Tampa Bay Lightning Extend Ryan McDonagh’s Contract
The Tampa Bay Lightning have officially extended the contract of seasoned defenseman Ryan McDonagh, securing him for three additional years at a total value of $12.3 million. This announcement came from general manager Julien BriseBois, who confirmed the agreement on November 6, 2025.
Once the new deal takes effect, McDonagh, who will be 37 years old at the time, will carry a salary cap hit of $4.1 million through the end of the 2028-29 NHL season.
McDonagh’s Contributions and Team Performance
McDonagh’s impressive resume includes being a pivotal player in the Lightning’s back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in 2020 and 2021, as well as contributing to their run to the finals again in 2022, where they ended up losing to the Colorado Avalanche in six games. The Lightning had traded him to the Nashville Predators the previous summer to create additional salary cap space.
Notably, under new cap regulations, his contract will account for less than 4% of the team’s salary cap in each of the next three seasons.
Current Team Status
At present, McDonagh is sidelined due to injury, joining fellow defenseman Victor Hedman on the bench. Despite these challenges, the Lightning have demonstrated resilience, achieving a record of 16 wins in 26 games and currently topping the Atlantic Division standings. The team’s ability to excel even with key players absent speaks volumes about their depth and potential for the season.
