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

[TheKrebsCycle]

Is Tanev expected back? Or do you anticipate breaking up the Tanev/McCabe pairing?

He’s expected back but 37 and injury prone isn’t a great combo . Maybe playing less / easier minutes might preserve him . I could see him playing ( baby sitting ) 3rd pair with whatever young offensive D they end up w ( Andrae , Zellweger as examples ) ; or alternatively w OEL. I hops they somehow upgrade on Carlo . Or trade him plus whatever for a 2 / 3 C. Chayka is gonna make moves . That much is clear . Hard to predict current combos

 

[TotalHomer]

They spent the entire season posting on his player thread about how they’d rather not, unless it was a short term, low salary contract.

No track record, hitting on all cylinders during a contract year and he was looking for a retirement deal. Eight year deal is ridiculous for this guy.

 

[Buckley]

I would agree if the TML had much a loaded talent pipeline. With the lottery luck they're in a difficult situation where McKenna is going to be the only potential "blue-chip" asset added to the pipeline in probably a 7 year stretch between 2021 (Knies added in 2021 giving him the benefit of doubt) to TOR's next "own" first round DP in 2029 (assuming some sort of rebuild). I struggle to see how 2031-34 (last 3 years of DR's contract) are going to be serious contender years for the TML based on the age of their current roster and talent pipeline. Maybe the Leaf's rebuild and get a huge haul for AM/WN and I'm eating crow. Time will tell.

The Leafs are trying to win a Cup in the next 4 or 5 years. That's why they made this move.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

he was playing 17min a night 2 years prior

So pacing for 40 pt ish seasons playing 17 minutes is bad ? Again Raddysh as an effective ( strong analytically as well the 2 prior seasons ) player isn’t new . He was just deployed differently . Key roles on pps can easily boost players totals by 20 ish; especially if it’s a good one . He’s a decent bet as a 50 pt plus guy moving forward , assuming ample special team involvement.

 

[sxvnert]

All the leafs care about is the PP goals and blasts from the point. It's been a need for over a decade.

 

[Buckley]

No track record, hitting on all cylinders during a contract year and he was looking for a retirement deal. Eight year deal is ridiculous for this guy.

About as ridiculous as a 6 year deal for Brad Marchand or a 7 year deal for Aaron Ekblad. In other words, all of these contracts are ridiculous. The only contracts that have a chance to be "good" anymore are long term deals for younger guys. That's just the way it is.

 

[HockeyVirus]

You described the job of a defenceman pretty well.

It's great until the puck gets on his stick and the only thing he can do with it is bounce it off the boards and hope it bounces to a forward. Most of the time it lands and the forwards have to battle for the puck and by the time it is won, the defense is set. There was no counter rush offense from him.

In the offensive zone he has stone hands. Been setup many times can't do anything with it. Literally all he can do is defend and even with that he was getting beat a lot last season.

 

[Drytoast]

Wow this is a long thread!

I'm on page 61 right now.

The Leafs did something. This league is 1 actual nhl team and 31 subsidiaries

You will get less then 10 pages for the carolina cup parade thread for example.

 

[malcb33]

You described the job of a defenceman pretty well.

Outlet passes and transition out of your own end aren't an important qualities for you?

 

[WetcoastOrca]

About as ridiculous as a 6 year deal for Brad Marchand or a 7 year deal for Aaron Ekblad. In other words, all of these contracts are ridiculous. The only contracts that have a chance to be "good" anymore are long term deals for younger guys. That's just the way it is.

Sure. But the Panthers were competing for Cups and those guys pushed them over the top. Leafs are a non playoff team hoping to have a huge rebound just to make the playoffs. I would have no issue if a contending team like Carolina, Colorado, Montreal or Vegas made this deal.

 

[Sparksrus3]

The Leafs are trying to win a Cup in the next 4 or 5 years. That's why they made this move.

Not next year ? In 4-5 years you will see about 5-6 current players still with the team and won’t include AM or JT

Let’s start small and try to make the playoffs first eh…

 

[stealth1]

The leafs have money, they need a defenseman, makar would likely sign for $18m today if he was up for UFA, what’s the problem with this?

Also, is anyone concerned about how Tampa plans to replace this guy? Carlson for $10m? Andersson for $9.5m?

I don’t think Tampa should have made this deal at all

I disagree. The guy is not with the 8 year contract. They likely think he's not going to repeat his career year. I trust a GM that has won 3 cups over a GM whose been out of the league for 5 years

 

[pth2]

He fits this team’s window perfectly. The leafs will be cooked when Darren is. Who cares

McKenna and Knies will be how old going into season 6 of this deal, when it becomes a real problem ?

 

[Miles Stock]

All the leafs care about is the PP goals and blasts from the point. It's been a need for over a decade.

DR brings several other things that the Leafs have needed badly over the last couple seasons:

Strong transition play

Elite 5v5 production: 6th amongst NHL D in P/60 over the past 2 seasons - Rielly was 61st. (12th over the past three seasons - Rielly was 40th).

RHD

Excellent fit.

 

[Drytoast]

Easy. I’m a STM that attends virtually every game. He’s a slow 4-6 defenseman with a booming shot. If you can limit his minutes 5 on 5 and have him play on the pp, he’s fine. He has always been a 5-7 guy until this season when injuries forced him into the lineup and, he was outstanding offensively and was protected by Moser on defense.

I’m pleased for him that he hit a big payday as he’s got a great personality and is willing to accept his role.

But my fear is that with his contract that Leaf fans are going to expect Raddysh to be in the top 4. He’s not that player.

Just did a quick ask on chatgpt if this were accurate. This is what it said;

If you're referring to the season Darren Raddysh just finished with the Tampa Bay Lightning before being traded, he was used as a top-pairing, all-situations defenseman.
Here are the key details:
Average ice time: 22:42 per game, which actually led the Lightning. �
StatMuse +1
Role: Top-pair defenseman at even strength.
Special teams: He played on the first power-play unit and was a regular on the penalty kill. �
Reuters +1
Production: In 73 games, he recorded 22 goals and 48 assists for 70 points, all career highs.

Wanna revise your statement? Typical "traded to toronto now he is washed" shitty hockey opinion i expect from these boards

 

[Burnie97]

The Leafs did something. This league is 1 actual nhl team and 31 subsidiaries

You will get less then 10 pages for the carolina cup parade thread for example.

Here you are... piling on to it...

 

[Drytoast]

Here you are... piling on to it...

Sir, i would never...

 

[Donnie D]

False . Played excellent away from him this season ( obviously excellent w ).

As someone who watched Lightning games, that would be wrong.

 

[Donnie D]

The leafs have money, they need a defenseman, makar would likely sign for $18m today if he was up for UFA, what’s the problem with this?

Also, is anyone concerned about how Tampa plans to replace this guy? Carlson for $10m? Andersson for $9.5m?

I don’t think Tampa should have made this deal at all

Nope. Hedman / Moser. McDonagh/ Cernak. D’Astous / Lilliberg. Crozier.

Had Raddysh stayed, he would have taken Lilliberg’s spot on the 3rd line.

 

[Devils Trap]

Full NTC for 6 years
16 team no trade for the last 2

Yeesh, I was okay with the money but thats quite steep

 

[Donnie D]

3 good seasons *^

Nooooooo. He was a 3rd pair before last season. He was scratched to begin last season.

 

[Miles Stock]

I disagree. The guy is not with the 8 year contract. They likely think he's not going to repeat his career year. I trust a GM that has won 3 cups over a GM whose been out of the league for 5 years

Well of course. It is very unlikely that Raddysh would have much of any kind of season if Hedman is fully healthy. Players are worth different amounts to different teams based on team needs and expected role. Tampa doesn't need a player like Raddysh (or at least they didn't until Hedman had injury issues).

Which is why after Raddysh' was 6th among NHL D in P/60 at 5v5 in 2024/25, he started out last season averaging 14:09 a game, with 3 points at the time of Hedman's first injury 15 games into the season. No injury to Hedman last season and Raddysh is probably signing a 1 year 1M (max) contract this summer with whatever team he thinks might give him his first real shot. Fortunately for him he got to show what he could do last season.

 

[slimey]

Full NTC for 6 years
16 team no trade for the last 2

Yeesh, I was okay with the money but thats quite steep

Ah shit “devils trap” isnt okay with the ntc

wtf will we do?

 

[Donnie D]

Just did a quick ask on chatgpt if this were accurate. This is what it said;

If you're referring to the season Darren Raddysh just finished with the Tampa Bay Lightning before being traded, he was used as a top-pairing, all-situations defenseman.
Here are the key details:
Average ice time: 22:42 per game, which actually led the Lightning. �
StatMuse +1
Role: Top-pair defenseman at even strength.
Special teams: He played on the first power-play unit and was a regular on the penalty kill. �
Reuters +1
Production: In 73 games, he recorded 22 goals and 48 assists for 70 points, all career highs.

Wanna revise your statement? Typical "traded to toronto now he is washed" shitty hockey opinion i expect from these boards

Nope. You believe Chat GPT?

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Just did a quick ask on chatgpt if this were accurate. This is what it said;

If you're referring to the season Darren Raddysh just finished with the Tampa Bay Lightning before being traded, he was used as a top-pairing, all-situations defenseman.
Here are the key details:
Average ice time: 22:42 per game, which actually led the Lightning. �
StatMuse +1
Role: Top-pair defenseman at even strength.
Special teams: He played on the first power-play unit and was a regular on the penalty kill. �
Reuters +1
Production: In 73 games, he recorded 22 goals and 48 assists for 70 points, all career highs.

Wanna revise your statement? Typical "traded to toronto now he is washed" shitty hockey opinion i expect from these boards

Raddysh averaged 47 seconds per game on the PK. I don't think that's considered "regular on the penalty kill".

The rest are certainly top pairing minutes though.