The Maple Leafs kicked off their summer moves by snagging defender Darren Raddysh in a sign-and-trade back in late June, and let me tell you, this deal is *different*. We’re talking eight years, an $8.5 million AAV, making him the team’s highest-paid defender and the third-highest-paid player overall. This isn’t just a contract; it’s the longest one on the entire roster, a far cry from those “let’s see how this goes” short-term forward deals or even Sergei Bobrovsky’s situation.
The Long Haul Bet
Seriously, Raddysh, along with William Nylander and Gavin Mckenna, are here for the long haul. Everyone else, even guys like Matthew Knies and Easton Cowan, still have questions marks attached to their names. And while Raddysh is the big money commitment, the next two years are actually all about Auston Matthews. He’s the one who decides if he wants to commit to this new core, or if the team works to add him permanently. But with Raddysh? The choices are made, on both sides. Despite what many see as a gamble on an unusual defender, the real focus for everyone, including Raddysh, is the next 24 months. What’s wild is that not a single player on the NHL roster has a contract expiring at the end of this season, setting up a full two-year run for everyone, not just Matthews. That’s the plan, anyway.
From Undrafted Kid to Top Defender
So, who is this guy? Darren Raddysh is 30 years old, a right-shot defenseman, standing at 6’1″ and weighing 203 lbs. He went undrafted, just like Chris Tanev, and you know what? There are some surprising similarities between them, even if they’re totally different types of defenders. Both are Toronto-area guys who grew up bleeding blue for the Leafs, and both really made their mark later in their careers. Raddysh honed his game with the Toronto Marlboros as a kid, then had two deep playoff runs and some all-star nods in the OHL with Erie. He snagged an AHL deal with Chicago’s affiliate, got upgraded to an ELC, played another year in the AHL, and then was traded to the Rangers in 2019 for Peter Holland in what was essentially a minor league swap. It didn’t get much notice then.
Much like Nick Paul, Raddysh didn’t really blow up until he landed in Tampa. He left New York as a UFA at 25, signing three low-AAV one- and two-year deals with the Lightning. Think about it: he earned an estimated $2.92 million *before* he cashed that massive $10 million signing bonus cheque this summer. Even at 30, he’s only played three full NHL seasons. But last year? Dude was their most-used defender, hitting 23 minutes a game, a huge jump from his prior years as a number 4/5 guy after Tampa had moved on from two defenders ahead of him.
This isn’t some short-term rental; this is a foundational piece, whether fans are ready for it or not. The next two years are going to show us if this massive gamble pays off big time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pension Plan Puppets.
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