John Chayka is closing in on his first blockbuster as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Maple Leafs are working on a sign-and-trade for Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Darren Raddysh, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported in the early hours of Friday morning.
Raddysh, 30, had a breakout season with the Lightning in 2025-26, posting 22 goals and 70 points. He was also a plus-21 and averaged 22:42 of ice time. All were career highs.
The Toronto native was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Raddysh was signed by the Lightning as a free agent on July 28, 2021, and has career totals of 35 goals and 108 assists for 143 points in 249 games.
Toronto’s old regime under Brad Treliving made a similar move in July 2024, acquiring the free-agent rights to Chris Tanev from the Dallas Stars for Max Ellis and a 2026 seventh-round draft pick. The Leafs then signed the defenceman to a six-year, $27 million contract.
Should the deal be finalized, Raddysh would join a defence corps consisting of Morgan Rielly, Jake McCabe, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Brandon Carlo, Emil Andrae (RFA) and Phillipe Myers.
Andrae, Samuel Ersson, and a third-round pick in 2026 were acquired from the Flyers earlier this week for Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit.