Defenseman Ryan McDonagh, acquired by the Lightning in February to bolster their blue line, is sticking around for a long time.
McDonagh, 29, had a year left on his current contract, but on the first day of NHL free agency, the Lightning made keeping him a priority over any new additions. He signed to a seven-year extension worth $6.75 million per year, starting with the 2019-20 season.
"I'm very excited to sign an extension that will keep me with the Lightning organization for the next eight seasons," McDonagh said in a statement. "Since being traded to Tampa Bay earlier this year, my experience with the city, my teammates and the fans has been nothing short of world-class. My family and I are very excited to continue to play and live in Tampa with the ultimate goal of helping to bring the organization its second Stanley Cup."
The only Lightning players making more per season are two of the team's central leaders in center Steven Stamkos and defenseman Victor Hedman. Tampa Bay has now re-signed both players acquired from the Rangers in February, having given C J.T. Miller an extension worth $5.25 million a year earlier this week.
McDonagh spent his first eight NHL seasons with the Rangers, and had two goals and 24 assists with New York last season before the trade. He had the second-highest average ice time for the Lightning in the playoffs, averaging 22:31 per game, behind only Hedman. He had five assists for Tampa Bay in the playoffs as well.
The contract begins next season, so it will not change the Lightning's available salary-cap room. Tampa Bay was one of six teams in contention for Islanders center John Tavares, one of the league's top free agents, but SiriusXM NHL is reporting that he has agreed to terms with Toronto.
The Lightning's focus entering free agency had been on keeping intact the team that won an Atlantic Division title in 2017-18 and reached the Eastern Conference final for the third time in four seasons. As Tampa Bay aspires to greater playoff success in coming years, McDonagh will be a major part of that push.
In other news, Matthew Peca, who had played 10 games for the Lightning in each of the last two seasons, signed a one-year, $1.3 million deal with Montreal. Tampa Bay signed F Kevin Lynch to a one-year, two-way contract, after the 27-year-old had 14 goals and 12 assist with the AHL's Syracuse Crunch last season.
