Ryan McDonagh is entering the last year of his contract with Tampa Bay Lightning, and despite being vocal about wanting to stay with the Bolts long-term, a new report says Julien BriseBois could consider trading their veteran blueliner. On today’s show, we debate whether it makes more sense for the Lightning to trade or keep McDonagh — and if McDonagh stays, do the Lightning NEED a big trade to improve weak spots on their blueline? Plus, we break down the Lightning’s 2025-2026 schedule, including one stretch considered the toughest ANY NHL team will have to tackle this season.
Ryan McDonagh Trade Rumors: Do the Tampa Bay Lightning NEED a Big Deal to Shake Up the Blueline?
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9 Comments
Would you TRADE or KEEP Ryan McDonagh? If you're keeping him, do the Lightning need a "big move" to improve the blueline?
I think probably penalties addressed with Lilly, last year 1st year for him. Took Perbix awhile…
Need to get tougher. Can't let FLA continue to punish the Bolts physically.
There's no chance Julien Brisebois trades Mack truck
KEEP!!
JBB said he wasn't addressing Mac contract until after this season, with Moser and Chafee. Also had a +45 rating last year, and he will be needed to help with Crozier, Lilly and Moser. Stupid rumors by writers looking for readership who don't know this team
Why this even brought up? Stupid.
Mac’s has to stay!
Definitely not wrong on the need for additional scoring/offensive juice, but not at the expense of a defense that's still trying to regain it's previous form from when Mack was sent packing. Trading Mack would signal a complete rebuild by gutting the defense and destroying ur entire #1 defensive line. Cernak just isn't himself without Mack beside him; it's been proven. And while I like him, Bjorkstrand wasn't the missing piece that was going to get them past the cats in the playoffs this past run. Hard nosed glue players like Maroon and Killorn who happily returned every tit for tat that cat players would throw at them are. And also bcuz they brought enough ass with their play that they could back up their hits. I love Hagel, but when the playoffs hits start flying, well, just look where that part of the equation left Hagel in round 1 last season. He couldn't even finish the series. When you're literally letting your smallest and lightest player on the ice try to play "enforcer," instead of a grit player like Maroon, they end up missing the rest of the series or worse, all of the playoffs. Bolts won't make it back to another Stanley Cup until it's understood that what's missing is the grit and grit players they played with and had during their triple cup trips. Hagel sports no shortage of grit in his play, but he's also an easily broke in two tooth pick by a defensive player two or three times his size.