Insider Claims Maple Leafs Targeting Raddysh, But Reality’s Messy

So, even though Kypreos calls it a done deal, all this talk about “clearing space” for Raddysh? Not so simple. The last thing the Maple Leafs need is a locker room headache because someone miscalculated a contract.

Reason 2: Tampa Bay Isn’t Giving Raddysh Away

Here’s another snag: Tampa Bay isn’t in the habit of handing out its top players for free. Raddysh has been playing like a man possessed this season, and the Lightning will almost certainly want to lock him up long-term. If he keeps this pace, his value isn’t dropping anytime soon. Any Maple Leafs deal is going to have to be hefty, maybe even blockbuster-level, to get him out of Florida.

Raddysh coming off a big season? You can bet he’s going to command big dollars. Rumours have him in the $5–6 million range. For Toronto, that’s a lot to juggle, especially with the other contracts already on the books. Even if they wiggle around Rielly’s cap hit, it’s still a serious bite out of the budget.

The Bottom Line for the Maple Leafs and Raddysh

On paper, Raddysh looks like a dream come true. He’s a defenceman who can skate, pass, and score. In reality, it’s messy. Rielly’s contract, Tampa Bay’s desire to keep him, and the potential cost all add up to a pretty steep mountain to climb.

Sometimes the flashy trade ideas are fun to talk about, but they’re not always practical. The Maple Leafs might want to sit tight and think this one through before going all-in. The irony of it all is that, not long ago, Rielly looked like the team’s answer to this very question. Now he’s signed long-term. Funny that not long after, the organization is trying to dump him.