EDINA, Minn. — Ryan McDonagh said he is excited for the opportunity to play for the Nashville Predators this season.
The Predators acquired the 33-year-old defenseman in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 3 for defenseman Philippe Myers and forward prospect Grant Mismash.
McDonagh played five seasons for the Lightning and helped them win the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021, and reach the Cup Final last season, when they lost the best-of-7 series to the Colorado Avalanche in six games.
“It’s tough to leave the guys, everything we accomplished there in Tampa,” McDonagh said at Da Beauty League, a 4-on-4 summer hockey league for NHL, American Hockey League and NCAA Division I players living in Minnesota. “But we’ll have those moments forever. I’m just excited to join a team that’s hungry to win. It’s an older team mixing in with a lot of younger guys. Just from playing with them over the years, it’s a tough team. to play against and I’m excited to join and help out in any way I can.
McDonagh had 26 points (four goals, 22 assists) in 71 regular-season games and five points (one goal, four assists) in 23 playoff games last season.
He’ll likely be paired with Matthias Ekholm in Nashville and add depth and experience to a group that includes Roman Josea finalist for the Norris Trophy as the best defenseman in the NHL last season after winning the award in 2020, and younger players such as Dante Fabbro (24) and Jeremy Lauzon (25).
“They’ve had a core group of guys that have been there for a while and have gone through a lot together,” McDonagh said. “It’s a group that’s made some runs in the past, but I’m sure they’re hungry for more and I want to be a part of it.”
Being a leader is familiar to McDonagh; He was New York Rangers captain from 2014-18, prior to being traded to the Lightning. He was an alternate captain for Tampa Bay the past three seasons.
“I’ve always had veteran leaders in my career that helped me take that next step,” McDonagh said. “So that’s one thing, letter or not, is what I’m hoping to bring to Nashville.”
And while trades are always a bittersweet part of the business, McDonagh said he is choosing to focus on the positives coming his way with his arrival in Nashville.
“At the end of the day, it’s a great opportunity,” McDonagh said. “That’s what I’m looking at. [Nashville is] a great place to live, a great place to raise a family for my wife and kids, and it’s a hockey market that’s really appreciative of their players. That’s what you want to be a part of and contribute to. I can’t wait.”
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