Maple Leafs Acquire, Extend Darren Raddysh

The Leafs are first to the market for a big Friday catch.

According to a team press release, the Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired Darren Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick.

A report by Pierre LeBrun says it is a sign-and-trade for the pending UFA, who signs an eight-year deal at $8.5MM AAV, as reported by Chris Johnston. First reported by Elliotte Friedman, this deal has been in the works since earlier this morning.

Later in the day, the team over at PuckPedia revealed the year-by-year breakdown of Raddysh’s new contract with the Maple Leafs:

This deal makes the Toronto native one of the highest-paid defenders in the entire NHL, 21st among defensemen in cap hit for 2026-27. Having never earned above $1MM in average annual value in his various stints across the league, Raddysh officially cashes in after what was a payday-worthy campaign.

The 30-year-old defenseman finished his 2025-26 season scoring 70 points in 73 games played with the Lightning and was considered this year’s top blue-line option on the UFA market as a right-shot. That production total was seventh among defenders in the NHL; his goal total was third to Jakob Chychrun and Matthew Schaefer. This came with a breakthrough in the Bolts’ lineup after it suffered injuries in its back end, marking a career high in average time on ice at 22:42. Raddysh finished this season 11th in Norris Trophy voting for the league’s best all-around defenseman.

Originally undrafted for his NHL entry out of the OHL’s Erie Otters, Raddysh signed a two-year, $730K AAV deal with the Blackhawks, spending his time in Rockford until 2019. After a one-year, $700K deal with the Rangers with their affiliate, he signed under the Lightning’s organization and worked his way into the NHL lineup. He had three separate contracts with Tampa Bay since 2021: a one-year, 750K deal, a two-year, $762.5K AAV deal, and a two-year, $975K AAV deal that was set to expire on July 1st of this summer.

The 6-foot-1 defender, along with being the top option headed to market, is also viewed as a risky bet to make, especially for eight years for a player who, before this, had seen just two +30-point campaigns in his age 27 and 28 years.

Raddysh immediately steps into a Leafs lineup where he’ll be top dog on the blue line. He has one of the league’s hardest shots, according to NHL EDGE, which should boost the Leafs’ scoring. Along with that, his poise in transition and power-play presence profile make him an all-around premier acquisition for Toronto.

As for Toronto, they have more than enough money to make this work in their favor. Leafs GM John Chayka now has over $18.7MM after signing Raddysh on his average annual value. After opening up cap space a few days ago, trading the cap hits of goaltender Joseph Woll‘s $3.6MM and defenseman Simon Benoit‘s $1.35MM to the Philadelphia Flyers for goaltender Samuel Ersson and defenseman Emil Andrae. Both players, in return for the Maple Leafs, are due as restricted free agents, and Toronto can present qualifying offers to both players, should the players settle for the lower-end salaries.

The Lightning add the 133rd overall pick to their draft pick cupboard for the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft that holds the 58th overall pick in round two, the 90th overall selection in round three, two more fifth round picks at 134th and 154th overall, and a sixth and seventh rounder each, slated at 186th and 218th.

Toronto now has six defensemen signed to NHL contracts, including Jake McCabe, Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Brandon Carlo, and Philippe Myers. As for Morgan Rielly, who’s been Toronto’s top guy for 13 campaigns, he has been a name circling trade rumors as of late. The 32-year-old makes $7.5MM AAV until 2029-30 and holds a no-movement clause.

Details to come. Photo Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images