Ryan McDonagh keeps chasing the Cup with the team that haunted Rangers

It may not be the greatest of seasons for the New York Rangers, but they are still in the thick of the playoff hunt. As of Dec. 4, the Rangers are in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division with 30 points, but are just six points behind the Washington Capitals for first place. There is still plenty of time for the Rangers to really pick up some momentum and solidify a spot.

Speaking of the playoffs, one of their former foes who may stand in the way of making the Stanley Cup Final out of the Eastern Conference announced a signing on Thursday. And yes, it's regarding a former Rangers player.

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced that defenseman and former rangers captain Ryan McDonagh has signed a three-year contract extension. According to multiple reports, McDonagh is set to make $4.1 million per year, as the contract runs through the 2028-29 season, when the defenseman is 39 years old.

Ex-Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh extending NHL career by three years with Lightning

McDonagh had been a long-time fan favorite of the Rangers. He was a consistent force on the Rangers' defense that thrived during their countless runs to the playoffs in the 2010s. Ironically, one of their playoff runs was ended by the Lightning. In the 2015 Eastern Conference Finals, the Lightning defeated the Rangers in seven games, ending their hopes of returning to the Stanley Cup Finals one year after losing to the Los Angeles Kings.

In 2018, the Rangers decided to undergo a rebuild, meaning they would trade away veteran players in an effort to get younger. The Rangers traded McDonagh and future Rangers captain J.T. Miller to the Lightning in exchange for a 2018 first-round pick, a 2019 conditional second-round pick, Vladislav Namestnikov, Brett Howden, and Libor Hajek. That 2018 first-round pick was used on defenseman K'Andre Miller, who was a relied on player before being dealt this offseason to the Carolina Hurricanes. The 2019 second-round pick was used on Karl Henriksson, who never cracked the NHL roster. All-in-all, it wasn't the great trade that the Rangers expected. While Miller was a main piece of the Rangers' defensive core, he was far from consistent, as he notably struggled with turnovers.

In his eight years with the Rangers, McDonagh recorded 51 goals and 187 assists for 238 points through 516 games.

The trade ultimately backfired in 2022, as the Rangers were in the midst of a deep run in the playoffs, defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins and Hurricanes in the first two rounds. Their opponents in the Eastern Conference Finals were the Lightning and McDonagh. The Rangers took the first two games of the series, but the Lightning took the next four to advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the third consecutive year. McDonagh wasn't a major factor in that series, as he recorded a -2 plus/minus ratio, but posted 17 blocked shots and 12 hits.

McDonagh is in his second season of his second stint with the Lightning after being reacquired by them in 2024. He was traded to the Nashville Predators after that 2022 playoff run. McDonagh is currently on the injured reserve, but he did log 15 games this season, recording three goals and three assists.

McDonagh's career isn't ending any time soon, as he's on a Lightning team that could very well contend for a Stanley Cup in the next couple of seasons. After all, they currently lead the Atlantic Division with 34 points.