The Largest NHL Cap Hits Signed In The 2026 Offseason
Every year, with the NHL Salary Cap rising, articles like these will constantly highlight the growth of hockey. Players are looking to make more money, and teams are avoiding sticker shock in the moment of inking the deal.
As major free agents have put pen to paper, and some remain in play to receive their payday. Most notably, UFA’s Patrick Kane, Anthony Mantha, and Vladimir Tarasenko remain open to veteran NHL contracts, and RFAs Jason Robertson and Adam Fantilli, all need new deals too and may even join this list.
So far, we’ve seen over 200 NHL contracts signed. Today, we will examine this offseason’s largest contracts signed by analyzing which players have the largest cap hit out of the signings made in the summer of 2026. Considering players can (and have) inked extensions ahead of their status for the 2027-28 season, we’ll include those deals in as well.
1. Leo Carlsson — 5 years, $18MM AAV ($90.00MM), Anaheim Ducks
I think a lot of us expected a large sum of money to head to Carlsson’s bank account; however, I don’t think any of us saw him ending up first on this list. The former No. 2 overall pick in 2023 received a lucrative offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers, which the Anaheim Ducks matched. With Verbeek retaining the young Swedish phenom, it’ll be interesting when we look back on the drama from this past week, and the gamble to use 17.3% of Anaheim’s cap hit on the 21-year-old, and how it impacted the Ducks and the NHL.
2. Connor Bedard — 5 years, $15MM AAV (75.00MM), Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago had to open its checkbooks this offseason but paid less money than Anaheim did for the player taken after his No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NHL draft. One of the NHL’s brightest young superstars and the poster boy of the next generation of Blackhawks will make less money than Carlsson despite scoring around 60 more points than him. Nonetheless, Bedard is third in the NHL among the highest-paid players and will be a free agent again just before his prime at age 26. It should make the Hawks happy that situationally, their star man is committed to the Windy City.
3. Bowen Byram — 6 years, $12.5MM AAV (75.00MM), Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks found their No. 1 defenseman, but it cost them a hefty price to do so, which included trading away the 2026 fourth-overall pick. Byram wanted to be the go-to man on the blue line for an NHL club, and this fits for Chicago. The funny way to put this is that in 2027-28, when the contract kicks in, Byram will have the same income as Connor McDavid and a higher annual paycheck than his former Sabres teammate, Rasmus Dahlin. Last season was the former No. 4 overall pick’s best season offensively, but Chicago is hoping that he’ll elevate that production with the keys to the backend.
4. Nico Hischier — 5 years, $11.7MM AAV ($58.5MM), New Jersey Devils
The Devils wanted to extend their captain this offseason, and they checked that box. The 2017 first overall pick was entering the final season of a seven-year, $50.75MM deal signed with New Jersey back in 2019. Now, the Devils will keep their 27-year-old top-line center through the 2031-32 season while giving him around an 65% salary increase. Rightfully so for one of three Devils to score over 300 points up to today (1st. Jesper Bratt, 418 points and 2nd. Jack Hughes, 407 points), that’s an integral piece to retain towards the ultimate goal.
5. Pavel Dorofeyev — 7 years, $11.0MM AAV ($77.00MM), New York Rangers
The Rangers have lost some key pieces over the course of 2026. Their retool should see a bump from Dorofeyev, who is receiving a lucrative pay raise from his former contracts that paid below $2MM AAV. New York has made him the second-highest earning rostered player for 2026-27, behind fellow countryman Igor Shesterkin. They hope that the 25-year-old Russian can build on his two 30+ goal campaigns and seamlessly fit in a new scene. Ideally, considering his deep playoff experience and elite scoring touch, he’s a huge core piece that’ll have to shine on Broadway.
6. Alex Tuch — 8 years, $10.5MM AAV ($84.00MM), Washington Capitals
It was pretty obvious that Tuch was the biggest UFA name on the market. The consideration of whether to keep the veteran forward was one of the Sabres’ biggest decisions after making the playoffs for the first time in a while. Alas, letting go of a hometown player with the contract Washington is paying is the direction the Sabres went. Tuch will make a lot of money until his age 38 season, but for a tenacious forward who’s proven to perform in previous playoff stints, he’s a key forward Washington could use.
7. Ivan Demidov — 8 years, 9.15MM AAV ($73.2MM), Montreal Canadiens
The youngest player on this list will be a Hab for a long time. The 20-year-old Russian winger won’t need another contract until 2035, and at the cap hit he signed for, GM Kent Hughes was probably ecstatic knowing he inked Demidov to this deal after the Flyers went ahead and reset the market entirely. When this contract takes effect in 2027-28, as of this writing, the former fifth-overall pick will be around the 40th-highest-paid player in the NHL. Chances are, if his sophomore season saw above 60 points in production, who knows what Demidov will produce in his prime based on that trajectory.
8. Trevor Zegras — 4 years, 9.125MM AAV ($36.5MM), Philadelphia Flyers
The former No. 9 overall pick in 2019 just became the Flyers highest paid-player this offseason, beating Travis Konecny‘s $8.75MM AAV. After filing for arbitration, the 25-year-old extends his time in Philadelphia after being traded there by the Anaheim Ducks in the summer of 2025. His 26 goals for 67 points in 81 games elevated the Flyers into a playoff position, all of which were career-high tallies in his first year in a different shade of orange. The young American star is locked down until 2030 as part of Philadelphia’s build-up into what they hope to be an extension and growth of contending with a young group for the playoffs within the East.
9. John Carlson — 2 years, 8.5MM AAV ($17.00MM), Tampa Bay Lightning
The veteran is headed to a sure playoff contender, an environment he’s been in his whole career. Carlson wanted to remain out east after being dealt to the Ducks, and given the Lightning’s unwillingness to pay Raddysh on their right side for the long term, they opted for the more sure bet of an established former Stanley Cup winner. Having J.J. Moser and Erik Cernak on the right side as well will round out one of the league’s more formidable blue lines with Carlson in the fold. Don’t forget he’s one of three 35+ aged defensemen, along with Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh.
10. Rasmus Andersson — 7 years, $8.5MM AAV ($59.5MM), Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights are probably very happy bringing Andersson back into the fold, especially after dealing away two top-64 draft picks and Zach Whitecloud to Calgary at the deadline. As the top right defenseman UFA available, with Darren Raddysh signed and traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Andersson cashed in. What the Golden Knights can hope for is a bounce back from what many considered a lackluster playoff performance, registering six assists en route to a Stanley Cup Runner-up finish. Right defensemen with an offensive touch are available on the market once in a blue moon, and for a player who has provided 10+ goals and 50 points, it’s a reasonable payment until 2033.
Previously listed in Top 10:
11. Darren Raddysh — 8 years, $8.5MM AAV ($68.00MM), Toronto Maple Leafs
12. Jacob Trouba — 4 years, $8.25MM AAV ($33.00MM), San Jose Sharks
Accurate as of July 20, 10:28 AM ET, (h/t Puckpedia.com Player Dashboard: signings filtered since June 10, 2026)
Photo Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports, Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images
Afternoon Notes: Murphy, Expiring Coaches, Raddysh
The Edmonton Oilers continue to work with Connor Murphy on a new agreement, Mark Spector of Sportsnet reports.
Having forked over a long-term deal to center Jason Dickinson which has him signed in Edmonton to age 35, general manager Stan Bowman showed willingness to do whatever it takes to keep his mid-season acquisitions and not lose them for nothing. Time will tell if that’s the same with Murphy, 33, another former Blackhawk who will have plenty of suitors if he makes it to July 1 as a steady 6’4” righty on the back-end.
According to Spector, the new coach hire, possibly the controversial Mike Babcock, is not a primary factor for Murphy in his decision. Facing the opportunity to hit the market for the first time in his 13-year career, the Boston native is surely weighting his options, as he was a solid fit with the Oilers but falling short in the first round is a far cry from previous seasons where Edmonton was on the cusp of a Stanley Cup.
AFP Analytics projects that Murphy is worth a two-year pact worth around $3.6MM per season. Even from the Oilers’ perspective, the veteran has lost a step and at least considering other options would be wise, however, if Bowman’s five-year contract to Dickinson is any indication, he’s intent on maintaining the same vision.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Pierre Lebrun of The Athletic looked into the NHL head coaches with expiring deals on his June 19 edition of NHL Rumblings. Anaheim’s Joel Quenneville, Colorado’s Jared Bednar, Columbus’ Rick Bowness, Minnesota’s John Hynes, Martin St. Louis of Montreal, Andrew Brunette of Nashville, along with Ryan Warsofsky of San Jose, Utah’s Andre Tourigny, and finally, Winnipeg’s Scott Arniel made up the list. The Mammoth have already expectedly extended their bench boss in Tourigny, but in terms of the others, it’s a wide mix of what could come next. Both Bednar and Hynes have tremendous teams in win-now mode, but both coaches have something to prove in 2026-27 after disappointing playoff exits. Brunette and Arniel had success in the past, not quite on the hot seat just yet, but certainly facing the least security as of today. Finally, Bowness is in a unique position, taking on a one-year deal where he’ll look to spark the Columbus group, at age 71 more of a short-term culture changer.
- Lebrun also went on to discuss how former Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh ended up in Toronto on an eight-year contract worth $8.5MM per season. The insider reported that Tampa Bay general manager Julien BriseBois was wary of making a major commitment to the late-bloomer and the two sides were never close in either length or value. It’s not hard to see why, considering that the undrafted 30-year-old was in the AHL just three seasons ago for the Syracuse Crunch. Breaking out in 2023-24 as an 82-gamer with 33 points, Raddysh exploded at an opportune time this season, posting 70 points in 73 games. As a result, he’ll have the chance to lead his hometown Maple Leafs and prove his worth. Losing the gem they found for just a 5th rounder isn’t ideal, but it allows the Lighting to pursue defensemen such as John Carlson, who BriseBois would deem a safer bet, free agents the likes of which the Bolts haven’t had the cap room to even be a contender for in previous years.
Maple Leafs Acquire, Extend Darren Raddysh
The Leafs are first to the market for a big Friday catch.
According to a team press release, the Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired Darren Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick.
A report by Pierre LeBrun says it is a sign-and-trade for the pending UFA, who signs an eight-year deal at $8.5MM AAV, as reported by Chris Johnston. First reported by Elliotte Friedman, this deal has been in the works since earlier this morning.
Later in the day, the team over at PuckPedia revealed the year-by-year breakdown of Raddysh’s new contract with the Maple Leafs:
| Year | NHL Salary | Signing Bonus | Trade Protection |
| 2026-27 | $1MM | $10MM | NMC |
| 2027-28 | $5MM | $6MM | NMC |
| 2028-29 | $4.5MM | $6MM | NMC |
| 2029-30 | $4.25MM | $4MM | NMC |
| 2030-31 | $3.45MM | $4MM | NMC |
| 2031-32 | $3.3MM | $3.3MM | NMC |
| 2032-33 | $3.3MM | $3.3MM | NMC+16 NTC |
| 2033-34 | $3.3MM | $3.3MM | NMC+16 NTC |
This deal makes the Toronto native one of the highest-paid defenders in the entire NHL, 21st among defensemen in cap hit for 2026-27. Having never earned above $1MM in average annual value in his various stints across the league, Raddysh officially cashes in after what was a payday-worthy campaign.
The 30-year-old defenseman finished his 2025-26 season scoring 70 points in 73 games played with the Lightning and was considered this year’s top blue-line option on the UFA market as a right-shot. That production total was seventh among defenders in the NHL; his goal total was third to Jakob Chychrun and Matthew Schaefer. This came with a breakthrough in the Bolts’ lineup after it suffered injuries in its back end, marking a career high in average time on ice at 22:42. Raddysh finished this season 11th in Norris Trophy voting for the league’s best all-around defenseman.
Originally undrafted for his NHL entry out of the OHL’s Erie Otters, Raddysh signed a two-year, $730K AAV deal with the Blackhawks, spending his time in Rockford until 2019. After a one-year, $700K deal with the Rangers with their affiliate, he signed under the Lightning’s organization and worked his way into the NHL lineup. He had three separate contracts with Tampa Bay since 2021: a one-year, 750K deal, a two-year, $762.5K AAV deal, and a two-year, $975K AAV deal that was set to expire on July 1st of this summer.
The 6-foot-1 defender, along with being the top option headed to market, is also viewed as a risky bet to make, especially for eight years for a player who, before this, had seen just two +30-point campaigns in his age 27 and 28 years.
Raddysh immediately steps into a Leafs lineup where he’ll be top dog on the blue line. He has one of the league’s hardest shots, according to NHL EDGE, which should boost the Leafs’ scoring. Along with that, his poise in transition and power-play presence profile make him an all-around premier acquisition for Toronto.
As for Toronto, they have more than enough money to make this work in their favor. Leafs GM John Chayka now has over $18.7MM after signing Raddysh on his average annual value. After opening up cap space a few days ago, trading the cap hits of goaltender Joseph Woll‘s $3.6MM and defenseman Simon Benoit‘s $1.35MM to the Philadelphia Flyers for goaltender Samuel Ersson and defenseman Emil Andrae. Both players, in return for the Maple Leafs, are due as restricted free agents, and Toronto can present qualifying offers to both players, should the players settle for the lower-end salaries.
The Lightning add the 133rd overall pick to their draft pick cupboard for the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft that holds the 58th overall pick in round two, the 90th overall selection in round three, two more fifth round picks at 134th and 154th overall, and a sixth and seventh rounder each, slated at 186th and 218th.
Toronto now has six defensemen signed to NHL contracts, including Jake McCabe, Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Brandon Carlo, and Philippe Myers. As for Morgan Rielly, who’s been Toronto’s top guy for 13 campaigns, he has been a name circling trade rumors as of late. The 32-year-old makes $7.5MM AAV until 2029-30 and holds a no-movement clause.
Details to come. Photo Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Maple Leafs Expected To Target Darren Raddysh In Free Agency
Entering the summer, one of the biggest priorities for the Toronto Maple Leafs is to acquire a top-four defenseman, and a right-handed one at that. Keeping that in mind, TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that the Maple Leafs are expected to target arguably the best right-handed defenseman available on the free agent market this summer.
That defenseman would of course be Darren Raddysh, who has been playing for Toronto’s division rival, the Tampa Bay Lightning, for the last several years. Specifically, Dreger said, “I’m told that the Maple Leafs absolutely covet 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.”
If they’re willing to be aggressive, and there’s no indication they won’t be, the Maple Leafs should have more than enough salary cap room to poach Raddysh. Still, that relies on the presumption that Raddysh is interested in joining Toronto, even for the right price.
The Maple Leafs opened up additional cap space a few days ago, sending netminder Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit to the Philadelphia Flyers for goaltender Samuel Ersson and defenseman Emil Andrae. Although Toronto didn’t take on any actual dollars in return, both Ersson and Andrae are restricted free agents this summer, due for new contracts unless the Maple Leafs decide not to tender them a qualifying offer.
Back to their list of priorities, it’s evident the Maple Leafs are targeting a puck-moving blueliner to lead the defensive corps. Toronto has long hoped that Morgan Rielly would develop into this role, but aside from a few high-scoring seasons, he has not met the Maple Leafs’ expectations over the past two years. As a result, he is now considered a likely trade candidate this offseason.
Still, Raddysh isn’t a foregone conclusion to fit this billing, either. Throughout the 2023-24 and 2024-25 campaigns, Raddysh scored 12 goals and 70 points in 155 games with a +6 rating, averaging 18:15 of ice time per game. This past season, he exploded for offense, registering 22 goals and 70 points in 73 games with a +21 rating, averaging 22:42 of ice time per game.
Tampa Bay’s injury situation forced Raddysh into a top-pairing role, and he ran with it. Additionally, 26 of Raddysh’s points came on the power play, which would be extra enticing for the Maple Leafs, who finished with a 15th-ranked special teams last season.
The Maple Leafs will need to spend the next few weeks evaluating whether Raddysh is worth the significant investment required or if they believe his performance during the 2025-26 season was merely a temporary spike. At any rate, Toronto’s interest shows they are committed to icing a team that can compete for a postseason spot next season and is willing to utilize their cap space to make it happen.
Latest On Darren Raddysh’s Pending Free Agency
The Tampa Bay Lightning appear to have found another internal success story on their blue line, as defenseman Darren Raddysh has played his way into a far more prominent role within the organization. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the NHL Insider noted reported that Tampa Bay now views Raddysh as a “key part” of its power play and a long‑term piece of its defensive group, which has become a notable shift for a player who entered the league as a depth option.
Raddysh’s rise comes after a breakout 22-goal, 70‑point season, one that has given the Lightning a much‑needed boost as their veteran core continues to age. His ability to move pucks efficiently and run the top power‑play unit has added an element that the team has lacked since the departure of several key contributors in recent years. Head coach Jon Cooper has leaned heavily on Raddysh’s poise and distribution, and the results have pushed him from a secondary option into a central role.
The timing is also significant from a roster‑building standpoint. Raddysh played the season on one of the league’s most affordable contracts at a meager $975k, but that situation won’t last long. If Tampa Bay intends to keep him, he is in line for a substantial raise. Friedman’s report suggests the Lightning are well aware of that reality and may look to secure an extension.
Tampa Bay is projected to have just over $14 million in cap space entering the 2026-27 offseason, but that number shrinks quickly once roster spots and other pending decisions are factored in. Any new deal for Raddysh would need to fit within a tight structure, particularly with the Lightning still trying to maintain a competitive window.
Even so, locking in a productive right‑shot defenseman with power‑play utility would address one of the organization’s most pressing long‑term needs. Raddysh’s single-season emergence gives Tampa Bay a cost‑controlled contributor in the short term and a potential fixture on the back end as the roster transitions in the coming years.
Lightning Notes: Raddysh, Kucherov, O’Reilly
The Tampa Bay Lightning have a pivotal offseason ahead of them as they look to rebound after a fourth consecutive first-round series loss, and one of the key situations they have to manage is the pending unrestricted free agency of defenseman Darren Raddysh. In his exit day media availability, GM Julien Brisebois said (via the Tampa Bay Times’ Eduardo A. Encina) that he has “already reached out to” Raddysh’s agent, Craig Oster of Newport. Brisebois said he and Oster have “been in touch throughout the second half of the year, just sharing concepts, ideas” on what a contract extension might look like.
Raddysh has lined himself up to receive a massive pay raise this summer. In a free agent market notably thin on difference-making talent, Raddysh is the best defenseman, and arguably best overall player, set to be available. He took over for Victor Hedman as Tampa’s top power play option and No. 1 defenseman, producing 22 goals and 70 points in 73 games. As a 30-year-old undrafted player, he’s set to receive a life-changing contract at some point this summer. Based on what Brisebois said today, it appears the Lightning are hoping that contract comes from them.
Other notes from Tampa Bay:
- Brisebois also addressed the future of future Hall of Fame forward Nikita Kucherov, who is set to enter the final year of his contract in 2026-27. He said of Kucherov: “I foresee him staying in our organization for a very long time,” and added that he will, “in due time,” engage with Kucherov’s agent on extension talks. Kucherov is repped by Dan Milstein of Gold Star Hockey. The 32-year-old scored 44 goals and 130 points in the regular season, and produced six points in seven postseason contests.
- Lightning prospect Sam O’Reilly was named the winner of the Red Tilson Trophy today, an honor awarded to the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player. The 2024 first-rounder, 20, scored 71 points in 56 games this season, and had 22 points in 14 playoff games. He was acquired by the Lightning from the Edmonton Oilers this past summer in the deal that sent Ike Howard to Alberta. Brisebois hinted today at a belief that O’Reilly may already be close to NHL-ready, saying the prospect “probably won’t need that much time in order to be able to come here and contribute.”
Darren Raddysh Is Going To Get Paid This Summer
Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh had been a consistent point producer for a couple of seasons, but what he’s done in Tampa Bay this year is out of this world. Raddysh entered the season with last year’s 37 points (six goals and 31 assists) in 73 games as the high-water mark in his NHL career, but he has obliterated those numbers with 22 goals and 48 assists in 73 games at season’s end. Those kinds of numbers are certain to attract attention in the free-agent market, as Raddysh is a pending unrestricted free agent and couldn’t have picked a better time to have a career year.
At the start of this season, the 30-year-old Raddysh seemed poised to secure something in the range of a three-year, $9MM contract that would give him a solid raise and some stability. However, Raddysh went on to make this the most interesting free agency period of the offseason. It’s not often that a defenseman is the top-scoring free agent available, especially a right-handed one. Raddysh is a special case, and the bidding for his services could get wacky if he hits the open market.
The longer Raddysh remains unsigned, the more likely it becomes that he will test the market. Even though he would probably appreciate the security of a long-term deal with Tampa Bay during the season, the idea of free agency has to be on his mind. Raddysh has earned NHL money for only a few seasons and has never carried a cap hit over $1MM, even though he made $1.114MM in actual salary in the first year of his current two-year, $1.95MM deal.
There is danger in waiting too long to sign, and that danger is that Raddysh’s luck runs out. While Raddysh and his defense partner, J.J. Moser, have had terrific puck luck, with Raddysh carrying a goal share above 80% and a PDO of 101.6, their streak of good fortune won’t last forever. For Raddysh, that could mean a swing of millions of dollars if it runs out in the playoffs. But his success hasn’t been built solely on luck; he’s also been incredibly effective in Tampa Bay, as the team has largely controlled the play when he is on the ice.
So, what kind of contract could Raddysh be looking at this summer? AFP Analytics projects him to receive a four-year deal worth just over $5.3MM per season, which feels a bit light given how thin the free-agent market is, particularly for right-shot defensemen. For Raddysh, the term is also likely shorter than he would like, given how little security he’s had to this point in his career.
There will never be a better time for the 30-year-old to cash in, with the market set up for him to pursue a maximum-term contract. There are many teams with ample cap space to get involved, and right-shot defenders always command a premium. $6MM-$7MM might seem like a wild number for a player with such a small sample size of high-level play, but the rising salary cap has created a new economic climate that NHL teams and players have never encountered before.
Will Tampa Bay step up and give Raddysh an extension? To this point, they’ve been hesitant, and for good reason. There aren’t many players with the career progression Raddysh has shown, so the Lightning are rightfully cautious.
With so many high-ticket, long-term deals already on the books, and another to be signed when Nikita Kucherov becomes a UFA in the summer of 2027, getting a Raddysh deal wrong could be a real issue for the team as it moves toward the end of its contention window. But Tampa Bay might be forced to get it wrong if they want to keep Raddysh, because not only is he the best defenseman available, but he might also be the best free agent available at all.
If Tampa doesn’t sign Raddysh, which teams could be interested? The Maple Leafs will likely be mentioned as a potential suitor. The Ducks will surely be in on him with their entire right side set for UFA status this summer. The list could be 10-15 teams long, given that 23 teams have more than $15MM available this summer and nine have more than $30MM in cap space.
The Sharks and Penguins have the most cap space, but it’s hard to imagine Raddysh getting attention from Pittsburgh, as they already have Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson on the right side, with prospect Harrison Brunicke on the way as well. However, the Sharks could be interested, as they are set to enter their contention window and could look to add offense to their back end.
In any event, Raddyish is going to have a ton of suitors, and he will have full control of his own destiny, provided he reaches free agency on July 1. Tampa Bay remains a premium destination for players thanks to the nice weather, favorable tax situation, and a premier NHL franchise with a long track record of recent success. Raddyish is going to have a difficult decision to make, but one that almost every NHL player would love to have one day.
Atlantic Notes: Stolarz, Holinka, Lightning, Ostlund
The Maple Leafs are shutting down goaltender Anthony Stolarz for the final few games of their season after he was injured on Wednesday against Washington, relays David Alter of The Hockey News. On top of that, head coach Craig Berube noted that while surgery isn’t required, the injury could ultimately affect Stolarz’s offseason training plans, which suggests this isn’t a minor issue. After a breakout effort last season that netted him a four-year, $15MM extension in the preseason, it has been a rough year for Stolarz in 2025-26. Injuries have limited him to just 26 appearances while he hasn’t been particularly sharp, putting up a 3.28 GAA and a .893 SV% after having the highest SV% in the NHL in the previous two seasons. Now, it looks like his offseason training could be impacted, adding one more negative note to a year that has had plenty.
More from the Atlantic:
- Still with the Maple Leafs, the AHL Marlies announced (Twitter link) that forward Miroslav Holinka is joining the team. The 20-year-old was a fifth-round pick by Toronto back in 2024 and is coming off a very productive junior season with WHL Edmonton. Holinka played in 59 games with the Oil Kings during the regular season, notching 37 goals and 43 assists, good for second on the team in scoring. He was even more productive in their first-round playoff loss, tallying seven goals and four assists in seven games. Eligible to play full-time with the Marlies next season, Holinka will now get an early taste of the pros.
- While the Lightning welcomed back Brandon Hagel this afternoon versus Boston, they were without a pair of other regulars. Team reporter Benjamin Pierce relayed (Twitter link) that center Zemgus Girgensons and defenseman Darren Raddysh are out with day-to-day injuries. Girgensons was limited after blocking a shot on Thursday in Montreal while Raddysh’s injury is a little harder to pin down after he scored the game-tying goal late in that one. At this point, there doesn’t appear to be any concern about their playoff availability.
- The Sabres are hopeful that center Noah Ostlund will be ready to return for the playoffs, notes Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News (Twitter link). He has missed the last two weeks with an upper-body injury; head coach Lindy Ruff indicated that the 22-year-old is skating daily and that it’s a pain management issue at this point. Ostlund has 11 goals and 16 assists in 60 games for Buffalo this season and should slot back into a bottom-six spot once he’s cleared to return to the lineup.
Lightning, Darren Raddysh To Wait On Extension Talks
While Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh is in the midst of the best season of his hockey career, he’ll likely need to wait just a little bit longer before he can cash in on his success.
Lightning GM Julien BriseBois told the media yesterday, including the Tampa Bay Times’ Eduardo A. Encina, that the club and Raddysh’s representatives would wait to engage in negotiations over a potential contract extension until the end of the season.
BriseBois stated his belief that Raddysh’s play has earned the blueliner a “game-changing contract,” but felt that waiting until the end of the season would allow the club to enter negotiations with a more complete sense of how to evaluate the defenseman’s appropriate contract value.
In a season where the Lightning have dealt with a rash of injuries to their blueline, Raddysh has emerged as a key difference-maker. The 29-year-old went undrafted out of the OHL’s Erie Otters but garnered significant league interest as a free agent at the end of his junior career. He originally signed with the Chicago Blackhawks and would go on to spend over a half-decade in the AHL before he earned his first NHL call-up.
Raddysh earned four NHL games for the Lightning in 2021-22, but his real breakout came in 2022-23, when he scored 51 points in 50 games for the Syracuse Crunch.
He got into 17 NHL games that year, which paved the way for him to earn a full-time role in Tampa the following year. Raddysh scored 33 points in 82 games in his first season as a full-time NHLer, 37 points in 73 games last season, and now has 12 goals and 36 points in 36 games this season.
For as much as he’s clearly developed in his late twenties, few likely expected Raddysh to sit top-five in league scoring by a defenseman halfway through an NHL season. He’s scoring at a higher clip this season than star names such as Quinn Hughes, Rasmus Dahlin, Moritz Seider, and Miro Heiskanen, to name just a few.
Playing defense is about more than just scoring, of course, and that’s why it’s important to note that Raddysh is also playing a key all-situations role for Tampa. He’s their No. 2 defenseman by average ice time per game (21:35) and beyond just getting top power play time, he also plays a role on the penalty kill.
He’s providing Tampa with an immense amount of surplus value on his current $975K cap hit, and as BriseBois said, has clearly lined himself up for a significant contract.
Of course, it’s fair to question whether a team interested in Raddysh will be able to expect Raddysh to put up the kind of point-per-game production he’s managed halfway through this season. But even if his true talent level isn’t quite as high as where he’s ranked right now, the fact is he’s still a right-shot blueliner who managed solid scoring rates in each of the last two seasons prior to this one.
Long gone is the flat cap environment where the vast majority of NHL clubs were tightening their purse strings and showing restraint on the free agent market. With each passing extension that gets signed, the upcoming free agent class thins even further, increasing Raddysh’s earnings potential as one of the top pending UFA blueliners.
For as much as the Bolts might want to see more games before committing significant funds to Raddysh, Raddysh may also want to wait as long as possible before committing to a contract extension in Tampa, as he very well could receive the most lucrative possible offer within the bidding wars of unrestricted free agency.
In any case, both Raddysh and the Lightning have more pressing objectives than the finances of next season; most importantly, it’s returning to the top of the game’s competitive pecking order and winning a third Stanley Cup under head coach Jon Cooper. If Raddysh can manage to string together a few more months of this kind of production, and find a way to translate his scoring to the high-intensity setting of the Stanley Cup playoffs, he could further heighten his chances of landing a life-altering contract this upcoming summer.
Photos courtesy of Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Atlantic Notes: Raddysh, Fleury, Matthews
Tampa Bay Lightning reporter Chris Krenn tweeted that Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said defenseman Darren Raddysh is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. The 28-year-old missed game 4 of Tampa Bay’s first-round series last night after he’d averaged over 17 minutes of ice time in the first three games.
The native of Toronto, Ontario spent nearly five seasons toiling in the AHL before emerging this season as a solid depth option for the Lightning. In 82 games this year, Raddysh posted six goals and 27 assists while playing over 19 minutes a game. A late bloomer, Raddysh set career highs in almost every offensive category this season, while still providing the Lightning with solid work in the defensive zone.
In other Atlantic Division notes:
- Jon Cooper also told Chris Krenn that defenseman Haydn Fleury is healthy and available to play for the Lightning. The former seventh-overall pick hasn’t played since colliding with an official back on April 6th in a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins and did take warm-ups last night with the team. While he is available for game 5, Fleury may serve as a healthy scratch given the depth Tampa Bay has on their back end. Fleury has never lived up to his top-10 draft status but remains a decent depth option for the Lightning should a defenseman go down to injury.
- TSN’s Chris Johnston tweeted that Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe spoke about superstar Auston Matthews saying that the illness he’s been suffering from has lingered and worsens when he gets on the ice and begins to push himself. Matthews left last night’s game early as the Maple Leafs fell into a deep hole and now trail the Boston Bruins 3-1 in their first-round matchup. The 26-year-old played just 14:16 yesterday, registering a single shot on goal and has just a goal and two assists in four playoff games thus far. Toronto will face elimination tomorrow night in Boston.