Darren Raddysh, who was drafted in the fifth round of the 2012 OHL priority selection after Connor McDavid gave him a thumbs-up, has signed an eight-year, $68 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The deal marks the culmination of a career that saw Raddysh go undrafted in the NHL twice and spend 339 games in the American Hockey League before becoming a full-time NHL defenceman.
From OHL Draft to NHL Stardom
On the second day of the 2012 OHL draft, Erie Otters general manager Sherry Bassin asked McDavid, the first overall pick, about Raddysh. Raddysh was not on most draft lists, but Bassin had seen him play multiple times while scouting McDavid. Raddysh had transitioned from wing to defence and was running the power play by season's end. Bassin was intrigued by his size, strength, and slap shot, though foot speed was a concern.
“What do you think of Darren Raddysh?” Bassin asked McDavid. McDavid gave a two-thumbs up. “When Connor said that, I figured that was good enough for me,” Bassin said.
Raddysh played 272 games for Erie—106 more than McDavid—but was bypassed in two NHL drafts due to skating concerns. He spent nine seasons in the AHL before being called up by Tampa Bay. “Most people would have quit by then,” Bassin said.
Breakout Season and Maple Leafs Trade
In the past three seasons, Raddysh played full-time for the Lightning under Jon Cooper. This past season, he played as a No. 1 defenceman and on the top power play while Victor Hedman was out. He recorded 212 shots on goal and 22 goals, the second-most among defencemen. The Maple Leafs acquired him via trade, avoiding free agency.
A Lightning insider said: “He will never be mistaken for Cale Makar in the skating department. When your feet are not your asset, you have to be able to think the game well. He can do that. He can make breakout passes, and he’s got some jam and won’t shy from anything. He’s figured out how to play in the NHL.”
In his first 10 professional seasons, Raddysh earned just over $5 million total. His new contract pays him $68 million over eight years.
John Chayka's Busy First Six Weeks
Maple Leafs GM John Chayka has had a whirlwind start: winning the draft lottery, seeing his AHL team win the championship, acquiring Raddysh, making another trade, firing and hiring a coach, letting go of media relations staff, stealing Minnesota's chief scout, and cleaning out front office—all in six weeks.
Other NHL Notes
Mats Sundin played for seven coaches in his career, giving him perspective on coaching quality. The Maple Leafs traded Joseph Woll due to dependability concerns. Jim Hiller was hired as coach, but his 1-3-1 system in Los Angeles led to player unrest. Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews were once compared, but Toews' decline ended that debate. The Hockey Hall of Fame election is Monday; Patrice Bergeron and Carey Price are locks. Curtis Joseph, Rick Middleton, and Patrik Elias are overdue. The narrative that agents will avoid Edmonton if Mike Babcock coaches is dismissed. Agent Gil Scott signed Hiller in Toronto and Spencer Carbery in Washington. Carolina's Stanley Cup win is credited to analytics, but key players like Jordan Staal and Jaccob Slavin predate GM Eric Tulsky.
Baseball and Other Sports
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. thrives against the Red Sox. The Cleveland Guardians have the lowest payroll but more wins than the Blue Jays. Louis Varland was a steal for the Blue Jays. Brendon Little, with a 27.00 ERA, was released. The Red Sox are uninteresting. FIFA's naming of Toronto Stadium is criticized. Darnell Nurse might be better as a forward. The World Cup captivates even non-soccer fans. Carolina won two Cups in 26 years; the Maple Leafs have seven playoff wins in that span. William Karlsson's injury doomed Vegas. Connor McDavid has been scored on 35 times in his last 28 playoff games. Cole Caufield's even-strength numbers are poor. The Toronto Tempo's Marina Mabrey scored 37 points. Mario Lemieux was the last Hart winner from a non-playoff team. Oklahoma City Thunder are NBA title favourites. Bruce Boudreau's .626 winning percentage hasn't landed him a job. Chris Cuthbert and Gunnar Nordstrom receive Hockey Hall of Fame media awards. Hazel Mae gets Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame media award. Russ Parker is still overlooked. The author reflects on not covering a playoff game for the first time since 1981.
