe Myers, Grant Mishmash, and a 4th-round pick to rent Ryan McDonaugh. They then got a 2nd + a 7th for their trouble.

Predators GM Barry Trotz: “This trade adds to our already deep corps of draft picks over the next two NHL Drafts and allows us to continue to make tweaks and improvements to our team during the offseason. We want to make decisions that help us build on the success we had in the 2023-24 season by giving us as many weapons as we can get, whether it’s younger players on our roster, more impactful draft choices or salary cap flexibility.”

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The Predators are shedding about $7 million in salary for the next two years for a player who will turn 35 and has a history of injuries.

However, McDonagh did it for the Predators during the 23-24 season. He was also a crucial member of the Stanley Cup Championship teams in 2020 and 2021.

All eyes will be on what the Lightning and Predators do next this offseason.

Even with the Stanley Cup Playoffs still going on, the off-season has begun for the rest of the league.

 

 



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