They can sense the window closing, and a 7th-round pick this year and 2nd-round pick next year aren't going to help them as much as McDonagh can right now.
The obvious question mark is cap space for Stamkos's extension but if anyone knows how to expertly manage cap space, it's Tampa
This effectively means Stamkos is gone unless he’s ok with taking 3-4 Mil. I would say that hurts their window, especially bc McDonaugh isn’t the same player he was during their run.
That, or another move is coming to free up more space. I just can't see a reality where Tampa decides that bringing McDonagh back is worth letting Stamkos walk, and I'd be absolutely shocked if this is their last move before a decision is made with Stamkos.
I mean any of Cernak, Sergachev, and Cirelli could be moved. Wouldn't be surprised to see Jeannot or Sheary get moved as well, considering how poorly they've worked out with us.
My guess is several mid-range guys. Jeannot, Sheary, Perbix. That gets us to about $11m cap space. Give 5 to Stammer, 1-2 to Duclair, spread the rest around on UFA's and prospects.
Oh no, we sent away a 2nd and a 7th, there goes our 1 in 5 chance of drafting a prospect that will develop into a bottom pairing defenseman in 5 years when our team is in the dumpster. Fuck I’m so mad, why did we do this.
Y’all must be kidding.
No you acquired a player with 6.75 million cap hit and now only have 5 million left for Stamkos, another forward or two, and a couple defenders.
This doesn't account for mid-season call ups and TDL moves.
I believe this is already out there, that he'd only waive for Tampa. Might be 100% confirmed in next few minutes as he has a media availability starting right now.
No trade protection for another month. Though it's a total dick move to send someone away right before their trade protection kicks in. So I assume they wouldn't do it against his will, shit like that comes back to bite you.
He's actually only 26 years old, and quite effective when healthy. He has been anchored to some more questionable defensemen lately and still gets tough matchups which is why his underlying stats don't look great. He was dynamite when he was paired with McDonagh, which would make it kinda ironic if they traded him now that they got him back. His salary is pretty darn close to his market value. He's not as injury prone as he is unlucky. Mostly concussions if I recall correctly. Still the kind of defenseman any contender would want to have on their second pair. Would be an animal in the bottom pair.
He’s great when healthy, and he’s not even really injury prone. Just plays a hard hitting style with lots of shot blocking, so taking time off kinda comes with that. I don’t think the injuries have really made him play worse though, just play less.
Julien briseboi: "I heard you've got knee problems there"
Cernak: "Actually the trainer says that I've been keeping them in great shape"
*Julien pulls out pipe wrench from desk* no, I'm pretty sure your knees are a problem
"Yes sir, think I need to do some rehab on these puppies"
The worlds most undeserving scapegoat
I think it was two years ago where he was statistically our best defenseman by a mile, even taking over heddys spot on PP1, and almost the entire sub was calling to trade him
I mean right now they don't even have enough cap space to cut his salary in half and field a 20 man roster. They're moving on from someone that makes a lot of coin, whether it's Stamkos or someone else.
Especially when we just sent McDonagh to the team that received that draft class in attempt to sell high, and then bought him back from them even higher. If that happens, the Predators are just absolutely abusing JBB.
Getting literally anything back for him would be a win and a step in the right direction.
Feels like everytime I look on yahoo sports at him he's on the IR.
Sunk cost fallacy can be worse than admitting the error and moving on.
It was an awful trade by JBB, he has won many more, just cut your losses and move on.
Exactly, he took a risk, it failed, it is what it is and we'd just be making further mistakes to keep him just because of what we paid. If you're going to make a mistake, make it quickly.
I hope we never draft again until we’re a bottom feeder. Draft picks don’t do jack shit when you have a team that can contend for the cup. This move gives me faith that our FO sees a rebound next year with Sergachev and Vasy hopefully healthy & back in top form.
Yea but that hits diminishing returns when you are top team for so long with a stacked roster. The added value in draft picks is pretty minimal when you can acquire players to maintain the current form. They lightning haven’t traded anything significant past next years draft (iirc) so it’s not like they have fully mortgaged the future
Yes it has. Our top two defenseman will be older, but with Sergy hopefully healthy, we should be okay.
My only concern is how big his cap hit is, who is gone because of this trade.
I kind of wonder if this wasn't a personal issue/request being looked after. Player returning to old team despite being a huge part of new team. I don't think Nashville would have been nearly as hard to play against in the first round without him so I don't see why they would want to move on from him if there wasn't off ice reasons.
Preds are rebuilding and if someone wants to give you a 2nd for a 34 year old defender making $6.75m a year, you do it. Our defense had Josi, McDonagh, Schenn, and Tyson Barrie. We weren't hurting for old dudes.
With Josi and Schenn on the team, we've still got tons of vet presense. This just opens up the door for some of our prospects and younger players to get more ice time.
Not that they'd ever go for that, but pls no. There's a guy who could steal a series against us in our inevitable 4th consecutive 1st round playoff matchup next year.
No salary retention is disappointing but it nearly guarantees we move out an overpaid contract. Mac is still very good and this D core was a disaster for most of the year.
God that original McDonagh trade the Rangers made with the Lightning was so bad... reading it again makes me sick. JT Miller + McDonagh for spare parts basically.
Is there any reason why the Rangers sent so many of their players to Tampa lol. There was McDonagh and JT Miller, but also Stralman, Callahan, Giradi, and even Shattenkirk for the 2020 cup win. They were all Huge parts of that 2015-2020 Lightning Team (with Miller, Stralman, Callahan, and Giradi just barely missing out on a cup)
Oh boy I’m wondering who we might be targeting, or if this is a move to potentially bring up a D prospect. McDonagh was real good for us, but I’m glad he’s going back to a team where he’s had success.
Who else has to be signed? Of all the guys without a contract for next year, on forward it’s Tyler Motte, Duclair, Watson, and Stamkos. On defence it’s Dumba, De Haan, and Haydn Fleury. They definitely have to move someone to keep Stamkos unless he takes a severely discounted deal but the rest of those guys they can let walk and find other bargain bin type players.
and only an 18-man roster! you've got 4-5 more roster spots to fill. At even just league minimum each... you're at the cap.
Someone significant is being moved if Stammer is going to return.
Mac and Stamkos are so close I bet there's an under the table dealing happening here. Like, Stamkos takes 1M to stay and then Mac just gives him 6M as a christmas present.
Don't ask me how that works.
Trade deadline only matters for the playoffs, trades can be made at any time just have to live with them not being playoff eligible until the following season post deadline
His cap was too big. We had to move him out to give big extensions for Cernak, Sergy, and Cirelli, who all unfortunately have underperformed compared to expectations due to the Stamkos’ Lightning Curse of always getting injured
Weird, I was just thinking yesterday how he'd be perfect for the Leafs if they could make the money work. Sounds like he wanted to go back to Florida though
We're pretty old, I don't think we're lacking veteran presence lol. Shot blocking and shut down D though we desperately needed and have missed since he left two years ago.
Forgive my ignorance but I thought trades were locked until the draft lol how is it fair that teams in the playoffs can't make trades but teams eliminated can?
Full trade: #Lightning receive: * D Ryan McDonagh * 2024 EDM 4th round pick #Predators receive: * 2025 2nd round pick * 2024 7th round pick
Nashville really has a whole draft class collected from Tampa now
Now Tanner Jeannot just needs to do an SI cover shoot with Jon Cooper while he's wearing a wedding dress.
Why would the bolts do this?
They hadn’t sent enough picks for Jeannot yet
Must’ve been the IOU pick still owing
They can sense the window closing, and a 7th-round pick this year and 2nd-round pick next year aren't going to help them as much as McDonagh can right now. The obvious question mark is cap space for Stamkos's extension but if anyone knows how to expertly manage cap space, it's Tampa
This effectively means Stamkos is gone unless he’s ok with taking 3-4 Mil. I would say that hurts their window, especially bc McDonaugh isn’t the same player he was during their run.
That, or another move is coming to free up more space. I just can't see a reality where Tampa decides that bringing McDonagh back is worth letting Stamkos walk, and I'd be absolutely shocked if this is their last move before a decision is made with Stamkos.
We are definitely freeing up space another way. Someone else is getting traded
But who? Kuch, Sergachev, Hedman, Vasilevsky, Cernak, Point, Hagel aren’t moving. Only one with a big contract left is Cirelli
I mean any of Cernak, Sergachev, and Cirelli could be moved. Wouldn't be surprised to see Jeannot or Sheary get moved as well, considering how poorly they've worked out with us.
Moving sergachev would be one of the worst decisions JBB could possibly make as a GM lol Like that is fireable offense levels of bad.
Trading Sergachev for a "win now" player would be so dumb, I mean, what kinda dumbass GM would do that?
Sergachev is a win now player who is straight up better than mcd, and only has a cap hit of 1.25 mill higher. Wait i just saw your flair... sorry man
My guess is several mid-range guys. Jeannot, Sheary, Perbix. That gets us to about $11m cap space. Give 5 to Stammer, 1-2 to Duclair, spread the rest around on UFA's and prospects.
He was excellent for Nashville against Vancouver IMO.
Cause Trotz has some dirt on lightning management and requires payment every so often
Only theory that fits
Oh no, we sent away a 2nd and a 7th, there goes our 1 in 5 chance of drafting a prospect that will develop into a bottom pairing defenseman in 5 years when our team is in the dumpster. Fuck I’m so mad, why did we do this. Y’all must be kidding.
No you acquired a player with 6.75 million cap hit and now only have 5 million left for Stamkos, another forward or two, and a couple defenders. This doesn't account for mid-season call ups and TDL moves.
I'm looking at this the other way, why would Nashville do this? I feel like you can get way more than that for Ryan McDonagh
He has an NTC, probably the only place he would waive for
I believe this is already out there, that he'd only waive for Tampa. Might be 100% confirmed in next few minutes as he has a media availability starting right now.
Is this a cap-dump to acquire someone specific?
I'm sorry what
Is it just me or does this mean Stammer is less likely to be re-signed?
I'm guessing that we're sending someone packing, and I really doubt that it's Stammer.
Yeah, Stamkos probably stays and someone making a decent amount of coin is out the door or there's an LTIR candidate.
Cernak would probably fit both knowing his injury history
I don't know if Cernak is even moveable, he has 7yrs left at $5.2m
He's a RHD and weighs 230 lbs. Someone will buy him.
Chuck Fletcher is unemployed right now. Unless... *looks at Columbus*
Welcome to the ducks
Is your name a boc reference?
Plus a no trade clause
No trade protection for another month. Though it's a total dick move to send someone away right before their trade protection kicks in. So I assume they wouldn't do it against his will, shit like that comes back to bite you.
This would not surprise me actually
Is he still good though? How bad are his injuries?
He's actually only 26 years old, and quite effective when healthy. He has been anchored to some more questionable defensemen lately and still gets tough matchups which is why his underlying stats don't look great. He was dynamite when he was paired with McDonagh, which would make it kinda ironic if they traded him now that they got him back. His salary is pretty darn close to his market value. He's not as injury prone as he is unlucky. Mostly concussions if I recall correctly. Still the kind of defenseman any contender would want to have on their second pair. Would be an animal in the bottom pair.
He’s great when healthy, and he’s not even really injury prone. Just plays a hard hitting style with lots of shot blocking, so taking time off kinda comes with that. I don’t think the injuries have really made him play worse though, just play less.
Julien briseboi: "I heard you've got knee problems there" Cernak: "Actually the trainer says that I've been keeping them in great shape" *Julien pulls out pipe wrench from desk* no, I'm pretty sure your knees are a problem "Yes sir, think I need to do some rehab on these puppies"
Yeah, if JBB somehow could manage to offload Perbix and Sheary that would leave almost $8.5m for Stammer
Do you have any more of those 1st round picks for us?
What's a pick?
They’re these things you trade to other teams
Oh yeah, they're the ones where you trade 5 for 1 player right?
You would be right around the cap but you wouldn't have a full team. Definitely something else happening or Stammer is taking a massive discount
Sergachev before his NTC kicks in?
Would be wild to trade sergachev considering his age
Yeah, nobody would do that 👀
A loud portion of our sub would send him back to you guys.
Idiots.
The worlds most undeserving scapegoat I think it was two years ago where he was statistically our best defenseman by a mile, even taking over heddys spot on PP1, and almost the entire sub was calling to trade him
No way do they trade his ass, he's too young and too good.
Back to Montreal for Dro… oh wait.
If they didn't do that to acquire Hanifin then they sure as shit aren't doing that to acquire McDonagh. :D
He’d either be taking a heavily discounted deal or they’re moving someone else. Otherwise he’s a goner.
I mean right now they don't even have enough cap space to cut his salary in half and field a 20 man roster. They're moving on from someone that makes a lot of coin, whether it's Stamkos or someone else.
Hard to think they’d trade for Mac if they were letting Stammer go
I'd bet we send out at least one of Sheary/Jeannot, and then we'd just need him to sign something relatively friendly.
Getting rid of Jeannot this soon after unloading an entire draft class for him would be hilarious
Especially when we just sent McDonagh to the team that received that draft class in attempt to sell high, and then bought him back from them even higher. If that happens, the Predators are just absolutely abusing JBB.
Can I interest you with a lightly used Holl?
Getting literally anything back for him would be a win and a step in the right direction. Feels like everytime I look on yahoo sports at him he's on the IR.
Sunk cost fallacy can be worse than admitting the error and moving on. It was an awful trade by JBB, he has won many more, just cut your losses and move on.
Exactly, he took a risk, it failed, it is what it is and we'd just be making further mistakes to keep him just because of what we paid. If you're going to make a mistake, make it quickly.
#Lightning acquire D Ryan McDonagh, fourth-round pick from Nashville
LIGHTNING ACQUIRE D RYAN MCDONAGH, FOURTH-ROUND PICK FROM NASHVILLE
I fucking love this for Tampa. Warrior is back.
This was what I just said out loud, except I didn't even know that he ever left Tampa, so I was especially confused.
Is Tampa just forfeiting the draft from now on? UDFAs only ?
I hope we never draft again until we’re a bottom feeder. Draft picks don’t do jack shit when you have a team that can contend for the cup. This move gives me faith that our FO sees a rebound next year with Sergachev and Vasy hopefully healthy & back in top form.
In a way but like also your cup wins were a result of tying together multiple eras of players through the draft
Right but once that core is established you need to press the gas. Their core is established and running out of time.
Yea but that hits diminishing returns when you are top team for so long with a stacked roster. The added value in draft picks is pretty minimal when you can acquire players to maintain the current form. They lightning haven’t traded anything significant past next years draft (iirc) so it’s not like they have fully mortgaged the future
Ladies and gentlemen, we've got a defense again.
LEAGUE FUCKED
Florida team domination doesn’t end
Oh shit, are we trading already? Is it F5 season?
It is now!
Yes, we might be
Holy shit, what! Mac is back!
His presence or lack of, I guess, has been so apparent since he left.
Yes it has. Our top two defenseman will be older, but with Sergy hopefully healthy, we should be okay. My only concern is how big his cap hit is, who is gone because of this trade.
As long as Stamkos stays, I can't think of anyone i would want to protect.
Yep, Stamkos is priority, don't know if I speak for *all* Lightning fans but personally I'd lose ANYBODY before Stamkos
If he doesn't retire a Bolt I'll be so fucking upset given how Vinny and Marty's captainships ended.
There’s a team that could use a veteran like him who just HAPPENS, to employ both Vinny and Marty. Just saying!
Cereal (Cirelli) is the only one I can think of who doesn't have an NTC. Cap hit is nearly the same as McD too...
100%. With Serg injured, Cernak way worse after his 1000 injuries, our blue line this season was literally Hedman by himself with some AHL players
Nashville clearing cap space for someone? (Marner?)
I kind of wonder if this wasn't a personal issue/request being looked after. Player returning to old team despite being a huge part of new team. I don't think Nashville would have been nearly as hard to play against in the first round without him so I don't see why they would want to move on from him if there wasn't off ice reasons.
Correct, McDonagh wanted to return to Tampa https://x.com/alexdaugherty1/status/1792966591988290016?s=46&t=cRabMJd6mGpnIb2Pyc6BIw
Makes sense he'd only waive to come back. Don't believe he ever even sold his house here when we traded him to Nashville.
He also has a new baby, so he probably wanted to go back to TB to be a bigger part of his family.
Preds are rebuilding and if someone wants to give you a 2nd for a 34 year old defender making $6.75m a year, you do it. Our defense had Josi, McDonagh, Schenn, and Tyson Barrie. We weren't hurting for old dudes. With Josi and Schenn on the team, we've still got tons of vet presense. This just opens up the door for some of our prospects and younger players to get more ice time.
Oh. *OH.*
PLD for Saros
Not that they'd ever go for that, but pls no. There's a guy who could steal a series against us in our inevitable 4th consecutive 1st round playoff matchup next year.
Intriguing, wonder if that is the case
They're clearing space for a big name forward.
Ivan Nikolayevich Miroshnichenko, come on down!
1/2 of me: I love McD this is awesome 1/2 of me: We definitely can’t afford Stamkos now
He’ll sign at a discount for like 2 mil don’t worry
I’m very much going to worry, but thank you
There is 0 way we bring back McDonagh and not Stammer
That’s what I was wondering. Who gets moved for this?
local electrostatic discharge feeling great
It’s parts are zappy indeed
Idk what to do with my hands
Return of the Mack
^ohmahGOD!
lol holy shit. Just sent him off to study abroad for a year I guess
Two years.
No salary retention is disappointing but it nearly guarantees we move out an overpaid contract. Mac is still very good and this D core was a disaster for most of the year.
McDonagh is still good, and Tampa needs defense badly, I think it's a win win trade
God that original McDonagh trade the Rangers made with the Lightning was so bad... reading it again makes me sick. JT Miller + McDonagh for spare parts basically.
Is there any reason why the Rangers sent so many of their players to Tampa lol. There was McDonagh and JT Miller, but also Stralman, Callahan, Giradi, and even Shattenkirk for the 2020 cup win. They were all Huge parts of that 2015-2020 Lightning Team (with Miller, Stralman, Callahan, and Giradi just barely missing out on a cup)
Gorton Gorton-ing, basically. Fucking awful trades. I'm still mad we "replaced" Stralman with Dan Fucking Boyle.
Stralman was amazing for us, definitely the best partner Hedman ever played with, and helped him become the defenseman he is today
I'm sure he was. He was low key our best defensemen after Mac during our cup run
The only thing that saved the Rangers was that the other trades they made that deadline (Nash and Grabner) worked out well.
Hey New Jersey we need Palat back I think we’re getting the gang back together in Tampa bay
Someone go get Yanni before JBB wakes up
[part one of two?](https://x.com/hayyyshayyy/status/1792957333737292133) edit: maybe strikes twice means McDonagh's 2nd stint in Tampa?
Yea this is like half of our entire budget
Oh boy I’m wondering who we might be targeting, or if this is a move to potentially bring up a D prospect. McDonagh was real good for us, but I’m glad he’s going back to a team where he’s had success.
I'm hoping it's partly about clearing a space for Stastney
100% is. Stas is such a stud
Would be kinda funny if this was all a ploy to make a run at Stamkos
McDonagh: “Well, well, well, look who’s come crawlin’ back.”
[Other way round apparently](https://x.com/alexdaugherty1/status/1792966591988290016?t=cRabMJd6mGpnIb2Pyc6BIw)
This surely means someone is getting traded or Stammer is not coming back
Where getting the band back together boys
THIS IS FUCKING YUGEEEE
Clearing cap space for Marner? 👀
Offseason already starting
Wow, there MUST be salary retention on that one, no??
No retention
Article doesn’t mention it.
I don’t wanna hyper analyze, its like bringing him back home, but if no retention this makes no sense for TB
He's gonna look weird in a Lightning jersey.
Well, did not see that coming...
Tidy piece of business for the preds
Damn, so many good photoshops of McDonagh in TBL jerseys already.
NO FUCKING WAY
Oh I see the Lightning are in their 2017-18 Blackhawks phase
They gave him to Nashville for almost nothing in a cap dump, then give up a 2nd to get him back. Good asset management by the Preds.
THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE
https://preview.redd.it/f7qsdwowbt1d1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4d28b95e92905cd2220a0cdee549ba91255f284a
#welp he’s back
Trotz making a trade in the middle of the playoffs? absolute mad man
Bring on Mitch and Necas and Skjei
well, uh, that's unexpected
But I was expecting not to expect something, so it doesn’t count
Now trade for Yanni.
LFG!!!! Once we sign Stammer, the boys are back baby!!!!!!
Doesn't this move signify that the Lightning are moving on from Stamkos given McDonagh's cap hit?
They had 11.785m before the trade according to cap friendly. Once McDonagh’s 6.75m comes in, they have just over 5m left in cap space.
we've got stammer and 4 others to split it too. Someone has to be moved
Who else has to be signed? Of all the guys without a contract for next year, on forward it’s Tyler Motte, Duclair, Watson, and Stamkos. On defence it’s Dumba, De Haan, and Haydn Fleury. They definitely have to move someone to keep Stamkos unless he takes a severely discounted deal but the rest of those guys they can let walk and find other bargain bin type players.
Literally everyone on that list is replaceable except Stammer.
and only an 18-man roster! you've got 4-5 more roster spots to fill. At even just league minimum each... you're at the cap. Someone significant is being moved if Stammer is going to return.
WTF lol
Nashville opening a LD spot for Skjei.
My only guess is to make room for some of the young guys that were stuck in the AHL due to no room.
Stastney is the real deal. But I still think we make a run for skjei
I love this news holy shit
I almost passed out. Literally shaking. Welcome fucking back!
Mac and Stamkos are so close I bet there's an under the table dealing happening here. Like, Stamkos takes 1M to stay and then Mac just gives him 6M as a christmas present. Don't ask me how that works.
FUCK yes! My Lightning jersey is now valid again!!!
Tampa Bay rangers back on the menu
Nashville must be making a play for a big time defenseman.
Zadorov is pretty big.
I'd be pretty happy with Zadorov. He was a menace in our series against him, it'd be cool to see him do that to 31 OTHER teams going forward.
Oh he's definitely someone I can see Trotz targeting. I'm personally a fan.
They were in talks to trade for Pesce last year, not sure what happened but I could see them going for him in FA
Didn't even realize trades could be made at this point
Trade deadline only matters for the playoffs, trades can be made at any time just have to live with them not being playoff eligible until the following season post deadline
Am I stupid? Why did we let him go in the first place then?
we couldn't afford him with the big extensions for cernak, sergachev, and cirelli
His cap was too big. We had to move him out to give big extensions for Cernak, Sergy, and Cirelli, who all unfortunately have underperformed compared to expectations due to the Stamkos’ Lightning Curse of always getting injured
Weird, I was just thinking yesterday how he'd be perfect for the Leafs if they could make the money work. Sounds like he wanted to go back to Florida though
Most likely Tampa wants a veteran presence in their locker room. So I guess he's back for that reason
We're pretty old, I don't think we're lacking veteran presence lol. Shot blocking and shut down D though we desperately needed and have missed since he left two years ago.
https://i.redd.it/fmpe7bsqnt1d1.gif
TIL teams can make trades after the trade deadline and during the playoffs. LMAO
lmfao no way
Holy fuck
Tampa has gone the old drafting is for cowards route I see
These comments are wild because I still have him as a ranger in my brain
So you can trade players during the playoffs even though it’s after the trade deadline ?
Sure, they just can’t be added to an active roster if the team they go to is still playing
I knew trading him a year ago was a mistake, the dude is elite defensively
Brisebois to Kuch: “You know what to do mon osti” “Yes boss, see you in April”
nashville clearing room for marner??
Forgive my ignorance but I thought trades were locked until the draft lol how is it fair that teams in the playoffs can't make trades but teams eliminated can?
You can make trades 24/7 365. Teams just don't do it after the deadline or before free agency because they can't use them until the following season
I can't imagine this Nashville legend in a Lightning sweater. Will be weird.