Ryan McDonagh

Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox ice hockey player Ryan Patrick McDonagh (born June 13, 1989) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for and serving as the captain of the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Drafted in the first round, 12th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in 2007, he played college hockey for the Badgers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

McDonagh also competes internationally for the United States and was a member of the men's hockey team at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Playing career

Amateur

McDonagh attended Cretin-Derham Hall High School in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where as a junior he helped lead his team to the school's first state hockey championship. The following season, he was awarded the 2007 Minnesota Mr. Hockey award, which is given annually to the top senior high school hockey player in the state.<ref name = "McDonagh">Template:Cite news</ref> He was then drafted in the first round, 12th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens on June 22, 2007, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He also won a silver medal with Team USA at the 2007 IIHF World U18 Championships.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Two years later, he represented the Americans at the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On June 30, 2009, McDonagh's rights were traded, along with Chris Higgins, Pavel Valentenko and Doug Janik, to the New York Rangers in exchange for Scott Gomez, Tom Pyatt and Michael Busto.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Professional

On July 6, 2010, McDonagh signed an entry-level contract with the Rangers, forgoing his senior season at Wisconsin and joining childhood friend and former Wisconsin teammate Derek Stepan in New York.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After beginning the 2010–11 season with the Rangers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, he was promoted to the Rangers on January 3, 2011.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He played his first career NHL game against the Dallas Stars on January 7, 2011.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He then earned his first NHL point on an assist of a Brandon Prust goal against the Carolina Hurricanes on January 20.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On March 20, McDonagh was the victim of an elbow to the head from Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke, who was subsequently suspended for the remainder of the regular season and the first round of the 2011 playoffs.<ref>NHL suspends Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Matt Cooke for blindside hit on Rangers' Ryan McDonagh</ref>

On April 9, 2011, McDonagh scored the game-winning goal, the first of his career, against the New Jersey Devils, earning the Rangers the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

As a result of the 2012–13 NHL lockout, McDonagh signed a contract with Barys Astana of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He became the first American NHL player to join the KHL as a result of the lockout.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On July 8, 2013, McDonagh re-signed with the Rangers to a six-year contract worth $28.2 million.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He led all Rangers defensemen with 43 points in the 2013–14 season as the Rangers finished fifth in the Eastern Conference.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The team defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens en route to the 2014 Stanley Cup Final against the Los Angeles Kings, where the Rangers ultimately lost the series 4–1. During the playoffs, McDonagh was tied for the lead amongst defensemen in assists (13) and ranked second in points (17). For his season's efforts, McDonagh was named Rangers' MVP and the recipient of the Players' Player Award, given to the Ranger "who best exemplifies what it means to be a team player." He became just the second Rangers defenseman to hold both awards after Brian Leetch did so in the 2002–03 season.

On October 6, 2014, McDonagh was named the 27th captain in Rangers history, filling the vacancy left by Ryan Callahan the previous season.<ref name="The Globe and Mail">Template:Cite web</ref> Martin St. Louis, Marc Staal, Dan Girardi and Derek Stepan were named his alternates. McDonagh became the fourth-youngest Ranger captain and 11th defenseman to hold the honor. In his first season as captain, he led his team to the Presidents Trophy and were ultimately eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals by the Tampa Bay Lightning in a hard-fought seven-game series.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On May 30, 2015, after the Rangers lost the Eastern Conference Finals against Tampa Bay, it was revealed that McDonagh had been playing the last three games with a broken foot.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

McDonagh continued his strong play and leadership into the 2015–16 season, his second as team captain. However, during a February 6, 2016 game between the Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers, McDonagh suffered a concussion after getting punched by Flyers' forward Wayne Simmonds after McDonagh cross-checked Simmonds. McDonagh missed 8 games as a result, including a February 14 rematch between the two teams, during which Rangers' rookie defenseman Dylan McIlrath fought Simmonds.

Still feeling the effects of the concussion, McDonagh's defensive play during the Rangers' first-round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins was poor, and the Rangers were eliminated in 5 games by the Penguins, who went on to win the Stanley Cup that year.

Personal life

On July 19, 2013, McDonagh married long-time girlfriend Kaylee Keys at Our Lady of Victory Chapel in his hometown of Saint Paul, Minnesota.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The couple gave birth to their first child, Falan Erin McDonagh, on October 18, 2016.Template:Citation needed Former National Football League (NFL) quarterback Steve Walsh is McDonagh's uncle.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2007–08	U. of Wisconsin	WCHA		40	5	7	12	42		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	U. of Wisconsin	WCHA		36	5	11	16	59		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	U. of Wisconsin	WCHA		43	4	14	18	65		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Hartford Wolf Pack/CT Whale	AHL		38	1	7	8	12		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	New York Rangers	NHL		40	1	8	9	14		5	0	0	0	4
2011–12	New York Rangers	NHL		82	7	25	32	44		20	0	4	4	11
2012–13	Barys Astana	KHL		10	0	3	3	6		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	New York Rangers	NHL		47	4	15	19	22		12	1	3	4	6
2013–14	New York Rangers	NHL		77	14	29	43	36		25	4	13	17	8
2014–15	New York Rangers	NHL		71	8	25	33	26		19	3	6	9	8
2015–16	New York Rangers	NHL		73	9	25	34	22		3	0	0	0	0
NHL totals				390	43	127	170	166		84	8	26	34	37

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2007	United States	WJC U18	Template:Sica		7	0	3	3	4
2009	United States	WJC	5th		6	0	3	3	2
2011	United States	WC	8th		7	0	1	1	2
2014	United States	OG	4th		6	1	1	2	0
2016	United States	WCH	7th		3	2	0	2	0
Junior totals					13	0	6	6	6
Senior totals					16	3	2	5	2

Awards and honors

Award	Year
Minnesota Mr. Hockey	2007
All-WCHA Rookie Team	2007–08	<ref name="National Hockey League 2010 316">Template:Cite book</ref>
All-WCHA Second Team	2009–10	<ref name="National Hockey League 2010 316"/>
New York Rangers Team MVP	2014
NHL All-Star	2015–16 2016-17

External links

• Template:Nhlprofile
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