Ryan McDonagh Returns to Lightning & Trade Grade
Also, dive into hockey history about Tampa Bay's first professional hockey team.
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Lightning Re-Acquire Defenseman Ryan McDonagh From Predators
May 21, 2024 by Harrison Smajovits
A key defenseman to winning back-to-back Stanley Cups is returning to Tampa Bay. The Tampa Bay Lightning have acquired Ryan McDonagh and the Edmonton Oilers’ 2024 fourth-round pick from the Nashville Predators in exchange for the Lightning’s 2025 second-round pick and their 2024 seventh-round pick.
Grading Lightning’s Trade for Ryan McDonagh
May 21, 2024 by Alex Chauvancy
The Conference Finals haven’t even started yet, but we had a trade today between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Nashville Predators. Those don’t happen before the playoffs conclude all too often, but it’s an important one that has implications for both teams’ offseasons. Early this afternoon, the Lightning announced they had re-acquired Ryan McDonagh and a mid-round pick from the Predators in exchange for a couple of draft picks:
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Lightning Can Succeed With Stockpile of Late-Round Draft Picks
May 21, 2024 by Harrison Smajovits
The Lightning made the moves necessary to win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021 and keep the championship window open. They shouldn’t regret most of their moves. When you win it all, you make those moves again every single time. However, it eventually catches up with you. This year, at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, the Lightning have five picks, but none until the fifth round.
Tampa Bay’s First Hockey Team: Suncoast Suns
May 20, 2024 by Harrison Smajovits
St. Petersburg, Florida, knows hockey. The Tampa Bay Lightning have been in their backyard since 1992 and even played within its city limits from 1993 to 1996. But that’s not when the city, colloquially known as St. Pete, got its first taste of professional hockey. The Lightning proved the region was viable, but they do not hold the honor of being the region’s first hockey team. That honor belongs to the Suncoast Suns in the early 1970s.
What if Peter Karmanos Got the Tampa Bay Expansion Bid Over Phil Esposito?
May 13, 2024 by Harrison Smajovits (Premium THW Substack Content)
Hockey Hall of Famer Phil Esposito has built an entire second legacy post-playing career as the founder of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He’s now in the team’s hall of fame and has been the radio color commentator alongside Dave Miskin for years. However, there is an alternate reality in which Esposito remains exclusively known for being a legendary player with no place in Tampa Bay sports history.
