[Defensemen] Free Agent Targets - With Player Cards

[kb]

Scares the Hell out of me that the Leafs might give Raddysh a big ticket contract based off 1 great year. Before this year, he had 37 points and 33 points. This feels a lot like the year Nik Kulemin scored 30 something goals and people were calling him a sniper. Just because Raddysh had a career year in his contract year, is no reason to give this guy top dollar. There is nothing in his past, since he hit the pro's in 2017-18, that suggest he is a PPG NHL d-man. the guy is at best a 3D and at worse a 5D.

Scouting Report​

Is very resilient, since he worked hard to reach the National Hockey League as an undrafted free agent. Moves the puck well and has a history of producing good offense at lower levels (OHL - Junior). Also displays good size for the highest level. Lacks consistency in his game, although he is improving in that area.​

​

Long Range Potential: Depth defenseman.​

IIRC Raddysh has been in the top-25 in D scoring 5v5 pts/60 for 3 consecutive years now.

He's not a flash in the pan. He's paid his dues.

 

[Dreakmur]

IIRC Raddysh has been in the top-25 in D scoring 5v5 pts/60 for 3 consecutive years now.

He's not a flash in the pan. He's paid his dues.

Even if that’s true, players who don’t make the NHL until their absolute athletic peak generally don’t last long after they start to fade.

 

[NJG]

Raddysh & Shea would be my two targets. I wanted them both before ever even seeing these cards, now I want them even more lol

 

[HamiltonNHL]

No chance Raddysh signs a 2 year deal, he's gonna be looking to cash in for the first time ever. 5-6 years for sure, Carlson despite his age is still really good, would love to add him on a short term deal

Definitely.

There is money all over the league

 

[Fogelhund]

Scares the Hell out of me that the Leafs might give Raddysh a big ticket contract based off 1 great year. Before this year, he had 37 points and 33 points. This feels a lot like the year Nik Kulemin scored 30 something goals and people were calling him a sniper. Just because Raddysh had a career year in his contract year, is no reason to give this guy top dollar. There is nothing in his past, since he hit the pro's in 2017-18, that suggest he is a PPG NHL d-man. the guy is at best a 3D and at worse a 5D.

Scouting Report​

Is very resilient, since he worked hard to reach the National Hockey League as an undrafted free agent. Moves the puck well and has a history of producing good offense at lower levels (OHL - Junior). Also displays good size for the highest level. Lacks consistency in his game, although he is improving in that area.​

​

Long Range Potential: Depth defenseman.​

To be fair, Kulemin's career came off the rails after he lost a bunch of friends, and former teammates in that Lokomotiv plane crash. He never looked the same again after that to me.

Remember the Lives Lost in the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Plane Crash

It's nearly been 10 years since 44 people on Lokomotiv Yaroslavl's KHL hockey team were killed in a tragic plane crash. The memories of those lost are still remembered today.

thehockeynews.com

 

[BobClarkesfrontteeth]

Even if that’s true, players who don’t make the NHL until their absolute athletic peak generally don’t last long after they start to fade.

Mark Giordano's Norris trophy just walked into the room.

 

[keonsbitterness]

Mark Giordano's Norris trophy just walked into the room.

Tim Thomas had some hardware in his 30s.

 

[Dreakmur]

Mark Giordano's Norris trophy just walked into the room.

You mean the Giordano that became an NHL regular at 22?

I didn’t say old players can’t be good. I said players who weren’t good enough to play until their mid/late-20s tend to fall off in their early 30s

 

[BobClarkesfrontteeth]

You mean the Giordano that became an NHL regular at 22?

I didn’t say old players can’t be good. I said players who weren’t good enough to play until their mid/late-20s tend to fall off in their early 30s

Giordano was not a regular at 22/23 he played 7 games for the Flames after playing in Russian as an undrafted player. The next season 40 games with the Flames then went back to Russia 2007 2008. 2008-2009 he played 58 games for the Flames he was 26 years old when he became an NHL regular. So a lot like Raddysh

 

[sd1976]

He is not wrong and not trashing the Leafs in that post. Love to sign Raddysh but it will take an overpay unless he is set on wanting to play close to his family. Even then, Leafs will pay. See UFA Tavares.

Tavares took 2mil less than he was offered elsewhere. So not an overpay even remotely.

 

[Buckley]

Tavares took 2mil less than he was offered elsewhere. So not an overpay even remotely.

I think the Raddysh situation will be similar to the Tavares situation, in that he will choose to play here for family reasons, but it will still cost a market value contract to get him.

 

[seventieslord]

Going to use Morgan Rielly & Jake McCabe as comparisons:

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Free Agents:

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Give me Raddysh or Carlson (2 year deal).

Would you mind posting Rielly's career timeline card if you have access?

 

[seventieslord]

Completely impossible.



I don’t trust Raddysh at all. Career year at age 29 just in time to get paid. Such a huge huge huge gamble.

There's precedent for this. Every time a defenseman suddenly has a big year in a contract year and get paid, the team signing him lives to regret it. Every time.

I get Raddysh has a few years of overall strong analytics, so he might be less of a risk, or lower downside at least, but it's still a risk.

 

[sd1976]

I think the Raddysh situation will be similar to the Tavares situation, in that he will choose to play here for family reasons, but it will still cost a market value contract to get him.

And I have zero issue with that. Anything up to 9 million is fine. He is the exact type of dman that has been lacking since McCabe, if not longer. Add him to that PP and he will match last seasons output or at least get close.

 

[ToneDog]

Tavares took 2mil less than he was offered elsewhere. So not an overpay even remotely.

Tavares wanted to come home and was coming off a $35m contract. He took on less year and it cost him roughly $7m. This is Raddysh's big pay day so I doubt he will be looking to give the Leafs a big discount.

 

[Buckley]

Tavares wanted to come home and was coming off a $35m contract. He took on less year and it cost him roughly $7m. This is Raddysh's big pay day so I doubt he will be looking to give the Leafs a big discount.

I don't think he will give a discount either. I assume it will be between $7 and $8 per year on a long term deal.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Tavares took 2mil less than he was offered elsewhere. So not an overpay even remotely.

Someone wanted JT at 13 ?

I guess not everyone is good with numbers

 

[E2GM]

Someone wanted JT at 13 ?

I guess not everyone is good with numbers

It was SJ if I remember correctly.

 

[The Shrike]

Someone wanted JT at 13 ?

I guess not everyone is good with numbers

Factoring in rapidly escalating upper cap projections for the years following his signing, it absolutely made sense. It seems the Kreskins on these boards knew without certainty that a one in 10,000 event (Covid) would occur.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

It's got to be Raddysh

It doesn't have to be but it probably is

 

[TimeZone]

It doesn't have to be but it probably is

It absolutely should be if we're targeting a Defenseman.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

It absolutely should be if we're targeting a Defenseman.

that potenial contract makes me nervous

 

[TimeZone]

that potenial contract makes me nervous

Always going to be an issue signing free agents.

BUT...he's had excellent even strength production 3 seasons in a row and has less wear and tear that most 30 year olds.

If we're going to overpay a Dman, let's at least make it a good one.....as opposed to Andersson who was a nightmare to watch in the playoffs.

 

[sd1976]

Someone wanted JT at 13 ?

I guess not everyone is good with numbers

Yes. It was reported he was offered 13 by San Jose and 12.5 by Islanders.

 

[kb]

Even if that’s true, players who don’t make the NHL until their absolute athletic peak generally don’t last long after they start to fade.

Giordano seemed fine in his 30s after not becoming a regular until 26.

Some learn to play more efficiently as they gain experience.