Erik Karlsson is an incredible defenseman (who has heated up significantly after an unlucky start to the season), but Joe Smith over at The Athletic argues that Ryan McDonagh was a better fit for what the Tampa Bay Lightning wanted in a defenseman at last year’s trade deadline. [The Athletic]
The Lightning needed help on the penalty kill, which was 28th in the league last season, and McDonagh has helped it move up to ninth (82.8 percent) logging 130 minutes of shorthanded time through the first 41 games.