Arriving in Nashville, McDonagh Hopes to Bring Cup to His New City

Kids say the darndest things.
Just hours off a flight from Tampa to Nashville, defenseman Ryan McDonagh was at Ford Ice Center Antioch meeting staff and chatting up young Preds fans.
One of them in particular had a burning question for the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion.
"Will you win us the Cup this season?"
With four trips to the Stanley Cup Final - three of them coming consecutively - 12 to the postseason, two to the NHL All-Star Game, a captaincy with the New York Rangers and an alternate captaincy with the Tampa Bay Lightning under McDonagh's belt, it's easy to think that he just might.

"There's a desire and a hunger within the team and you can feel it from the fanbase too," McDonagh said. "And that's high expectations. You're not getting asked 'Are you going to make the playoffs?'' or 'Are you guys going to have a great season?' It's, 'are you guys going to win the Cup?' and that's something that takes time to grow and something that takes time for the players and the team to build organizationally."
McDonagh perhaps got the best showing of exactly what the Predators organization has built in February, when he faced off against the home team in front of over 60,000 of its loudest fans at Nissan Stadium.
"You come here as a visiting team and you know it's gonna be a rowdy crowd in the arena - a raucous crowd - and if you're not on your game, they can take over the momentum and just roll with it," McDonagh said. "It's definitely one of the toughest buildings to come into and play in… And it's so unique, where Bridgestone is, downtown right off of Broadway and in such a buzzing city. It's a credit to the team and the players and the organization over the years - they've built up such a pride in the Preds that you know the home crowd is going to be behind you. So to be on the home side of it this time and going forward is an awesome feeling. I'm looking forward to it for sure."

That raucous Preds crowd will have plenty to cheer for when McDonagh gets on the ice with Nashville's all-time leading goal scorer Filip Forsberg and Matt Duchene, the franchise's first 40-goal scorer.
Then there's veteran d-man Mattias Ekholm, and, of course, the captain, Roman Josi - a Norris Trophy winner in 2020 and a finalist last season.
"You're talking about one of the elite defensemen in the National Hockey League first and foremost with Josi," McDonagh said. "Every time you play him, you don't know where he is on the ice because he's all over the place and can just take over a game…. He's just a solid guy and a great guy to represent your team and your organization as the captain."

McDonagh's own experience wearing the 'C' will undoubtedly bring value to the Predators younger players as well, and the blueliner knows that could be a key role for him on his new squad.
"I had great mentors and leaders when I first came to the League and was a young defenseman," he said. "And it's not easy. The games are up and down at times, it's a fast-paced game and you've got to learn to be strong mentally and trust yourself and be confident in yourself. So, hopefully I can be a soundboard if need be and most importantly a player that can lead by example on the ice."
Currently McDonagh is acclimating to his new city, with he and his wife, Kaylee, house hunting and scoping out schools for their 5-year-old daughter - who made a surprise cameo during McDonagh's introductory Zoom presser last week.
But when the time comes, McDonagh says he's excited to hit the ice in Gold.
"There's a certain level of excitement and a high level of expectation, which as a player is desirable to be a part of," McDonagh said. "You want to expect to be the best and that's your goal every year and to hopefully be a part of that this year is exciting."