Badger defenseman Ryan McDonagh agreed to a contract with the New York Rangers on Tuesday, becoming the fifth Wisconsin Badger men’s hockey player to sign an NHL contract since this past season ended.
Wisconsin’s would-be captain for next season, McDonagh is a two-time WCHA All-Academic Team member, as well as a member of the 2008 WCHA All-Rookie Team and the 2010 All-WCHA Second Team. An assistant captain his sophomore season and tri-captain his junior season at Wisconsin, he was also voted the team’s Fenton Kelsey Jr., Most Competitive Player both years.
McDonagh was originally drafted 12th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, but was traded to the New York Rangers on June 30, 2009 along with Christopher Higgins, Doug Janik and Pavel Valentenko for Scott Gomez, Tom Pyatt and Mike Busto.
He joins graduate Blake Geoffrion (Nashville) and three underclassmen – forward Derek Stepan (New York Rangers), defensemen Cody Goloubef (Columbus) and Brendan Smith (Detroit) – as Badgers who have signed NHL contracts this offseason.