NHL Trades and Rumors

Maple Leafs Are Very Interested in Darren Raddysh, Per Insider

The Toronto Maple Leafs are planning to make a big push for Darren Raddysh.

by
Jackson Weber
June 18, 2026

New GM John Chayka has already been quite busy in his first month-plus on the job with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

From winning the draft lottery, to firing Craig Berube, to just in the last two days trading Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit and then hiring Jim Hiller as head coach, it’s been action-packed.

Some of those moves have been head-scratching for Maple Leafs fans, particularly dealing Woll and Benoit to the Flyers for a rather underwhelming return. While that may be the case for now, Toronto did clear just over $5 million in cap space along the way, and given a recent report from TSN insider Darren Dreger, that may have been done to better position themselves to take a major run at Darren Raddysh in free agency.

Dreger said:

“I think all of this is kind of designed with a focus on unrestricted free agency. What if Tampa Bay’s Darren Raddysh hits the open market? I’m told that the Maple Leafs absolutely covet Raddysh and they’re trying to create the cap space to make sure that they’re a big-time player again if he gets to July 1,”

The 30-year-old Raddysh is set to become a UFA having just played out the second and final year of the two-year, $1.95 million contract extension he signed with the Lightning in 2023. He racked up a career-high 70 points (22 goals, 48 assists) in 73 games played last season.

Darren Raddysh to the Maple Leafs?

Raddysh has been connected to the Maple Leafs for some time now given his offensive prowess from the right side of the blue line, his ability to quarterback a power play, and his hometown roots, having been born in Toronto.

It all makes sense from a fit standpoint, though the Maple Leafs will have to be careful with the contract they hand Raddysh, given that before 2025-26 his career high in points was 37. While his track record may not justify maximum term and money despite how strong his season was, there is also the potential for significant upside in landing him, making it a tricky line to walk.

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