John Chayka’s Gamble on Darren Raddysh Reveals His Blueprint for the Maple Leafs

John Chayka didn’t overhaul the Toronto Maple Leafs’ defence this summer, but he did change its identity.

Players in: Darren Raddysh, Emil Andrae
Players out: Brandon Carlo, Simon Benoit
Returning: Morgan Rielly, Chris Tanev, Jake McCabe, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Troy Stecher

Rather than adding more size and defensive specialists, Chayka appears to be building a blue line that can move the puck quickly and spend more time in the offensive zone. Whether that strategy succeeds remains to be seen, but our first impression is that the defence has improved.

The Raddysh Question

The biggest addition is Darren Raddysh. Raddysh came out of nowhere last season to score 22 goals and 70 points after stepping into a larger role when Victor Hedman was injured. He averaged more than 22 minutes per game while running Tampa Bay’s first power-play unit.

The production was remarkable because it far exceeded anything he had accomplished during his previous four NHL seasons, or even in six years in the American Hockey League (AHL). The question isn’t whether Raddysh deserved his new contract. The question is whether he makes Toronto’s defence better.

Everything we’ve heard from Chayka suggests Raddysh will become Toronto’s primary offensive defenceman and quarterback the first power-play unit. Reports that the Maple Leafs explored trading Morgan Rielly only reinforce that belief.

If that’s the case, Brandon Carlo becomes the logical comparison. Carlo was a defensive defenceman. He blocked shots, killed penalties, and quietly put together another solid defensive season. In fact, despite criticism after arriving from Boston, he has never finished with a negative plus/minus rating during his 10-year NHL career. Last season, he was one of only two Maple Leafs who played more than half the season and still finished on the plus side. Offensively, however, Carlo offered very little. His career highs are just six goals and 19 points.

If Chayka wants a faster, puck-possession style, Raddysh is a much better fit. He doesn’t need another 70-point season to justify the move. Even if he produces somewhere between 40 and 55 points while improving Toronto’s transition game, the move could prove worthwhile. If last season turns out to be an outlier, however, the equation changes dramatically.

For now, we’re giving this move a thumbs up.

Andrae Remains the Biggest Mystery

Emil Andrae and Simon Benoit are almost complete opposites. Benoit is a 6-foot-4, physical defenceman whose game revolves around defending, blocking shots, and delivering hits. His 82-game average is roughly 244 hits. Andrae is a 5-foot-9 puck-moving defenceman who relies on skating, possession, and an excellent first pass to drive play.

Like Raddysh, Andrae appears to fit the style Chayka wants his team to play. Whether the 24-year-old can handle regular NHL minutes remains unanswered. At this point, we have to call this swap incomplete.

The X-Factor Hasn’t Changed

One player may ultimately determine whether this defence improves more than anyone Chayka added: Chris Tanev. When healthy, Tanev has been Toronto’s most complete defenceman since arriving as a free agent in 2024. Unfortunately, injuries limited him to just 11 games last season, and he’ll begin this season at 36.

If Tanev stays healthy, Toronto’s defence should take a significant step forward. If injuries continue to be an issue, the margin for error shrinks considerably.

Our First Impression

There are still plenty of unanswered questions, particularly surrounding Raddysh and Andrae. Even so, our first impression is positive. Chayka didn’t simply replace players. He reshaped the blue line to better match the puck-possession style he appears determined to play.

Whether that vision translates into wins remains to be seen, but on paper, we believe the Maple Leafs’ defence is stronger today than it was at the end of last season.

[Note: I want to thank long-time Maple Leafs fan Stan Smith for collaborating with me on this post. Stan’s Facebook profile can be found here.]