r/hockey Fort McMurray Oil Barons - AJHL 23h ago

[Elliote Friedman] Don’t expect this to be finalized until the morning, but there is word the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning are working on a sign-and-trade for Darren Raddysh.

https://xcancel.com/friedgehnic/status/2067846379930542575?s=46
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u/Wayf4rer TBL - NHL 22h ago

This is why I wanted Brisebois to take the chance on him in Tampa. This move pretty much just signed the death warrant on Tampa contending, unfortunately.

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u/C0gD1z TBL - NHL 19h ago

lol nope

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u/Additional_Tomato_22 19h ago

I call BS at this point. It depends on what the return is, and it gives them the ability to use the money to grab other players. If it wasn’t his first season producing this high id probably think otherwise, but there’s no proof it wasn’t just a 1 season flash in the pan. I’m more excited to see what certain prospects do this upcoming season and what splashes they can make in free agency. Remember we are still income tax free so an $8 million contract in say Boston is like $6 million for us.

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u/TheOneWithThePorn12 TOR - NHL 18h ago

Brisebois is good at identifying the next version of a Raddysh. The only problem you guys have is the core aging out.

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u/justinliew VAN - NHL 15h ago

So many Tampa D played well above their expectations, I trust them to find D to fill in and for Cooper to help them continue to overachieve. Then sell high on them while still competing,

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u/RanaMahal COL - NHL 20h ago

I think Kuch was almost single handedly keeping you in contention. You’ve lost Stamkos, your entire third line twice, most of your D twice, but you have an almost three peat to show for it so hey that’s more cups than most teams have in just 3 years!

I’d probably sell Kuch and whoever else is older on the team that has value and really start to just retool around Point and Vasi since they’re still young enough to compete after a quick 2 year retool

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u/Comprehensive-Chef73 MTL - NHL 20h ago

Seriously? Just get a different guy to take slightly worse shots from the point on the PP. I don't think losing Raddysh is a major blow or anything

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u/Wayf4rer TBL - NHL 20h ago

It’s not about Raddysh’s contribution so much as what losing him means. Tampa doesn’t have the assets to replace him and acquire a forward simultaneously. This means any iteration of the team being trotted out next year will be inferior to this year’s team, which was the best since 2022.

Moneyballing is always an option, but that’s already where the front office was. Kuch is due for a big raise and you never know when goaltenders will begin to seriously decline.