Ryan McDonagh signed a three-year, $12.3 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday. It has an average annual value of $4.1 million.
The 36-year-old defenseman, who could have become an unrestricted free agent July 1, is an alternate captain for the Lightning. He has six points (three goals, three assists) in 15 games this season and is averaging of 20:10 of ice time per game, which is third among Tampa Bay defensemen, behind Victor Hedman (22:36) and J.J. Moser (21:33).
McDonagh has not played since Nov. 8 because of an undisclosed injury.
"It wasn't a long negotiation," he said. "I think both parties were really excited to get something done and it happened relatively quickly. And I'm thrilled with the result. I couldn't be happier."
In two stints with the Lightning (2018-22, 2024-present), McDonagh has 136 points (27 goals, 109 assists) and a plus-118 rating in 364 regular-season games. He led the NHL with a plus-43 rating last season.
A two-time Stanley Cup champion with Tampa Bay (2020, 2021), McDonagh has 26 points (two goals, 24 assists) in 94 Stanley Cup Playoff games for the Lightning.
"A top team wanting you to be part of it and putting their belief in you to ultimately achieve what we're shooting for here," McDonagh said. "And when you have that belief shown, it motivates you, it encourages you to keep going out and working hard and taking care of you to go out and perform at the level that's expected of you.
"This place is special in many ways. You can find a lot of places to live and work in this world, but it's the people that make a place truly special. And this place has a lot of special people from the top down, which makes it such a great place to show up to work every day and give it your all and leave it all out there."
Selected by the Montreal Canadiens with the No. 12 pick in the 2007 NHL Draft, McDonagh has 426 points (83 goals, 343 assists) and a plus-290 rating, best among active players, in 1,025 regular-season games with the New York Rangers, Lightning and Nashville Predators. He also has 68 points (12 goals, 56 assists) in 196 playoff games.
"'Mac' is one of a kind," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "If guys like Ryan McDonagh can't get in the Hall of Fame, then I'm not sure why we would have a Hall of Fame."
NHL.com independent correspondent Corey Long contributed to this report
