Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports
Well you can check one of the top priorities of the summer off the list for the New York Rangers. Ryan McDonagh will be wearing blue and red for a long time.
The Rangers locked up their stud defenseman to a six-year deal worth around $28 million. The final three years of the contract include a no-trade clause for McDonagh.
McDonagh is one of, if not the, most important Rangers players. He has developed his game tremendously over the last two seasons after being asked to step up in the absence of Marc Staal. McDonagh became a household name in last years Stanley Cup playoffs when he and his defense partner Dan Girardi shutdown Alexander Ovechkin in the second round. The duo once again shutdown Ovechkin in their first-round series this year.
McDonagh was number one on the priority list for the Rangers this summer. He was a restricted free agent along with Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin and Mats Zuccarello. The Rangers want to get all of them signed before another team can submit an offer sheet to these players. The Rangers have limited cap room so they are making sure they keep their homegrown talent. All indications show that the deals with other players will get done soon.
The Rangers will continue to have one of the best defenses in the league for the future as long as McDonagh is on the team. He is expected to take on an even larger role this year with new coach Alain Vingeault encouraging defenseman to jump up into the play. McDonagh is one of the best skaters in the league who has underrated hands. He will definitely be used more on the power play this season.
Step one for a successful offseason has been accomplished by the Rangers. Now we all just have to wait and see if they take care of the rest of their business.
