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

[stealth1]

I know the discussion is "points, points, and points" but there are multiple reasons the Leafs made this move. It wasn't just "I expect 70+ points every year." Guys that can move the puck well were very much needed on that team. Restoring the Leafs transition game was a major need. The shot from the point isn't just for Raddysh's own benefit. That opens up the offense for the forwards both on the PP and 5 on 5.

The points matter and obviously the team hopes he'll still provide plenty of those. But beyond just points he filled a need and the Leafs got ahead of the market.

We could see the crazy ideas on the first page of this one. 10/11+ million per year stuff. 8.5 is still a lot of money. But it's not what it could've been and it is getting ahead of and taking advantage of the rising cap. UFA signings are risky because generally these guys are older. But it's not a move without sense to it.

Thats fair. I also believe this a move a Stanley Cup contending team does. This team is not a contending team and should be making moves like Pittsburgh did last season.

 

[Strangle]

We have plenty of space, just didn't think he was worth it

The leafs had to make this kind of decision with Hyman years ago too

 

[Strangle]

I already gave you that. Hedman, Moser, McDonagh, Cernak.

Two of those guys are pushing 40 and not producing anymore

The other two have never produced

 

[Strangle]

Raddysh won't put 70 again with the Leafs.

I could see 55-60, but 70 seems a bit bloated of an ask given the uncertainty of the Leafs' lineup.

Nonetheless, I think Raddysh is a good signing for the Leafs at this price point.

$8.5M in 3 years will be worth a much lesser percentage of the cap. And yes the contract's NMC clauses suck, but in the overall context of the Leafs it shouldn't be too much of an issue.

I don’t think anyone (even Chayka) expects 70 points out of raddysh, that’s why he was signed more in the 40-50 point defenseman range

What this means to the leafs though is huge. Adding 40-50 points from the defense is massive for this team. Who haven’t been able to add any points from the backend in years

 

[Drytoast]

OK? Are you saying you don't know how time works? Yeah, Nurse's contract is bad, but he's got just the 4 years left, and he'll be 32 in Feb. That's different than Raddysh, who will be 31 in Feb, with 8 years on a deal.

Every year that goes by, the previous worst contracts in the league get a little less terrible(still bad though), while the new crop of full bad contracts are now center stage. It's on the opposite end of the previous star player getting old and being replaced by the fresh new talent scoring 130pts a year.

Players do not DIE when they are 35+. The age of retirement in the NHL is only in the 20's because so many young players fail out of the NHL. All the players who are skilled...your Marner's Crosby's Ovechkins Makar...they all play until late 30's baring an injury.

Raddysh will be serviceable until the end of the contract. Or he gets injured and goes on LTIR. OR he gets dumped to a team looking to try and hit cap floor.

This is not the big deal you think it is. The only question is, "can the Leafs get the most out of this guy and his gift of a hard slapper like Tampa did?"

That's the question.

And I think yes...yes they can. I think Willie Matthews Knies and JT have the hockey IQ to feed it back to an open slot for him to 1 time. And I think Hiller who is known for a decent powerplay will be looking to do exactly that. So that it helps to open up Matthews as well.

The Leafs haven't had a defenseman who could slap it like this guy can since...McCabe? 2005? It's exciting to see how they use him. I think you all just hate the Leafs and wanna latch on to whatever dumb ass narrative you can to cope with whatever move the Leafs make. This guy was probably one of the only big named defensemen on the market this summer. He wanted to come to Toronto. The Leafs can use him. The cap hit is reasonable and the term is not an issue.

84 f***ing pages now of this trade. My god.

 

[WatchfulElm]

Almost as bad as Noah Dobson luckily 1 mill cheaper

I'm pretty sure 99,9% of NHL GMs and scouts would pick Dobson before Raddysh, especially considering their respective contracts. Also, 26 vs 30 years old.

But you have the right to be in the 0,1% and be happy about it.

 

[RoadWarrior]

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

Tampa knows his numbers would decline with the return of Hedman. They would only pay him as a 40 point defenseman on the second PP unit. Hedman and Raddysh cannot co exist on the same team.

 

[RoadWarrior]

I'm pretty sure 99,9% of NHL GMs and scouts would pick Dobson before Raddysh, especially considering their respective contracts. Also, 26 vs 30 years old.

But you have the right to be in the 0,1% and be happy about it.

Raddysh was better than Dobson last year and the leafs didn’t have to sacrifice 2 first rounders to acquire him.

 

[Drytoast]

Tampa knows his numbers would decline with the return of Hedman. They would only pay him as a 40 point defenseman on the second PP unit. Hedman and Raddysh cannot co exist on the same team.

This is true. I would pick Hedman over Raddysh as well if I were lucky enough to have the choice. So from Tampa's POV it makes sense.

 

[Gjman2019]

Raddysh was better than Dobson last year and the leafs didn’t have to sacrifice 2 first rounders to acquire him.

Yeah because you don't have to give up any assets GM's will take on the risk of Free Agents not performing up to their cap hit/term....... Been that way for decades......

A risk the Leafs needed to take given their situation......I like the Metrics i see from Raddysh,,,,,

 

[stealth1]

Yeah because you don't have to give up any assets GM's will take on the risk of Free Agents not performing up to their cap hit/term....... Been that way for decades......

A risk the Leafs needed to take given their situation......I like the Metrics i see from Raddysh,,,,,

From that perspective it makes sense. I also think this isn't a move the Leafs should be doing. They aren't close to being a cup contender.

 

[Strangle]

Tampa knows his numbers would decline with the return of Hedman. They would only pay him as a 40 point defenseman on the second PP unit. Hedman and Raddysh cannot co exist on the same team.

Why wouldn’t Tampa want some kind of ‘succession’ plan for Hedman and McDonough?

You’re talking about a 30 years old being held back by two guys pushing 40. You think those two are going to play forever?

 

[WetcoastOrca]

From that perspective it makes sense. I also think this isn't a move the Leafs should be doing. They aren't close to being a cup contender.

Agreed. It’s a move a top contender does to push them over the top. And then deal with the consequences later on. The Leafs are nowhere near contending and arguably this doesn’t even make them a playoff team.

 

[Gjman2019]

From that perspective it makes sense. I also think this isn't a move the Leafs should be doing. They aren't close to being a cup contender.

They're not rebuilding (makes no sense to rebuild without your picks anyway)...Instead is seems they're trying to address their needs and win regardless of what anybody's opinion is....

I like the signing and think they're a prime candidate for a bounce back year.........We'll see.....

 

[stealth1]

They're not rebuilding (makes no sense to rebuild without your picks anyway)...Instead is seems they're trying to address their needs and win regardless of what anybody's opinion is....

I'm not saying rebuild. Make moves like Pittsburgh did last season to tread water til they add more younger players to play with McKenna.

 

[nbwingsfan]

Raddysh has played 3 seasons, and all three of those seasons were better than Walmans career high. Just last season alone of Raddysh is better than 3 years combined of Walman. Not similar players at all

No they weren’t

Walman had 40 in 65 two seasons ago

 

[Strangle]

Agreed. It’s a move a top contender does to push them over the top. And then deal with the consequences later on. The Leafs are nowhere near contending and arguably this doesn’t even make them a playoff team.

How do the maple leafs fix their defense without bringing in better players?

 

[Blowfish]

I can’t see this helping an already aging slow core in leaf land.

 

[Strangle]

I can’t see this helping an already aging slow core in leaf land.

Of course you can’t lmao

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Players do not DIE when they are 35+. The age of retirement in the NHL is only in the 20's because so many young players fail out of the NHL. All the players who are skilled...your Marner's Crosby's Ovechkins Makar...they all play until late 30's baring an injury.

Raddysh will be serviceable until the end of the contract. Or he gets injured and goes on LTIR. OR he gets dumped to a team looking to try and hit cap floor.

This is not the big deal you think it is. The only question is, "can the Leafs get the most out of this guy and his gift of a hard slapper like Tampa did?"

That's the question.

And I think yes...yes they can. I think Willie Matthews Knies and JT have the hockey IQ to feed it back to an open slot for him to 1 time. And I think Hiller who is known for a decent powerplay will be looking to do exactly that. So that it helps to open up Matthews as well.

The Leafs haven't had a defenseman who could slap it like this guy can since...McCabe? 2005? It's exciting to see how they use him. I think you all just hate the Leafs and wanna latch on to whatever dumb ass narrative you can to cope with whatever move the Leafs make. This guy was probably one of the only big named defensemen on the market this summer. He wanted to come to Toronto. The Leafs can use him. The cap hit is reasonable and the term is not an issue.

84 f***ing pages now of this trade. My god.

It'll be interesting to see how many goals he scores next (this?) season. I was looking at his career stats and was surprised to see he's only scored in double digits one other time in his entire professional career when he scored 13 goals for Syracuse in the 22/23 season.

It'll be interesting to see if he can sustain scoring in the 20 goal range or if it's similar to Morgan Rielly's career year 20 goal season followed by him turning back into a 10 goal or less type scorer.

 

[stealth1]

How do the maple leafs fix their defense without bringing in better players?

Ask Pittsburgh how they did it last season. They managed to improve their team without giving out massive overpays.

 

[um]

I can’t see this helping an already aging slow core in leaf land.

How old do you think the Leafs are?

 

[Strangle]

It'll be interesting to see how many goals he scores next (this?) season. I was looking at his career stats and was surprised to see he's only scored in double digits one other time in his entire professional career when he scored 13 goals for Syracuse in the 22/23 season.

It'll be interesting to see if he can sustain scoring in the 20 goal range or if it's similar to Morgan Rielly's career year 20 goal season followed by him turning back into a 10 goal or less type scorer.

I’d say Bryan McCabe was our best offensive defenseman in recent memory. His career high was 19 goals and his second best was 15 goals.

No one expects raddysh to score 20 goals.

Phaneufs career high was 20 and he only scored a high of 12 for the leafs.

 

[um]

Ask Pittsburgh how they did it last season. They managed to improve their team without giving out massive overpays.

How do you think Karlsson was acquired?

 

[Strangle]

How old do you think the Leafs are?

They have a younger core than Tampa