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

[notbias]

Very curious to see the PP for Toronto now.

Assuming McKenna will be the main distributor, he has some very good shooting options.

I also think this thread is a great example of how much people lack critical thinking.

If he was expected to be close to PPG and put up 20-25 goals every year, he wouldn't be signing for 8.5... This deal is based on the assumption that he is unlikely to repeat, but he is also better than in previous years.

 

[sd1976]

Well according to Leafs fans ITT he’s the love child of Eddie Shore, Nick Lidstrom and Chris Pronger so I guess not. Seems to me he’s just a one year wonder who at age 30 has hit his absolute peak and took advantage of a bad GM to make it into generational money.

It would seem that way to you wouldn’t it?

 

[TheBeard]

What do you consider an anomalous level?
If its 70 points then this contract is a steal compared to the defenceman who are consistant 70 point producers.
Is it 60 points? Then this contract is still a steal compared to 60 point producers.
Is it 50 points? 22 defenceman just recorded over 50 points and this new contract puts him ahead of only 6 of them. Of those 6 one is a rookie and 5 of the rest are in the last 2 years of their previous deals.

So tell me again how this contract is NOT worthwhile?

I mean there's absolutely no way to judge it now but years of history of defensemen in their 30s decline rapidly is a fairly good barometer of what to expect. You better hope there is a market for Reilly because as it stands now the entire Toronto blue line is in their 30s and 4 of those are signed through 29-30. Toronto really doesn't have a team built to win now and when they are ready to contend again Darren is gonna be pushing 35.

 

[LordZapp]

Tampa locking toronto into that soon to be anchor. All part of the plan.

 

[HockeyVirus]

A solid 5 or 6 D man who should get a 4 million X 4-year type contract? Sure. That's what he is.

Maybe you can help me. I'm struggling to find any examples of 5 or 6D that play 22 minutes a night for a 106 point team, maybe you can point me in the right direction?

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

I don't think Buffalo and Montreal are going to do as well. Cats and Leafs should be healthy.
Plus, Habs and Sabers won't catch teams sleeping like they did last year.

I don’t think the leafs will do as well as most leafs homers think, the Ds are too old and slow, they don’t have a 2C and only top 6 wingers, McKenna isnt ready for that yet

I also don’t think Mathews is hitting more than 40 goals to hide all of their issues. He’s damaged good.

But hey, fans can keep coping and I could care less if I’m completely wrong.

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

It’s solid but you’ll find many habs fans saying those two are overpaid

I get that. People just seem to ignoring things like 30~40 point seasons as not even "good", and then classifying a 20+g, 70 point season when the guy finally got PP time and was a top 10 in defenseman scoring as "good". Should also be noted that DR was at least solid defensively, unlike one of the guys above him on that list.

And people are calling this a "not good" signing, when the Leafs gave up a 5th round pick for DR's rights, while as a comparison the Habs gave up 2x1st and a prospect for Dobson's rights. I'm not comparing the players (specifically age and NHL experience), just trying to wrap my head around the absolute level of hyperbole in this thread. Also, I don't agree that the Leaf's default to something better than a bubble team like most teams in the Atlantic, which is going to be a meat grinder again.

It is just hard to have any sort of reasonable position in this thread where from the detractor's perspective the contract is on par with the worst UFA contracts of all time in the Louis Ericsson/Milan Lucic tier right from inception.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

LMFAO

One
Good
Season

 

[HockeyVirus]

Very curious to see the PP for Toronto now.

Assuming McKenna will be the main distributor, he has some very good shooting options.

I also think this thread is a great example of how much people lack critical thinking.

If he was expected to be close to PPG and put up 20-25 goals every year, he wouldn't be signing for 8.5... This deal is based on the assumption that he is unlikely to repeat, but he is also better than in previous years.

Def makes it a deadly PP.

Put McKenna on the left boards he has Raddysh with the clapper being a right handed D up top and Matthews on his offside on the right side waiting for the one T.

If we assume Knies stays at the net he's big hard to move McKenna has lots of options. Chances are the goalie won't often see the puck get across to the D or Matthews.

How do teams defend it? Take away the pass to Raddysh and Matthews and leave McKenna tons of space? Seems unwise if he is as good as they say.

That also means the 2nd unit likely has Tavares, Nylander, and Cowan on it. Ridiculous.

 

[sd1976]

Why not just trade for Hamilton? Much better player. Smh Leafs.

Yeah let’s dump precious assets for a higher salary lower end player. That makes sense.

 

[notbias]

I don’t think the leafs will do as well as most leafs homers think, the Ds are too old and slow, they don’t have a 2C and only top 6 wingers, McKenna isnt ready for that yet

I also don’t think Mathews is hitting more than 40 goals to hide all of their issues. He’s damaged good.

But hey, fans can keep coping and I could care less if I’m completely wrong.

Define a 2C please...

I would assume the C who was 21st in center scoring would fit that, but maybe not.

Your analysis of everything is pretty terrible.

 

[bossram]

I don't think it's that bad for Toronto. Was expecting an even higher AAV. Raddysh can play, but he's already 30 so you have to just live with the age-related decline coming.

He is overrated at ES now, benefitted a lot from playing with Moser. But will certainly help the PP.

Kinda surprised TB didn't match this deal, unless Raddysh just wanted to go back home.

 

[TheBeard]

Maybe you can help me. I'm struggling to find any examples of 5 or 6D that play 22 minutes a night for a 106 point team, maybe you can point me in the right direction?

Just because he was forced to play that high doesn't mean he should be. In fact I would say playing him that many minutes is probably detrimental. In fact I would argue that overuse is why he struggled so much in April and then against Montreal.

 

[CupsOverCash]

Tampa locking toronto into that soon to be anchor. All part of the plan.

3d chess! $)

 

[Vergil]

That's a LOT of term and money for a guy that only balled out for one year... on a really good Tampa team.

 

[General Fanager]

I don't think Buffalo and Montreal are going to do as well. Cats and Leafs should be healthy.
Plus, Habs and Sabers won't catch teams sleeping like they did last year.

Well The Leafs are better with Raddysh thats for sure but I dont think the improvement will make that much difference. The reason I say that is because The Leafs will not be the only one improving. You think The Habs, Sens, Sabres, Botls, Cats will just sit back in awe of what The Leafs did?

Then there is the Matthews question. His health is a concern. If he is back to the 60+ goal guy then maybe but I dont see it.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Just because he was forced to play that high doesn't mean he should be. In fact I would say playing him that many minutes is probably detrimental. In fact I would argue that overuse is why he struggled so much in April and then against Montreal.

You're reaching.

 

[River Meadow]

30 years old is the wrong side of 30?

Then wtf is the good side of 30?

That's the whole point of the saying.

There is no good side to 30 as an athlete.

Being on the wrong side of it is literally to be 30+

 

[A1LeafNation]

5 hours ago Raddysh was a stud PPQB RD dman and the top FA available.

What happened? LOL

 

[Nostradeeznuts]

I don’t think the leafs will do as well as most leafs homers think, the Ds are too old and slow, they don’t have a 2C.

I also don’t think Mathews is hitting more than 40 goals to hide all of their issues. He’s damaged good.

But hey, fans can keep coping and I could care less if I’m completely wrong.

I think they're going to go after 1 of Jenner/Marchment to help J.T, McKenna's playmaking ability should pump up Matthewes goal numbers. Also Raddysh gives us a point shot on the PP, something we've needed.
Andrae from Philly to help with zone exists, Danford looks NHL ready to me, plus Cowan's confidence is growing and he looks like he may make a lil noise this year.

 

[Waldorf]

I think this is a good trade for Toronto. Maybe Raddysh falls back to earth but you can’t fault them for trying keep the window open.

 

[notbias]

Well The Leafs are better with Raddysh thats for sure but I dont think the improvement will make that much difference. The reason I say that is because The Leafs will not be the only one improving. You think The Habs, Sens, Sabres, Botls, Cats will just sit back in awe of what The Leafs did?

Then there is the Matthews question. His health is a concern. If he is back to the 60+ goal guy then maybe but I dont see it.

I think between a coaching change, McKenna, Raddysh, and getting some injured players back, outside of Florida, they might have the biggest jump in the standings.

They still have almost 20 million to work with right now.

I think they are very likely to be back to competing for the top of the division (just like the Panthers).

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

30 years old is the wrong side of 30?

Then wtf is the good side of 30?

29

 

[JKG33]

And people are calling this a "not good" signing, when the Leafs gave up a 5th round pick for DR's rights, while as a comparison the Habs gave up 2x1st and a prospect for Dobson's rights. I'm not comparing the players (specifically age and NHL experience), just trying to wrap my head around the absolute level of hyperbole in this thread.

I dont think you understand the difference between RFA and UFA

 

[Suntouchable13]

I think they're going to go after 1 of Jenner/Marchment to help J.T, McKenna's playmaking ability should pump up Matthewes goal numbers. Also Raddysh gives us a point shot on the PP, something we've needed.
Andrae from Philly to help with zone exists, Danford looks NHL ready to me, plus Cowan's confidence is growing and he looks like he may make a lil noise this year.

Yea, McKenna at 18 is supposed to drive Matthews production up. Do you realize what you are saying? Matthews is supposed to be the driver, and help McKenna not the other way around.