Confirmed Trade: [TOR/TBL] Darren Raddysh (signs 8 years, $8.5M AAV) for 2026 5th round pick (MOD WARNING 253)

[Sidney the Kidney]

2 more in 9 less games, but don't let that get in the way of you constantly telling Leaf fans all about their players and why they all suck.

Nobody is saying Raddysh = Hedman. Nobody is saying the Leafs have a top d-core now. Leaf fans are saying this team is better than last year, especially if the injuries don't hit the same way. Some fans can't handle that.

Read my actual post? Please post my quote in this discussion where I said Raddysh "sucks" or that I'm accusing Leaf fans of saying they have a top d-core or saying they think Raddysh is as good as Hedman?

The poster I was talking to brought up Hedman's production, I didn't. So I responded about that specific comparison. The bigger discussion is about whether or not Raddysh ran the PP or if Kucherov did. That's the discussion.

So jumping in with the nonsensical hyperbole above is ridiculous.

 

[Space umpire]

How about you provide literally anything to suggest he wasn't solid defensively 5v5. You claim to watch him he wasn't a PP merchant that is narrative.

How about his coach wouldn’t use him on the PK or late in games while leading as creating a legit question about his defensive abilities?
The funny part is I like Raddysh. He has a monster shot and is “”average”” in most other areas. I’m especially humored that after signing for HUGE money after 1 good year guys like you have him as a star all around defender. He’s not that. He doesn’t suck and in the current cap environment may be worth his contract but he is not the PROVEN stud you’re making him out to be.

 

[HavingACow4Cowan]

How about his coach wouldn’t use him on the PK or late in games while leading as creating a legit question about his defensive abilities?
The funny part is I like Raddysh. He has a monster shot and is “”average”” in most other areas. I’m especially humored that after signing for HUGE money after 1 good year guys like you have him as a star all around defender. He’s not that. He doesn’t suck and in the current cap environment may be worth his contract but he is not the PROVEN stud you’re making him out to be.

The money isn't huge in today's salary cap environment. He would have gotten more per season if he had hit the UFA market.

He's not a proven stud number one defenseman, but he has the potential to be a top 32 defenseman in the NHL next season. Toronto needed someone like that. Chayka is a numbers guy and Raddysh has had good underlying numbers for a while.

If he's only a good top four defenseman for the next five years, he'll be worth his contract during those years.

 

[sd1976]

What pressure? Ok yeah you're right, playing hockey in Tampa Bay on a league minimum contract is EXACTLY the same as being brought into the biggest hockey market in the world and being awarded a contract that makes you one of the highest paid players at your position after one good season.

Ridiculous comment

He is tied for 15th among defencemen in salary. Want another stat? He is tied for 32nd in %of cap at time of signing. Ridiculous is right.

 

[DFC]

How about his coach wouldn’t use him on the PK or late in games while leading as creating a legit question about his defensive abilities?
The funny part is I like Raddysh. He has a monster shot and is “”average”” in most other areas. I’m especially humored that after signing for HUGE money after 1 good year guys like you have him as a star all around defender. He’s not that. He doesn’t suck and in the current cap environment may be worth his contract but he is not the PROVEN stud you’re making him out to be.

What are you even talking about? He was on the PK and used late in games while leading. A lot of Raddysh's numbers are skewed by early in the year when he wasn't a regular. They don't tell the whole story.

At one extreme you have people saying Raddysh was TB's obvious #1 (false--but he was 1b) and at the other extreme you have people talking like he was awful defensively and a PP specialist (also false--he was the team's second best defender behind Moser, and 7th among defensemen league-wide in ES scoring). It doesn't always have to be one extreme or the other.

 

[CupsOverCash]

Biggest thing he should do for them is improving their pp because that's what he did for us. Having a cannon of a shot is a weapon when not on the pp too. In the short term in will be a good pick up for them. Id say you aren't signing him for his defense but it's not like his defense is bad. Id see him break up a ton of odd man rushes as the lone man back. Was effective at diving and using the stick to poke away a threat.

I'd say his overall body of work and age is concerning to give him the contract they did and probably why Tampa decided not to do 8 years. However I think on the shorter term it could be a good signing. Cap is going up too so it's probably not a huge deal to them. I wouldn't call it some make or break signing for them though..

They will still have to depend on big players like Austin Matthews to step up when needed most. That's been their biggest knock and unanswerable question from them. Signing Darren Raddysh doesn't help with that. But he will be a good weapon going forward. I wonder with his age how the contract ages but that's not a problem for them right now.

 

[TheRumble]

Since we've gone into the territory of 8D chess, if the Leafs are gonna suck how come Tampa won't trade for their 2027 draft pick which is now controlled by Philly?

One would assume that if Tampa expects the Leafs to be worse then them the smart move is to trade a 2027 first + whatever to Philly for the Leafs first. That way, you can compete while allowing the Leafs to tank.

But we know Tampa won't do that because they know they're finishing below the Leafs in the standings.

I'd also like to point out Tampa held a team to 10 shots and their goalie was so ass they lost an elimination game. I figure teams will only need to hit 20 shots next year to beat them. Hedman or no Hedman, the Lightning are a wildcard team at best.

 

[HockeyVirus]

What pressure? Ok yeah you're right, playing hockey in Tampa Bay on a league minimum contract is EXACTLY the same as being brought into the biggest hockey market in the world and being awarded a contract that makes you one of the highest paid players at your position after one good season.

Ridiculous comment

One of the highest paid players at your position? He's the 22nd highest caphit for dmen in the league

 

[Power Surge]

Well, being from Toronto himself, I think he understands how the media works and knows there will be more eyes and more of a microscope on him. But being home with family and friends probably outweigh the cons.

 

[DGLeafy]

One of the highest paid players at your position? He's the 22nd highest caphit for dmen in the league

Wild the level of cherry picking haha

I don’t expect a 1D or 1B. Gimme a 1z

People are already trying to fabricate pressure and close the window on any optimism with the Leafs.

They missed the playoffs. Stop worrying about the Leafs

 

[BobClarkesfrontteeth]

No one in their right mind is taking on Raddysh's contract for 8 years.

Someone would take Raddysh's contract in a second and pay good assets to get him. San Jose just traded for Nurse with no retention and gave up assets. A team just paid Byrum 12.5 million for 6 years. You severely over estimate the defensive talent available to teams.
In 3 years 2nd pair dmen will be getting more than Raddysh.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Someone would take Raddysh's contract in a second and pay good assets to get him. San Jose just traded for Nurse with no retention and gave up assets. A team just paid Byrum 12.5 million for 6 years. You severely over estimate the defensive talent available to teams.
In 3 years 2nd pair dmen will be getting more than Raddysh.

They already are.

Byram isn't a 1st pair guy on a good team

 

[SnakeIdol]

Since we've gone into the territory of 8D chess, if the Leafs are gonna suck how come Tampa won't trade for their 2027 draft pick which is now controlled by Philly?

One would assume that if Tampa expects the Leafs to be worse then them the smart move is to trade a 2027 first + whatever to Philly for the Leafs first. That way, you can compete while allowing the Leafs to tank.

But we know Tampa won't do that because they know they're finishing below the Leafs in the standings.

I'd also like to point out Tampa held a team to 10 shots and their goalie was so ass they lost an elimination game. I figure teams will only need to hit 20 shots next year to beat them. Hedman or no Hedman, the Lightning are a wildcard team at best.

I'm not sure Philly is in a hurry to trade a first round pick from a team that just had the number 1 pick because they finished with 78 points.

 

[HavingACow4Cowan]

I'm not sure Philly is in a hurry to trade a first round pick from a team that just had the number 1 pick because they finished with 78 points.

The Panthers were about a .500 team last season. I guess they may as well start rebuilding before they get any older?

 

[BobClarkesfrontteeth]

I'm not sure Philly is in a hurry to trade a first round pick from a team that just had the number 1 pick because they finished with 78 points.

Why Philly's pick is probably going to be higher.

 

[lookylou]

Teams who would've like Raddysh in their team next year : 32

Teams who would've signed that contract : probably 5 at most IMO

Toronto fans seem happy, let them be happy

He would have been traded for a decent return if other teams wanted to pay him that money.
The reason he was gotten on the cheap trade value is the massive risk of giving a undrafted 30 year old with 1 good season a long term contract. He has what 4 seasons under his belt?
Is it worth the risk? Kinda
but history says it’s a major risk

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

He would have been traded for a decent return if other teams wanted to pay him that money.
The reason he was gotten on the cheap trade value is the massive risk of giving a undrafted 30 year old with 1 good season a long term contract. He has what 4 seasons under his belt?
Is it worth the risk? Kinda
but history says it’s a major risk

Very good for 3 seasons. Just broke out offensively this one due to deployment / injury. There is inherent risk of course but he’s been rock solid for some time.

 

[Legion34]

Let me tell you a secret, it's because they don't view raddysh as a top pairing d for even one year, let alone 8.

Ok Bowen Byram makes 12.5. Is 8.5 even top pair d money now? Like Makar will be double next year

 

[Leaf Fans]

He would have been traded for a decent return if other teams wanted to pay him that money.
The reason he was gotten on the cheap trade value is the massive risk of giving a undrafted 30 year old with 1 good season a long term contract. He has what 4 seasons under his belt?
Is it worth the risk? Kinda
but history says it’s a major risk

He was. A fifth rounder ten days before he hits free agency is decent, not a steal, but decent. Sure, there is risk like

 

[sd1976]

He would have been traded for a decent return if other teams wanted to pay him that money.
The reason he was gotten on the cheap trade value is the massive risk of giving a undrafted 30 year old with 1 good season a long term contract. He has what 4 seasons under his belt?
Is it worth the risk? Kinda
but history says it’s a major risk

He was only going to Toronto. This is known. Stop trumpeting false narrative. He was gotten for a 5th so that he could get the 8th year and keep the cap hit lower. There is no other reason and no other team he was signing with.

 

[T REX]

Any Bolts fan thinking JC is gonna replicate Raddy's numbers at THIRTY SEVEN...is out to lunch...THE ONLY 37 YEAR OLD TO HIT 70 POINTS IN NHL HISTORY? NICKLAS LIDSTROM...BOURQUE and COFFEY

JC is not Nic Lindstrom. Our fans are full on delusional.

 

[TheDoldrums]

He would have been traded for a decent return if other teams wanted to pay him that money.

He only wanted Toronto. I'm sure his camp told Tampa in the nicest most non-tampering way that he was going to be a Leaf once it was clear Tampa wasn't going to match this deal. His dad was a massive Leafs fan and recently passed away, he wants to be close to family at this time.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Let me tell you a secret, it's because they don't view raddysh as a top pairing d for even one year, let alone 8.

He literally was last year

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Any Bolts fan thinking JC is gonna replicate Raddy's numbers at THIRTY SEVEN...is out to lunch...THE ONLY 37 YEAR OLD TO HIT 70 POINTS IN NHL HISTORY? NICKLAS LIDSTROM...BOURQUE and COFFEY

JC is not Nic Lindstrom. Our fans are full on delusional.

I don't think anybody is expecting Carlaon to get 70 points

 

[T REX]

I don't think anybody is expecting Carlaon to get 70 points

Plug and play baby...Raddysh only got those bc of Kuch. He has very little talent of his own. Apparently we can put a chim;p there and he'd score 60 points. /s