Madison Square Garden : January 10 Ryan McDonagh Selected to Participate In 2017 NHL All-Star Game

Ryan McDonagh Selected to Participate In 2017 NHL All-Star Game

Rangers captain named an NHL All-Star for the second consecutive year

New York, NY (January 10, 2017) - The National Hockey League announced today that Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh has been selected to participate in the 2017 NHL All-Star Game on Jan. 29 in Los Angeles.

McDonagh, who also played in the NHL All-Star Game last season, is the first Ranger who has been selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game in at least two consecutive years since Henrik Lundqvist (2009 - 2012). In addition, he becomes the first Rangers defenseman to be selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game in at least two straight years since Brian Leetch (2001 - 2003), as well as the first Rangers captain to accomplish the feat since Mark Messier (1992 - 1997).

McDonagh, 27, has skated in 41 games with the Rangers this season, registering two goals and 23 assists for 25 points, along with a plus-10 rating and 25 penalty minutes. He ranks third among NHL defensemen in even strength assists (15), is tied for fourth among NHL defensemen in primary assists (13), is tied for fifth among NHL defensemen in assists, and is tied for eighth among NHL defensemen in points in 2016-17. McDonagh also ranks third among NHL defensemen in games with an assist (19) and is tied for fifth among NHL defensemen in games with a point (20) this season. Among defensemen in the Metropolitan Division, McDonagh ranks first in assists, primary assists, and even strength assists, is tied for first in points, and ranks second in average ice time (24:11) in 2016-17.

The 6-1, 216-pounder posted a career-high eight-game assist/point streak from Oct. 17, 2016 vs. San Jose to Nov. 1, 2016 vs. St. Louis (nine assists over the span). McDonagh's eight-game assist streak is the longest assist streak any NHL player has registered this season, and his eight-game point streak is tied for the longest point streak any NHL defenseman has posted in 2016-17. He became the first Rangers defenseman to post an eight-game assist streak since Leetch from Jan. 3, 1996 - Jan. 31, 1996 (nine games), and he also became the first Rangers defenseman to post an eight-game point streak since Leetch from Oct. 30, 1996 - Dec. 1, 1996 (14 games). McDonagh's eight-game assist streak is tied for the eighth-longest assist streak in franchise history.

The Rangers captain leads the team in average ice time, assists, power play assists (eight), and power play points (nine), and is tied for second in primary assists this season. McDonagh led the Rangers in ice time in 39 of the first 41 games he played thus far in 2016-17, including each of the first 21 games of the season. He established a single-game career-high with three assists and tied a single-game career-high with three points on Dec. 27, 2016 vs. Ottawa, and he also established a single-game career-high with a plus-five rating on Nov. 21, 2016 at Pittsburgh.

The St. Paul, Minnesota, native has skated in 431 career NHL games over parts of seven seasons (2010-11 - 2016-17), all with the Rangers, registering 45 goals and 150 assists for 195 points, along with a plus-124 rating and 189 penalty minutes. McDonagh was named the 27th captain in Rangers history on Oct. 6, 2014.

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