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The Lightning Clearly Regretted Trading Ryan McDonagh

Trey Daubert / NHL / May 22, 2024

The Lightning Clearly Regretted Trading Ryan McDonagh

Ryan McDonagh is back. The Lightning got rid of him while getting essentially nothing back in 2022. Almost two years later on the nose, McDonagh has returned after striking another deal with Nashville. Can we just take a moment to pause and reflect on what just happened?

First, I want to start out by saying… I told you so. Just another example of how Trey was right and a general manager who makes millions of dollars was wrong.

More than anything, let’s please use this as a learning lesson for contenders. This idea where you’re going to rip off an important part of your blue line while remaining a cup contender is silly. The rest of the league always improves.

By the way, Tampa suffered the consequences. Andrei Vasilevskiy had his two worst seasons every without McDonagh on the ice. Vasilevskiy posted SV% of .915 in 2022 and .900 this past year. The team also posted consecutive 98 point seasons and failed to win a single playoff round.

The proof was in the pudding. Tampa Bay took a step back and they righted their wrongs. They just gave Nashville free draft pick ammo to play for the Predators for two years. Good deal for the Preds…

Steven Stamkos ‘Disappointed’ By Lack Of Extension Talk With Lightning

The real question now moving forward is if Tampa Bay can also re-sign Steven Stamkos. They have about $5 million in cap space remaining and don’t have much wiggle room to make something happen.

Either way, this is a good time to remind you that it remains so insane that these teams don’t call me. McDonagh would have never left Tampa Bay had I been a consultant for the team. Oh, and they would have never made the Tanner Jeannot trade (who the team is also probably going to be forced to give away to create more cap space this Summer).

Dear, Julien BriseBois. Why haven’t you called me yet?

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