The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired defenceman Darren Raddysh in a sign-and-trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Raddysh has signed eight-year deal as part of the trade, with TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston reporting it holds an average annual value of $8.5 million for a total value of $68 million.
The 30-year-old blueliner was slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and was listed at No. 2 on TSN’s top 30 UFAs list.
Toronto’s fifth-round pick in this year’s draft is heading back to Tampa Bay in the trade.
“We are thrilled to add a defenceman of Darren’s caliber to our organization,” Maple Leafs general manager John 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 had a breakthrough season with the Lightning this past year, recording 22 goals and 70 points in 73 games while averaging: 22:42 of ice time.
He added a goal and two points in seven playoff games while averaging 26:06 of ice time as the Lightning bowed out in the first round.
The 6-foot-1, right-shot defenceman was in for a significant raise after playing under a two-year, $1.95 million contract that carried a cap hit of $975,000.
This marks the second change to the blueline already for Chayka. He got to work earlier this week, acquiring Emil Andrae, along with goaltender Samuel Ersson and a third-round pick, from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for goaltender Joseph Woll and defenceman Simon Benoit.
Dreger reported earlier this week that more likely than not, veteran Morgan Rielly will be traded by the Maple Leafs this off-season and added teams are also checking in on defenceman Jake McCabe as Chayka reshapes the roster.
Raddysh becomes the highest-paid player on the Maple Leafs blueline after inking his new deal.
