Ryan McDonagh (born June 13, 1989) is an American ice hockey defenseman currently with Barys Astana of the Kontinental Hockey League, and with the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League. He played college hockey at University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Playing career
He attended Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. 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[1] award, which is given annually to the top senior high school hockey player in the state. He was drafted in the first round, 12th overall by theMontreal 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.[2][3] He also represented the United States in the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[4]
On June 30, 2009, his rights were traded along with Christopher Higgins, Pavel Valentenko, and Doug Janik to the New York Rangers for Scott Gomez, Tom Pyatt, and Michael Busto.[5]
On July 6, 2010, he signed an entry-level contract with the New York Rangers, forgoing his senior season at Wisconsin and joining childhood friend and former Wisconsin teammate Derek Stepan with the Rangers.[6][7] After beginning the 2010-11 season with the Hartford Wolfpack, he was promoted to the Rangers on January 3, 2011.[8] He played his first NHL game for the Rangers against the Dallas Stars on January 7, 2011.[9][10] He earned his first NHL point for the Rangers with an assist on a goal by Brandon Prust against the Carolina Hurricanes on January 20, 2011.[11][12] On March 20, 2011, 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 plus the first round of the Playoffs.[13]
On April 9, 2011, McDonagh scored the game-winning goal, the first of his career, against the New Jersey Devils,[14] to give the New York Rangers the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
As a result of the 2012 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 because of the lockout.[15]
[edit]Awards and honors
[edit]Personal
Former NFL quarterback Steve Walsh is McDonagh’s uncle.[17]