TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Lightning are strengthening their offense as they push towards the playoffs, acquiring defensemen Ryan McDonagh and right wing J.T. Miller from the New York Rangers.
The Bolts are giving up former first round pick Brett Howden, defense prospect Libor Hajek, forward Vladislav Namestnikov, a 2018 first round pick and a conditional second round pick.
The deal is pending a trade call, the Tampa Bay Times said.
"He's definitely one of the more solid d-men out there," Lightning veteran defenseman Anton Stralman, who played with McDonagh from 2011-14, said to the Times. "He's a mobile, smart player, great skater. Good awareness of when to join, when not to. Just overall a good player."
McDonagh, 28, has skated in 49 games with the Rangers this season, posting two goals and 26 points to go along with 20 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound defenseman leads the team for average time on ice (23:55) and became team captain of the Rangers after Ryan Callahan was traded to Tampa Bay. McDonagh paces all Rangers defensemen for assists (24) and points. The St. Paul, Minnesota native has appeared in 516 career NHL games, all with New York over the past eight seasons, recording 51 goals and 238 points.
Miller, 24, has played in 63 games with the Rangers this season, collecting 13 goals and 40 points to go along with 28 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-1, 218-pound forward ranks second on New York for assists (27) and points. Six of Miller’s 13 goals have come on the man-advantage which ranks second on the Rangers in that category. The East Palestine, Ohio native paces the Rangers with four game-winning goals. Miller has appeared in 341 career NHL games, all with New York over the last six seasons, notching 72 goals and 172 points.
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