Ryan Patrick McDonagh (born June 13, 1989) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). Drafted in the first round, 12th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in 2007, he played college hockey for the Badgers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He also played for the New York Rangers, for whom he served as team captain from October 2014 until being traded to the Lightning in 2018. McDonagh won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021, before spending two seasons with the Nashville Predators.
McDonagh also competes internationally for the United States and was a member of the men’s ice hockey team at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Playing career
Amateur
McDonagh with the Badgers in February 2010
McDonagh attended Cretin-Derham Hall High School in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where as a junior he helped lead his team to the school’s first state hockey championship. The following season, he was awarded the 2007 Minnesota Mr. Hockey award, which is given annually to the top senior high school hockey player in the state.
McDonagh was then drafted in the first round, 12th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens on June 22, 2007, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He also won a silver medal with the United States at the 2007 IIHF World U18 Championships.
Two years later, McDonagh represented the Americans at the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
On June 30, 2009, McDonagh was traded (along with Chris Higgins, Pavel Valentenko and Doug Janik) to the New York Rangers in exchange for Scott Gomez, Tom Pyatt and Michael Busto.[5]
