The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired defenseman Darren Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning for a fifth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, NHL.com reported Friday.
The move was structured as a sign-and-trade. Raddysh signed an eight-year contract with Tampa Bay before being sent to Toronto, while NHL.com said financial terms were not disclosed.
Maple Leafs Add Raddysh On Eight-Year Deal
Raddysh could have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Instead, Toronto moved early for the 30-year-old right-shot defenseman after a career season with the Lightning.
NHL.com credited Raddysh with career highs of 22 goals, 48 assists and 70 points in 73 games this season. He also set personal bests in plus-minus, power-play goals, power-play points, game-winning goals, shots on goal and average ice time.
The ice-time number matters for Toronto as much as the scoring. Raddysh averaged 22:42 per game, giving the Maple Leafs another defenseman who can handle heavy usage rather than a narrow power-play role.
Lightning Receive A 2026 Fifth-Round Pick
Tampa Bay gets a 2026 fifth-round pick for Raddysh, who had been approaching the open market. Pro Hockey Rumors cited reports that the contract carries an $8.5 million average annual value, but the official NHL.com story did not disclose the financial terms.
Raddysh was originally signed by the Chicago Blackhawks as an undrafted free agent in 2018. NHL.com lists him with 143 points, including 35 goals and 108 assists, in 249 regular-season games, all with Tampa Bay.
The trade is Toronto's second major player move of the week. NHL.com noted that the Maple Leafs had already acquired Samuel Ersson, Emil Andrae and a third-round pick from Philadelphia in a deal involving Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit.