The Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly keen on adding Darren Raddysh to their lineup and are doing whatever they can t make sure they have the space to bring him in.
As the Maple Leafs look to continue making moves this offseason, making sure their blueline is improved is a top priority. They did some minor work already by acquiring Emil Andrae from the Flyers, and there's been rumours for months that the team could target someone like Dougie Hamilton to help sort things out.
But they also could go after a big name free agent like Darren Raddysh or Rasmus Andersson, and with John Chayka wanting to make several splashes, he's not shy about pulling the trigger and getting things done.
And according to a new report, it sounds like the team is going to be pushing all-in to bring Raddysh in for the foreseeable future.
Darren Raddysh is high on the Maple Leafs list as they look to make an offseason splash
TSN's Darren Dreger revealed that the Maple Leafs are coveting Raddysh quite heavily and they are trying to find moves to open up the roster and cap space available to sign him to that lucrative contract he's been looking for:
I'm told that the Maple Leafs absolutely covet Darren Raddysh and they're trying to create the cap space to make sure that they're a big-time player again if he gets to July 1.
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Raddysh would certainly add that offensive dynamic that the Maple Leafs need and he will give them a deadly power-play weapon who isn't afraid to let it fly and is just coming off an incredible season.
The 30-year old had 22 goals and 70 points in 73 games while adding a plus-21, 69 blocks and 67 hits in 22:42 TOI. 26 of his 70 points came on the power-play which included nearly half of his goals.
The cost of affording Darren Raddysh and how that could affect the Maple Leafs' future
Raddysh is no doubt getting a pay raise over his $955,000 contract and reports have said that he could earn upwards 10x that amount. If that's the case, then you're looking at a long-term money sink into a player who is already 30.
If the team is making a splash then you can presume that the cost is going to be roughly $54-million for the entire deal, and that's going to take him into his mid-30s with potentially an unmovable deal. Regression is a real concern, and we can only hope that a signing like that doesn't go the way of Morgan Rielly.
But you're also sinking in a lot of money when there's a potential massive Auston Matthews deal coming up in a couple years, not to mention the potential to have other signings like Bobby McMann, or even Sergei Bobrovsky which are going to cost a pretty penny as well.
Though with how badly Toronto has needed defensive help and add some legitimate skill offensively on the blueline, perhaps a bit of an overpayment for Raddysh is worth it - especially if we keep seeing this production.
But if Toronto does end up signing him, they have to recognize that unless they end up creating a lot more space (and they seemingly intend to) then it's going to potentially cost them one or two pieces that could be the x-factor in making them competitive once again.
Would you like to see the Maple Leafs sign Darren Raddysh?
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