Blackhawks Should Target Darren Raddysh in Free Agency

This is the season where the Chicago Blackhawks need to make a move in the summer. Whether it’s trading the fourth pick in the NHL Draft or making a signing in free agency, something needs to be done. 

The Blackhawks have an opening at defenseman, since Matt Grzelcyk is coming off the books. There’s also a need for a veteran defender, since Grzelcyk served that role, as well. That leaves Darren Raddysh as a viable option for the Blackhawks. 

Raddysh, 30 years old, actually started his professional hockey career with the Rockford IceHogs in the American Hockey League (AHL) back in the 2017-18 season. He spent two years with the IceHogs, having 48 points combined between those two seasons. He was traded to the New York Rangers organization, where he spent two and a half seasons, and was signed as a free agent by the Lightning. 

Raddysh and the Tampa Bay Lightning 

Raddysh started his run in the Lightning organization with the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL. The 2021-22 season was good for Raddysh, but he really kicked it off in the 2022-23 campaign, having 51 points in 50 games, and was an AHL All-Star. He’d get his first full-time rodeo in Tampa Bay the season after, where he played a full 82-game season and tallied 33 points. 2024-25 was another solid season for Raddysh, as he improved to 37 points in just 73 games. 

This past season, though, Raddysh was one of the main talking points. He put 22 goals and 48 assists on the board, tallying up to 70 points in 73 games, being one of the most productive offensive defensemen in the league. 

Raddysh just so happened to have the best season of his life at the right time, too, as he’s in a contract year with the Lightning. Tampa Bay only has $12 million in cap space heading into the offseason, so there’s a chance they may not be able to bring him back, depending on what he asks for. That is where the Blackhawks come in. 

Blackhawks Can Bring In Raddysh 

Chicago needs a puck-moving, offensive-minded defenseman. Raddysh coming into the Windy City would be just that. Raddysh isn’t too old, but will still be able to offer a veteran presence and will slot in just fine with the other young defenders on the team. Raddysh played on the right side of the blue line with the Lightning, so putting him next to a defensive-minded type player like Wyatt Kaiser could be beneficial for both of them. However, Raddysh’s play back in his own zone has gotten better. 

Raddysh also commands the power play very well and would be able to come in and serve as the quarterback for the first unit immediately. It’d be a breath of fresh air and would help out the likes of Connor Bedard and Anton Frondell a lot. Plus, his 100 MPH+ shot could steer penalty killers and goalies towards him as a threat as a defenseman, which would be different from years past, and would open up a lot more for Bedard and Frondell to play around. The surplus of young defensemen might leave some of them out of the lineup, but you could always use a defenseman as a catalyst in a trade for a forward that is desperately needed.

The Blackhawks have $40 million in cap space heading into 2026-27, so there’s no problem paying Raddysh whatever he asks for. He’ll probably ask for about $7 to 8 million per year, as in the past campaign, he made $975,000. It could be more, or it could be less; it all depends on how much he can cash in on this breakout season this late into his career. Either way, it’d be a massive upgrade from what Chicago has in their own end right now.