NHL Rumors: 3 Teams Who Tried To Trade For McDonagh This Past Offseason

1 year ago  /  NHL Trade Rumors

We all know the Nashville Predators traded for Ryan McDonagh from the Tampa Bay Lightning this past offseason to add another veteran piece to their blue line and lineup. He isn't flashy and has never been relied on to get a ton of points, but he does his job in the defensive end and is playing on the top pairing for the Predators.But this trade may not have happened if any of the other three teams managed to bring in McDonagh instead. Joe Smith of The Athletic reported that the Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, and Columbus Blue Jackets pursued McDonagh before he went to Nashville. This could have changed the complexion of each of the teams and how they went into the offseason.The Avalanche likely wouldn't have re-signed Josh Manson after bringing him over to help them win the Stanley Cup. But if they did, Samuel Girard is a candidate to be moved. Five of the current Avalanche defencemen have a cap hit of at least $4.1 million. Erik Johnson's contract is the only one that is expiring after the season.The Wild are very cap strapped and it forced them to give up Kevin Fiala due to paying well over $10 million in dead cap. The only way they were going to be able to get McDonagh on their team and under the salary cap is if they traded away one of their defencemen in the process. The likely candidate would have been Matt Dumba who is likely on his way out by next season anyways.As for the Blue Jackets, they could have really used a defencemen who plays like McDonagh and has that kind of leadership. The team is trying to rise out of the bottom of the league and it doesn't look like it's happening this season with all the injuries. McDonagh would have not only been able to provide more help to the Blue Jackets' goaltending, he would also help the young group they have there learn to win. Columbus wouldn't have gone out and overpaid Erik Gudbranson if they were able to trade for McDonagh.One decision can change the course of many teams and it's always interesting to know all the details when they are finally released.Photo credit: © Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports...

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