27 Ryan McDonagh D

Lightning's Ryan McDonagh: Inks seven-year extension

The Lightning acquired McDonagh in a blockbuster trade near last season's trade deadline and the team has now locked him up until he's 37 years old. The 29-year-old blueliner wasn't too spectacular with his new team last season, scoring just two goals and three points in 17 regular-season games and five assists in 17 postseason contests. Still, McDonagh has proven to be a very strong and consistent two-way defenseman and should get back to scoring 30-plus points.

Lightning's Ryan McDonagh: Posts 29 points for Rangers and Lightning

Although you'd think moving from the Rangers' middling 22nd-ranked offense (2.78 goals per game) to the Lightning's first-ranked offense (3.54 goals per game) would result in an increase in the points department, that wasn't the case for McDonagh. He put up 26 points in 49 games on Broadway and just three in 14 games down south, but McDonagh also didn't have a power-play presence and his 21:17 of ice time was over two minutes lower in Tampa Bay than what he averaged in New York. Still, the University of Wisconsin alumni was able to put up five points in the postseason, and as usual was fearless on defense, blocking 163 shots in the regular season. Although McDonagh is set to return for the 2018-19 campaign in Tampa Bay, it seems likely he'll remain on the second pairing with Victor Hedman manning the first, and he'll have to battle out Mikhail Sergachev for a power-play spot.

Lightning's Ryan McDonagh: Makes up for defensive struggles

The American defenseman missed the scoresheet for the fifth consecutive game, but he was terrific defensively, highlighted by a heads-up play that saw McDonagh bat down an Evgeny Kuznetsov shot on the penalty kill. Tampa still has work to do as it's down 2-1 in the series, though it was nice to see McDonagh -- who's averaging 22:21 in the playoffs -- bounce back from a terrible Game 2 performance in which he posted a minus-3 rating at home.

Lightning's Ryan McDonagh: Closes first round with four points

Although Tampa Bay provides a different playoff atmosphere than Broadway, McDonagh has wasted no time making his impact felt for his new club in the postseason notching four points in the opening series, although he's still searching for his first playoff goal in blue. The 28-year-old has been logging heavy minutes on the second unit averaging 22:52 of ice time per game along with the second most five-on-five minutes on the team just behind Victor Hedman, and figures to see similar usage throughout Tampa Bay's cup run. McDonagh's been strong on the defensive end per usual as well, going plus-two over the five games while also supplying five hits and seven blocked shots.

Lightning's Ryan McDonagh: Three assists in two playoff wins

He now has three helpers in two postseason games in a Tampa uniform. McDonagh is a defensive pillar in bright blue and hopes to finally lift that large silver chalice come June.