Blue Line Station
Fansided

New York Rangers: Assessing the Rangers’ Most Valuable Contract

By Timothy Haggerty

Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 11
Next
Feb 23, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh (27) in action against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. The Rangers beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 in the shootout. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh (27) in action against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. The Rangers beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 in the shootout. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

#9: Ryan McDonagh

Since Ryan McDonagh joined the New York Rangers he has been an excellent defenseman. He contributes on both ends of the ice and serves as the team’s captain.

McDonagh is making $5,000,000 this year and will make $5,100,000 next year, and $5,300,000 the following year. He will be an unrestricted free agent after that.

Offense isn’t necessarily where McDonagh’s contract finds its value. The Rangers are paying McDonagh approximately $102,000 per point. That isn’t the best among the Rangers defensemen, but it is far from the worst.

Where McDonagh’s value really comes into play is defense and leadership. McDonagh has a +19 goal differential this season and is logging an average of 24 minutes on the ice each game.

You would be hard pressed to find a team’s top defenseman making less than McDonagh. This is due in part to McDonagh’s growth since signing his contract.

He is a serious difference maker for the Rangers and the price they are paying is a steal for what they are getting from McDonagh.

Home/Editorials