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The Toronto Maple Leafs are nearing a deal to acquire defenseman Darren Raddysh<\/a> from the Tampa Bay Lightning.<\/p>\n In a surprise late night move, the Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to finalize a deal for star defenseman Darren Raddysh, according to Elliotte Friedman.<\/p>\n –<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n The full extent of the deal was not at this time reported, but Friedman reports that the trade is expected to be done in the morning.<\/p>\n The structure is the key detail here. Rather than waiting for Raddysh to reach free agency on July 1, Toronto is working out a sign-and-trade – meaning the Leafs send assets to Tampa Bay in exchange to the exclusive right to sign Raddysh before he hits the open market.<\/p>\n A sign-and-trade also allows the acquiring team to lock a player into an eight-year contract, one year longer than he could sign for as a free agent elsewhere.<\/p>\n In short, Toronto is paying a price in assets to guarantee they land Raddysh rather risk a July 1 bidding war.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Raddysh was one of the league’s top breakout players this past season, the 30-year-old having career-highs of 22 goals, 48 assists, & 70 points, finishing 11th in the vote for the Norris Trophy.<\/p>\n Having been a leader for Tampa Bay on defense this season, Raddysh was expected to hit free agency, where he would potentially hit $10M+ on the open market, now bypassing becoming a free agent to head to his hometown Toronto.<\/p>\n A report from NHL.com’s Dave McCarthy reported that Tampa Bay initially opened with an offer of five years at $5.75M annually for Raddysh.<\/p>\n –<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n The move fills a need for the Leafs on their right-hand side, and a need for a top-pairing defenseman who can contribute on the power play. It also continues a busy offseason overhaul of Toronto’s defense under GM John Chayka, who acquired puck-moving defenseman Emil Andrae<\/a> in the Joseph Woll<\/a> trade and had reportedly been clearing up cap space for specifically to make a run at Raddysh.<\/p>\n Still to be determined are the term and AAV of Raddysh’s new contract and the full package Tampa Bay receives in return.<\/p>\n More details to come once finalized.<\/p>\n Does Darren Raddysh make sense for Toronto?<\/p>\n Also read on Hockey Patrol :
The Maple Leafs quietly lost their Director of Culture and Inclusion and it is not what it seems<\/a><\/p>\n
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