The Toronto Maple Leafs made a major push to strengthen their defense corps before free agency opened, trading for the rights to defenseman Darren Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning and then signing him to an eight-year contract worth $68 million.
A source with knowledge of the agreement shared the financial details with The Associated Press on Friday, speaking anonymously because the team had not publicly released the terms of the deal. Raddysh will carry a $8.5 million salary cap figure each year through the 2033-34 season — a dramatic leap for a player who had never earned more than $1 million annually before this contract.
The 30-year-old had a career-defining season, setting personal bests across the board with 22 goals, 48 assists, and 70 total points in 73 games. To put that in perspective, he recorded that same point total over the entire previous two seasons combined since becoming a regular NHL player as recently as 2023.
The acquisition gives Toronto an immediate boost on the blue line. The Leafs are entering a new era with head coach Jim Hiller behind the bench and a revamped front office headed by general manager John Chayka, with franchise legend Mats Sundin serving in an advisory role. Securing Raddysh’s rights from Tampa Bay in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick — before he could become a free agent — marks Chayka’s second trade of the week. Earlier, he moved goaltender Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit to Philadelphia to free up cap space.
“We are thrilled to add a defenseman of Darren’s caliber to our organization,” Chayka said. “Darren has emerged as one of the NHL’s premier two-way defensemen, combining elite puck-moving ability with poise, competitiveness and strong play in all three zones. He strengthens our blue line in every situation and is exactly the type of player we want helping lead this team.”
Raddysh’s path to this moment was anything but straightforward. He went undrafted despite being part of the Erie Otters squad that captured the Ontario Hockey League title at the junior level in 2016-17. He later signed with Chicago, was traded to the New York Rangers, and then inked a free agent deal with the Lightning in 2021.
For much of that stretch, Raddysh played in the minor leagues, earning American Hockey League All-Star recognition before finally securing a full-time spot with Tampa Bay. This past season, he rose to the occasion as the Lightning dealt with a wave of injuries, and he finished as the top defenseman in the entire league with 10 power-play goals.
