Darren Raddysh has a lucrative new deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and his main objective will be to prove he is not a one-hit wonder.
Raddysh finished last season with a whopping 70 points, which is ultimately what led to him garnering an eight-year, $68 million deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs via sign-and-trade.
While the Leafs are excited to have Raddysh, there is certainly some trepidation, as the Leafs can't have a one-hit wonder situation on the books.
Raddysh has to prove his 70-point season was more than a perfect Tampa fit
Last season, the Tampa Bay Lightning had an elite power play with elite puck movement and high-end finishers. While Raddysh had impressive growth last season, there were some factors within the Lightning organization that spearheaded such growth.
Out of 70 points last season, 44 were at even strength while the rest came on the power play.
The question right now is not whether Raddysh is actually good enough to help the Maple Leafs. Instead, the question is whether or not Raddysh's 70-point ceiling travels with him.
At $68 million, the Leafs paid for the breakout version of Raddysh and not the pre-breakout version. If the system created part of Raddysh's production in Tampa Bay, Toronto has to recreate the conditions that made him explode.
Toronto needs Raddysh to drive offense, not simply inherit it from a loaded power play
The Leafs need more than just offense from Raddysh. After all, points accumulated alongside elite offensive talent should be a given at this level.
Going into this season, the Leafs also need zone exits, controlled entries, shot creation, puck retrievals, point-shot efficiency, and five-on-five play driving.
On the power play, Raddysh has the potential to feast, especially with Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, William Nylander, and John Tavares circling the net.
Producing inside a great unit and being the player who makes the unit great are not the same thing.
Raddysh does not need 70 points again, but Toronto needs evidence that the offense belongs to him, not to the environment he left behind.
Do you believe Darren Raddysh will live up to expectations for the Tampa Bay Lightning?
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