NEW YORK — Ryan McDonagh never wanted to leave the Rangers.



The veteran defenseman had spent most of his career (and adult life) in New York. McDonagh, the shy kid from St. Paul, Minn., arrived as a 21-year-old fresh off his college days at Wisconsin. He remained a homebody most of his early Manhattan nights, playing “Call of Duty” with fellow Minnesotan and Rangers forward Derek Stepan.



McDonagh not only went on to build a family here, but he also grew into the team’s heart-and-soul captain, a pillar on the blueline during playoff runs.



“He broke bones for that organization,” Stepan said.



So the trade to the Lightning at last year’s deadline — a year ago Tuesday — was not only a shock to the system for the then-28-year-old McDonagh, but it also broke his heart a little. McDonagh had held out hope he was sticking around, even through the Rangers’ approaching rebuild. He was on...