Source: Leafs to acquire Raddysh from Lightning
Key takeaways
- The Toronto Maple Leafs are acquiring Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh in a sign-and-trade deal, taking one of the top offensive defensemen off the upcoming NHL free agent market.
- An NHL source confirmed the trade to ESPN, but not the compensation to the Lightning nor contract terms for Toronto.
- Raddysh, 30, had a breakout year in 2025-26 with career highs in goals (22), assists (48), points (70) and plus-minus (+21), playing a career high 22:42 per game in 73 games for the Lightning.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are acquiring Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh in a sign-and-trade deal, taking one of the top offensive defensemen off the upcoming NHL free agent market.
An NHL source confirmed the trade to ESPN, but not the compensation to the Lightning nor contract terms for Toronto. According to multiple reports, Raddysh will sign an eight-year contract with an average annual value of more than $8 million.
Raddysh, 30, had a breakout year in 2025-26 with career highs in goals (22), assists (48), points (70) and plus-minus (+21), playing a career high 22:42 per game in 73 games for the Lightning. He tallied 26 points in their power play, which featured NHL MVP Nikita Kucherov (37 power-play points) and Jake Guentzel (30 points), using a booming shot from the point to score 10 goals with the man advantage.