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The Toronto Maple Leafs took a big swing at improving their blue line before the start of free agency July 1, acquiring Darren Raddysh’s rights from the Tampa Bay Lightning and signing the defenceman to an eight-year contract.<\/p>\n
The contract is worth $68 million US, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because financial terms were not disclosed.<\/p>\n
Raddysh will count $8.5 million against the salary cap through the 2033-34 season. He had never made more than a million dollars a year until now.<\/p>\n
The 30-year-old late bloomer cashed in on a breakout season in which he set career highs with 22 goals, 48 assists and 70 points in 73 games. That’s the same amount of points he put up in the previous two seasons combined since becoming a full-time NHL player as recently as 2023.<\/p>\n
Beyond the offence Raddysh provides, including a booming shot from the point, Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka highlighted his ability to break out pucks, join the rush and defend against top opponents.<\/p>\n
“The point production is a part of any player’s value. I think the part of the value that we were most focused on was his ability to impact the game holistically,” he said. “You start adding up all the elements that go into the end result of good production, and the robust play of all of that gave us a lot of confidence that we’re getting a defenceman that we haven’t had in this organization for a long time.” <\/p>\n
Chayka called it an aggressive move he made with confidence.<\/p>\n
“It’s not without risk, of course, but we just felt that, given the stage we’re at and what he brings to the table, felt it was worth pursuing,” he added. <\/p>\n
Raddysh provides an immediate upgrade for the Leafs, who have a new head coach in Jim Hiller and franchise legend adviser Mats Sundin. <\/p>\n
Getting Raddysh’s rights from the Lightning for a fifth-round pick before he could hit the open market is Chayka’s second trade after clearing cap space earlier this week by sending goaltender Joseph Woll and defenceman Simon Benoit to Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
Raddysh had 35 goals and 143 points in 249 career games with Tampa Bay and was set to become an unrestricted free agent July 1.<\/p>\n
He was undrafted despite helping the Erie Otters win the Ontario Hockey League at the junior level in 2016-17. Raddysh signed with Chicago, got traded to the New York Rangers and inked a free agent deal in 2021 with the Lightning.<\/p>\n
He spent a vast majority of that time in the minors and was an all-star in the American Hockey League before earning a job with Tampa Bay. Raddysh thrived this past season while the team dealt with injuries all over and led all players in the league at the position with 10 power-play goals.<\/p>\n