Maple Leafs Completing Sign-and-Trade with Lightning for Darren Raddysh

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning are working on a sign-and-trade for defenseman Darren Raddysh. Elliotte Friedman was first to break the news, saying the deal should be announced in the morning on Friday.

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He writes:

“Late-night news:

Don’t expect this to be finalized until the morning, but there is word the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning are working on a sign-and-trade for Darren Raddysh.

The 30-year-old defenceman had a breakthrough 2025-26 with 22 goals and 70 points.”

Late-night news:

Don’t expect this to be finalized until the morning, but there is word the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning are working on a sign-and-trade for Darren Raddysh.

The 30-year-old defenceman had a breakthrough 2025-26 with 22 goals and 70 points

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 19, 2026

The 30-year-old Ontario native — born in Caledon, just north of Toronto — is coming off a career season. Raddysh broke Dan Boyle‘s franchise record for goals by a Tampa Bay defenceman this past season, finishing with 22 goals and 70 points in 73 games while running the Lightning’s top power-play unit and stepping into a larger role when Victor Hedman was sidelined by injury.

Tampa’s opening offer to Raddysh a few weeks ago was reportedly five years at $5.75 million AAV, a figure widely considered below his market value. It was believed that Raddysh would test the market, and from day one, the Maple Leafs were the frontrunners to pitch hardest to either sign or acquire him. It’s likely he makes well beyond what Tampa was offering.

Toronto absolutely covets Raddysh. A right-shot, power-play quarterback born just outside the city. Raddysh posted a plus-21 rating and more than 22 minutes per night in 2025–26, while adding 26 power-play points. While a left shot, this deal also likely leads to Morgan Rielly’s exit. The Leafs could use the extra cap space, and Raddysh will take over running the power play.

A sign-and-trade framework would allow Tampa Bay to recoup assets rather than simply lose Raddysh on July 1, while giving the Leafs a cleaner path to signing him. Details of what’s going back to Tampa Bay are not yet known. What they’re signing him for is also unclear. Puck Pedia notes, “The ability to sign an 8-year contract ends on Sept 15. For a UFA changing teams, doing a sign and trade between now and Sept 15 is the only way they can ever sign an 8-year contract.”

More to come…

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