The Toronto Maple Leafs may already have one Raddysh in place, but there’s a case to be made for adding the other one too.
Earlier this summer, Toronto brought in right-shot defenseman Darren Raddysh in a sign-and-trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning, a move that strengthened the top of the blue line and gave the Leafs a defender who can produce 70 points in a season, as he did last year. Now the question is whether the organization should go after his younger brother, Taylor Raddysh, if the New York Rangers make him available.
That possibility is worth checking out, especially if the price stays modest. Taylor Raddysh is in the final year of his deal, carries a $1.5 million cap hit, and could be squeezed out after what’s described as a busy summer for the Rangers. If Toronto can land him for a mid-tier draft pick, the argument goes, they should do it.
The fit is easy to see. Taylor Raddysh would give the Maple Leafs another bottom-six winger with size, edge, and enough scoring touch to matter in the middle of the lineup. He’s only two seasons removed from a 20-goal year in Chicago, and his game comes with a heavy shot, a willingness to forecheck, strength in puck battles along the boards, and the ability to handle some defensive work.
His career has also produced a memorable moment already: on October 24, 2025, he scored the first hat trick of his career.
For Toronto, the broader roster picture makes this even more interesting. John Chayka’s offseason has clearly been aimed at reshaping the team’s identity.
Last season, the Leafs were viewed as slow and heavy. After the changes made this summer, they’re faster, more physical, and more reliable defensively, which should let the top six concentrate more on offense.
The timing matters too, because Max Domi is set to miss training camp and possibly longer. That kind of absence can push a front office toward adding depth rather than waiting around, and Raddysh fits that thinking.
Toronto already has a deep group of bottom-six forwards heading into camp, but that can be a good problem to have. The overflow can be sorted out before the season starts.
If the Leafs did make the move, one natural spot for Raddysh would be the third line with Nick Paul and Jack Roslovic. That would send Colton Sissons to the fourth line and could even make Dakota Joshua expendable. With nearly a $2 million gap between Joshua’s cap hit and Raddysh’s, the move would also help Toronto’s current cap situation.
And then there’s the personal side of it. Taylor and Darren Raddysh are brothers, they grew up as Maple Leafs fans, and both could now have a shot to wear the Maple Leaf on their chest. For two players from Caledon, Ontario, the chance to skate together for their boyhood team would be the kind of moment they likely dreamed about long before either reached the NHL.
In Other News...
Mitch Marner Just Weighed In On Torontos Bold Darren Raddysh Bet
Torontos wager on Darren Raddysh says plenty about how far the organization is willing to go after a breakthrough season. Fresh off a 70-point breakout, he landed an eight-year, $68 million contract, the kind of commitment that instantly changes expectations around a player and the team around him. For the Maple Leafs, it is a bold bet on production, growth and the idea that what Raddysh showed last year is only the start.
Mitch Marner, now with the Vegas Golden Knights, also took notice of the move and made clear he has been impressed by Raddyshs work ethic. His public praise adds another layer to a signing already carrying plenty of weight, especially because the Leafs are banking on that effort translating into lasting impact. The contract is in place, the spotlight is on, and the bigger question is how quickly Raddysh can turn that promise into something the Leafs can build around. [Read more 🡒]
Max Domi Just Gave The Maple Leafs A Real Camp Problem
The Maple Leafs opened camp with a familiar kind of uncertainty around Max Domi, and this one carries more weight than a routine preseason absence. General manager John Chayka said the forward will not be ready when camp begins and will remain out indefinitely after complications from an offseason surgery, leaving Toronto without one of the veteran pieces it expected to have available from day one. The club has not said what procedure Domi had, and the lack of detail only adds to the sense that this is more than a short-term hiccup.
Domi is expected to speak publicly about the injury at a later date, but for now the Leafs are left to sort out a roster picture that was supposed to be clearer by September. His absence matters because he is under contract for two more seasons, and Toronto had been counting on him as part of its forward mix entering the year. For a team trying to get organized early, the bigger issue is not just who fills in right away, but how long it will be until one of its more established forwards is actually able to join the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Prospect Showcase Just Clarified One Important Depth Chart Battle
The Maple Leafs are bringing 26 prospects to the Prospect Showcase on Sept. 12-13, giving the organization another look at a group that could shape the next wave of depth decisions. Gavin McKenna is the headliner and is widely viewed as the top prospect expected to reach the NHL this season, but the event is also a chance for Toronto to measure where the rest of the pipeline stands after a summer of roster reshuffling and development focus.
For players like Ben Danford, Vinny Borgesi, Hayes Hundley and Timofei Obvintsev, this is less about hype than readiness. Toronto wants to see which prospects are closest to handling competition beyond the prospect level, and the showcase should help clarify who is pushing hardest for a quicker climb. In a system where every step matters, these two days can go a long way toward sorting out the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]