Overview
- The Maple Leafs acquired Darren Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning in a sign-and-trade on Friday and immediately signed him to an eight-year contract worth $68 million with reported trade protection.
- Raddysh is a 30-year-old who posted a breakout 2025–26 season with 22 goals and 70 points and led NHL defensemen with 10 power-play goals, which is the production Toronto hopes will boost its power play.
- Analysts warn the deal is high risk because much of Raddysh’s production came inside Tampa Bay’s system and alongside elite forwards, so it is uncertain he can replicate that role in Toronto.
- The transaction follows other Chayka moves this month, including trading Joseph Woll to free cap space, and leaves the Leafs with roughly $18.8 million in cap flexibility to make further changes before the June 26 draft and July 1 free agency.
- Organizational momentum comes from the Toronto Marlies winning the Calder Cup with Artur Akhtyamov named playoff MVP, which creates internal goaltending options even as the NHL netminding situation remains unsettled.