Ryan McDonagh
The Tampa Bay Lightning need to shed salary and the odd man out appears to be Ryan McDonagh. The St. Louis Blues have interest.

After another great Stanley Cup run by the Tampa Bay Lightning, they are now faced with what many NHL teams are facing, a salary cap crunch and that means some players will have to be traded this offseason.

Elliotte Friedman was on his 32 Thoughts Podcast and reports that the Lightning are looking to trade defenceman Ryan McDonagh.

“One of the teams that potentially has interest in McDonagh is St. Louis, it makes a lot of sense, they’re looking for a top 4 D, it fits with them, that’s the kind of player Doug Armstrong and Craig Berube love”.

Elliotte Friedman, 32 Thoughts Podcast

McDonagh does have a hefty Lightning salary cap hit of $6,750,000 per year for the next four years. You have to wonder if Tampa will eat some of that salary to facilitate a trade.

McDonagh, 33, was drafted 12th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He does own a full no-trade clause which turns into a modified no-trade clause on January 16, 2026 where he submits a list of 12 teams he would not accept a trade to.

Ryan McDonagh contract breakdown

SEASONCLAUSECAP HITBASE SALARY
2022-23NTC$6,750,000$5,460,000
2023-24NTC$6,750,000$8,400,000
2024-25NTC$6,750,000$6,930,000
2025-26M-NTC$6,750,000$4,200,000
TOTAL$47,250,000$47,250,000

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