- Toronto acquires Darren Raddysh from Tampa Bay for a 2026 fifth-round pick
- Raddysh signed an eight-year deal at $8.5 million per year before the swap
- Read below for the full terms and what he brings to Toronto’s blue line
John Chayka isn’t slowing down.
The Maple Leafs acquired defenseman Darren Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday, sending a fifth-round pick in the 2026 draft to Tampa. Raddysh signed an eight-year contract worth a reported $8.5 million per season, roughly $68 million in total, before the sign-and-trade went through.
Toronto announced the move:
Pierre LeBrun reported the framework first, an eight-year term with an average annual value north of $8 million:
Darren Dreger filled in the exact cap hit:
Chayka didn’t downplay the addition in Toronto’s release. “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,” the general manager said. “He strengthens our blue line in every situation and is exactly the type of player we want helping lead this team.”
The numbers explain the interest. Raddysh just wrapped the best season of his career with 22 goals, 48 assists and 70 points in 73 games, every one a personal high, while averaging 22:42 of ice time.
Toronto needed exactly that. The Leafs surrendered the second-most goals per game in the NHL this season at 3.60, and a defenseman who moves the puck and runs a power play helps on both ends of the ice.
The trade tops off a hectic week for Chayka, who already pulled Toronto’s first-round pick back days earlier. He added goalie Samuel Ersson in a separate deal on Tuesday.
Raddysh went undrafted before Chicago signed him in 2018. All 249 of his NHL games have come in a Tampa sweater, where he racked up 143 points before Friday’s move north.
