Toronto Maple Leafs: Darren Raddysh is worth a look
By James Reeve
With the Toronto Maple Leafs needing help on the blue line, Darren Raddysh could be worth serious consideration this summer.
Darren Raddysh is a right-handed defenceman currently playing for the Erie Otters in the Ontario Hockey League, but he will not be entering the 2017 NHL draft. The Caledon, Ontario, native is now 21 years and was passed up in previous draft years, but could be just what the Toronto Maple Leafs are looking for.
He will depart the Otters this summer and become a free agent who is sure to attract a number of teams, including the defence-needy Leafs.
Raddysh stands at 6-foot-1 and 201 pounds, showing good NHL size thanks to his extra years of development in major juniors. In 62 regular season games for Erie, he picked up 16 goals and 81 total points, placing him third on the team in total points scored.
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Raddysh’s offensive production leapt an astonishing 41 points from last season’s total of 40 (eight goals and 32 assists). This led to him being recognized with a few awards.
He won the Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy as the OHL’s ‘Overager of the Year’, which is given to the best player over the usual cut-off age of 19 in the league. Additionally, he won the Max Kaminsky Trophy, which is awarded to the best defenceman in the OHL each season.
The Otters’ blue liner received 70 votes, beating out the likes of Owen Sound’s Santino Centorame along with last season’s winner and Montreal Canadiens’ prospect, Mikhail Sergachev of the Windsor Spitfires.
Raddysh’s strong season is also still in progress. The Otters were recently crowned OHL Champions, having beaten out the Mississauga Steelheads in a five-game series this past week.
Raddysh picked up 22 points (eight goals and 14 assists) in 22 playoff games. He will now head to the Memorial Cup, where the Otters will face off against the Windsor Spitfires, the QMJHL Champion Saint John Sea Dogs and the winner of the WHL final.
His success in the juniors will give him a strong desire to make it in the NHL, having also seen his brother Taylor Raddysh drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round last year.
He will be a cheap acquisition for any team in the NHL. He can be signed to a two-way Entry Level Contract, which allows a team to see him adjust and develop in the AHL before giving him the opportunity to step up.
Mike Babcock likes having right-handed blue liners to give his defence balance, and with a cheap option becoming available this summer it seems like a no-brainer to at least give Raddysh a look.
The Leafs’ rebuild has taken giant leaps over the past season, but there is always room to bring in developmental players who can contribute down the road. Why not take a chance on a guy that has won awards for his performances this season?
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What do you think? Should the Toronto Maple Leafs take a chance on Raddysh and let him develop in the AHL? Are there any other junior overagers you’d like them to consider? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.