Raddysh Departs for Toronto; Bolts Acquire Draft Pick

Tampa Bay Lightning Defenseman Darren Raddysh was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs today before becoming an unrestricted free agent. Photo Credit: Alyssa Shimko | Thunderstruck Sports

By Mike Smith | Thunderstuck Sports

Darren Raddysh bid farewell to Tampa as the Lightning traded the defenseman to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a sign-and-trade deal on Friday. The Lightning acquire a 2026 fifth-round pick.

Raddysh, who had a breakout season in 2025-26, goes to Toronto with an 8-year, $68 million deal ahead of becoming an unrestricted free agent on July 1st.

The 30-year-old defenseman had NHL career highs in goals (22), assists (48), points (70), plus-minus (plus-21), power-play goals (10), power-play points (26), game-winning goals (six), shots on goal (212), and ice time per game (22:42) playing in 73 games this season.

He also set the Tampa Bay Lightning record for most goals scored by a defenseman in a season.

Raddysh made $975,000 in salary last year, so the $8.5M pay raise is quite considerable. Whether Toronto has either made a steal or overpaid on their investment will remain to be seen.

Last year in Bolts coach Jon Cooper's system, he nearly matched his point total from his first four seasons in the League, with 73 points (13 goals, 60 assists) in 176 games. Those numbers were bolstered by more playing time and key injuries to various players, including the long-term leave of absence of captain Victor Hedman.

Newly-hired Toronto coach Jim Hiller gains an offensive-minded defenseman for a not-yet-established system, and Raddish will need to prove himself quickly in the harsh Toronto fan and media climate.

Experts expected an offer a bit lower than what Toronto gave Raddysh, and longer than expected, as well. However, given what the market could have been on July 1st, Toronto General Manager John Chayka and the Maple Leafs made sure a deal was done.

Bolts Acquire Fifth-Round Pick

As part of the sign and trade, the Lightning acquire a 2026 fifth-round draft pick. The Bolts were hoping that Raddysh would stay in town on a hometown discount, but the lure of more money trumped that chance.

At least Tampa Bay General Manager Julien BriseBois got something for virtually nothing. BriseBois turned Toronto's desire for Raddysh into a draft pick that would not have been there if the Bolts simply let July 1st come and go.

Darren Raddysh set the team record for most goals in a season by a Lightning defenseman with 22 in 2025-26. Photo Credit: Alyssa Shimko | Thunderstruck Sports

BriseBois now has the challenge of filling the hole left behind by Raddysh for less money and fewer years than Toronto offered.

Two of his defensemen are aging quickly, and that needs to be addressed as well. Hedman will be 36 in December, and Ryan McDonagh celebrated his 37th birthday on June 13th.

The Lightning could use another presence on the right side of the blue line, and the search begins. Perhaps this pick will be the prospect the team is looking for.

For Raddysh, Toronto, and the Tampa Bay Lightning, time will tell all.