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The Tampa Bay Chapter of the Professional Writers Association has nominated veteran defenseman Ryan McDonagh as the 2024-25 Masterton Trophy nominee.
The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is an annual award voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association and is given "to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey."
On a Lightning team with no shortage of fire power, the return of Ryan McDonagh has proven to be an invaluable piece in their quest for another Stanley Cup.
“Obviously, there’s a lot of great choices here, so just to be recognized is an honor,” McDonagh said of the Masterton award. “Everybody brings a little something, and that something is very valued here by teammates, coaches, staff.. everybody.”
The Lightning weren’t the same team in the two seasons McDonagh was gone, struggling to defend the way they did during their championship years. He currently leads with league with a plus-42 rating and the Lightning are third best overall in goals allowed. At this point last year, they ranked 23rd.
On March 27 the veteran defenseman celebrated a 1,000 game milestone with his team. Days later he became the 8th player in the NHL to pass 2,000 blocked shots. McDonagh learned the technique of shot blocking back in college, often substituting pucks with tennis balls. His teammates credit him with having a warrior mentality that inspires them to keep pushing through.
“You see the benefits pay off, as far as winning and losing a game. It becomes second nature and if guys feed off it, that's even better,” said McDonagh. “It's been great to feel valued from my teammates, starting in my first year and then to carry on to today.”
Erik Cernak knows McDonagh well, being paired with him defensively throughout the years. The two often face some of the best lines in the NHL and won back-to-back Stanley Cups together.
“He’s an unbelievable person, an unbelievable player, a good dad, good husband. Over the over the years, I’ve learned a lot from him,” said Cernak.
“I started playing with Mac in my first NHL game. When you see a guy like that blocking shots and putting his body on the line, doing everything he can to win for his team, everybody else wants to do that too.”
McDonagh’s leadership qualities have been evident on every team he’s been a part of. He served as captain of the New York Rangers for parts of four seasons from 2014-2018 before joining the Lightning, where he continues to lead the team as an alternate captain.
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“It’s hard not to appreciate Mac, especially having just celebrated his 1,000th game. I've been fortunate to see a whole bunch of those live,” said Lightning coach Jon Cooper, adding that while McDonagh may not be a Norris Trophy candidate, he deserves the proper recognition.
“I’m a big believer that there should be another award for the best defensive defenseman out there. It’s a player that every single coach would stand right here and crave. All the teams look for guys like that, and Ryan’s at the top of the list of being that kind of player for the past decade.”
As McDonagh approaches the fourteenth postseason in his 15 year NHL career, he’s determined to pull his team across the finish line.
“You understand the responsibility and you learn from it over the course your career, things that you like dislike, things that worked and didn't work,” said McDonagh. “Ultimately, it's about how you carry yourself each and every day, and what you bring to the table.”
The winner of the award is selected through a PHWA poll and will be announced at the NHL Awards show in June.
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