The Toronto Maple Leafs are acquiring defenceman Darren Raddysh in a sign-and-trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Raddysh will sign an eight-year deal as part of the trade with an average annual value above $8 million.
A late-round pick is believed to be going back to Tampa Bay in the deal, per TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger.
The 30-year-old blueliner had a breakthrough season with the Lightning this past year, recording 22 goals and 70 points in 73 games while averaging: 22:42 of ice time.
He added a goal and two points in seven playoff games while averaging 26:06 of ice time as the Lightning bowed out in the first round.
The 6-foot-1, right-shot defenceman was in for a significant raise after playing under a two-year, $1.95 million contract that carried a cap hit of $975,000.
This marks the second change to the blueline already for Maple Leafs John Chayka. He got to work earlier this week, acquiring Emil Andrae, along with goaltender Samuel Ersson and a third-round pick, from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for goaltender Joseph Woll and defenceman Simon Benoit.
Dreger reported earlier this week that more likely than not, veteran Morgan Rielly will be traded by the Maple Leafs this off-season and added teams are also checking in on defenceman Jake McCabe as Chayka reshapes the roster.
More details to follow.
