Tampa Bay Lightning Could Not Sign Darren Raddysh So Toronto Maple Leafs Are Slaughtered
The Tampa Bay Lightning will be undergoing some changes this offseason. With GM Julien BriseBois looking to extend Nikita Kucherov, potentially $12 million per season on a two- or three-year deal, he couldn’t keep defenseman Darren Raddysh.
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During their locker-cleaning day, Raddysh admitted that the NHL is a business and that he will let his agent and the team handle things. However, by the sound of it, the player knew that he was leaving as he thanked the organization for shooting him.
“I’m very grateful for everything Tampa has given me. They gave me the opportunity to play in the NHL. I’ve been here for the last 4 years and I can’t say anything bad about this organization,” said Raddysh.
There was a belief, according to Erik Erlendsson of Lightning Insider, that Raddysh would not return. There was no way the team could pay him what he wanted. As he said on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio, you can’t blame a player for going on the market.
My expectation is that Darren Raddysh will go on the market. We will see, is there any money for both of them? I think there is, especially with the cap increase expected to increase in the next two years, but I don’t know if Raddysh will come back, because I think you owe it to him to check the market, because I think he should get more on the open market than he would get here.
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So enter the Toronto Maple Leafs, who continue to have an off-season. First, they traded Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit to the Philadelphia Flyers for Samuel Ersson and Emil Andrae. They followed that up by hiring Jim Hiller to be their next coach. Now, Leafs General John Chayka acquired defenseman Darren Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday morning.
TRADE: Acquired defenseman Darren Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Toronto’s fifth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) June 19, 2026
The Maple Leafs are giving up a fifth-round pick as part of a sign-and-trade with the Lightning. As part of the deal, Raddysh signed an eight-year deal worth $8.5 million per season.
The Maple Leafs gave up a fifth round pick to Raddysh
He then signed an 8x$8.5 million AAV deal with the Leafs.
You would have paid more on the open market. #leafsforever #gobolts
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) June 19, 2026
The deal started coming together late at night or early morning, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Darren Raddysh was one of the most coveted players this free agency period. Again, the class wasn’t the best to begin with, but Raddysh hit the market at the right time, coming off a season in which he set career highs in all three categories, with 70 points (22 goals and 48 assists) in 73 games.
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Raddysh filled in for Victor Hedman, Erik Cernak, and Ryan McDonagh for parts of the season for the Lightning. Remember, Hedman was dealing with injuries and mental health issues later on. Raddysh stood up to Nyazi. He recorded 26 of 70 points on the power play, where he scored 10 goals.
I like the player, I like the season, I don’t like the name. Raddysh didn’t come out of nowhere to be a great player, but his 2025-26 version was a huge departure not only in terms of production but also in terms of impact. The leaves need him to be a top guy. pic.twitter.com/PsJb8qPgFA
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 19, 2026
Darren Raddysh, acquired and signed for 8x$8ishM by TOR, is a top offensive defenseman with an old school bombshell from the point, a strong puck mover, and a strong stick-work defensively. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/MW26kxUSJb
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 19, 2026
The Maple Leafs continue to add a dynamic defenseman. Also, Emil Andrae is still young, but that was Chayka’s goal when he arrived in Toronto. Chayka also continues the style of Brad Treliving, who rejuvenated the defense with the sneaky signing of Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Treliving also added Chris Tanev, so the Leafs defense team looks solid.
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As for Darren Raddysh, he entered the market at the right time. Part of the reason for the sign and trade was to get an eighth year and keep the AAV down. Remember, from September 16, 2026, under the new CBA, players can sign seven-year deals with their club and six-year deals with another club.
This feels like a start for the Maple Leafs as they look to use the fly again. Now the question is what do the Falcons do and where do they look for a good shooting guard?
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