The New York Rangers have agreed to trade Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Rangers get Vladislav Namestnikov, Brett Howden, Libor Hajek, a 2018 first round pick and a conditional second-round pick.
Damn, autocorrect. Brett Howden: https://t.co/zG1u94NmPn
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 26, 2018
I’m hearing TB sending to NYR: Libor Hajek, Brett Holden, Vladislav Nemestnikov, 2018 1st round pick, conditional second round pick. Confirmation to follow.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 26, 2018
Ryan McDonagh Traded to Tampa Bay Lightning
Key Players
In Mcdonagh, the Lightning get a reliable top pairing defencemen. This season he scored two goals and 24 assists for 26 points in 49 games played. He also added 20 minutes in penalties. His possession numbers are 46.4 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of +0.5. Those totals are lower compared to last season, where he scored six goals and 36 assists for 42 points. However, this is more reflective of the teams overall poor performance than McDonagh’s.
Over his eight-year NHL career, he has played exclusively Rangers. The Rangers acquired him in a 2009 trade from the Montreal Canadiens. He was originally drafted by the Habs in the 1st round, 12th overall of the 2007 NHL draft. He has put up 51 goals and 187 assists for 238 career points in 516 career games.
Miller
Miller, 24, has 13 goals and 40 points in 63 games this season. In 341 career games, the former first round pick has 72 goals and 100 assists for 172 points. He can play left wing and centre. Miller is at 46.8 percent Corsi, -0.1 relative Corsi.
The Return
Namestnikov, 25, has 20 goals and 44 points in 62 games this season. In 263 games, he has 53 goals and 70 assists for 123 career points. He has a 52.5 percent Corsi and +1.8 relative Corsi. Namestnikov will be a restricted free agent this summer.
Howden and Hajek are two of Tampa’s top prospects. Ben Kerr reviewed them in his annual top prospects report.
What This Means for the Future
For the Lightning, they get a highly experienced component to their back line. The former captain inspires confidence and has proved on many occasions unquestionable willingness to put his body on the line for his team. With the right opportunity, he can combine good defensive awareness with his powerful slap shot. There is more potential to be had from McDonagh.
In this trade, the Rangers may have lost one of their most valuable defensive assets. Their issues this season have meant they were unsuccessful to get into the playoffs. Hopefully, a reshuffle will boost the team in the coming years. They get a boatload of future assets.
Main Photo: COLUMBUS, OH – JANUARY 7: Ryan McDonagh #27 of the New York Rangers controls the puck during the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on January 7, 2017, at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
