Maple Leafs Fans Shouldn’t Be Worried About Darren Raddysh’s Slow Start
As the calendar creeps towards mid-November, Toronto Maple Leafs fans expected offensive-minded defenseman Darren Raddysh to have scored more than one goal.
Last offseason, the Leafs, who were looking to improve their power play, swung on June 19th a deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning, which saw Toronto send their 2026 fifth-round draft pick to the Lightning in exchange for Raddysh, who right after signed an eight-year, $68 million deal.
This was an exciting deal for Leafs fans as Raddysh, who is 30 years old, was coming off a career season with Tampa Bay, which saw him produce 22 goals along with 70 points and a solid plus/minus of +21. His strength with the Bolts was quarterbacking the power play and providing that offense from the blue line while averaging over 20 minutes of ice time, which was exactly what the Leafs’ defense needed.
While it might still be extremely early in the season, Leafs fans have to be feeling a little impatient, as Raddysh has, after 20 games played, only one goal and 12 points along with a less-than-flattering plus/minus of -10.
“It’s a new year. Whatever you did last year, that’s in the past,” Raddysh said about last season’s statistics. “If I don’t score a goal all year and we go on a long run and win the Stanley Cup, I’m okay with that. So, I’m just trying to help the team win as best as possible and just go about my business each and every day.”
Maple Leaf Fans Shouldn’t Panic Over the Defenseman’s Lack of Goals
A major reason why Maple Leafs fans shouldn’t be worried about the veteran defenseman’s lack of goals is that he has been getting his chances. So far, he ranks fourth on the team with 46 shots on goal, which leaves him just behind forwards Jack Roslovic (46 shots), William Nylander (56 shots) and captain Auston Matthews with 58.
Toronto fans can’t question his work ethic as Raddysh, along with Leafs assistant coach Brad Wereka, has been working tirelessly on his shot after practice.
Among his most encouraging games of the year, which showed that it was just a matter of time before Raddysh broke through, took place on November 3rd at Scotiabank Arena, when he had 11 shot attempts and a season-high six shots on goal during a 3-2 Leafs loss against the Utah Mammoth.
Last season, working on the Tampa Bay power-play with the likes of Nikita Kucherov, Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli, Raddysh placed seventh among defensemen with 26 points and first in power-play goals with 10.
Other reasons for Maple Leafs fans not to be worried about Raddysh having only one goal so far are that, prior to scoring his first goal on November 10th during a 6-3 loss at home against the Colorado Avalanche, this defenseman led the league in shots on goal with 44 without finding the back of the net. Also, before finally scoring, Raddysh had contributed to the power play with five assists, so he’s been involved and received praise from Leafs coach Jim Hiller for his passing ability. He has also been physical and played well defensively, which hasn’t gone unnoticed by the coaching staff.
Raddysh Gets That First Goal As A Leaf
By coming to a new team and learning a new system, it seemed only logical that Raddysh might go through an adjustment period. That adjustment period looks to be over as Raddysh has produced six points (one goal, five assists), 14 shots on goal and seven hits in his past six games.
Raddysh’s first goal in blue and white came 3:33 into the first period on a rising slap shot during that Novemeber 10th 6-3 loss against the Avalanche. Besides picking up his game, Raddysh has also proven to be a solid team player who doesn’t point fingers.
Following that November 3rd, 3-2 home loss against the Mammoth, Raddysh showed great maturity and accountability when he pointed the finger at himself following a bad third-period penalty that led to Utah’s game-winning goal.
“I think my penalty. They’ve got a lethal power play, and I kind of took a dumb penalty there, so I take blame for that one,” Raddysh said about the turning point for the loss. This costly cross-checking penalty, which came with 8:18 remaining, resulted in Utah forward Nick Schmaltz scoring the winner on Leafs goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.
“No, it’s a penalty,” Raddysh said. It’s one I would like to have back. Nothing I can do about it now,” Raddysh said. “Just move on, and just too bad we didn’t get the result we wanted.”
The Last Word
While Raddysh is seen as a power-play specialist, he also made his offensive presence known last year with the Lightning during five-on-five play, which saw him produce nine goals and 32 points.
Earlier this month, in analyzing what might not be working for him, Raddysh stated, “There are times when maybe I’m passing it too much, or I do shoot it, and no one’s at the net front, so that’s not a good shot for me. I just try to keep doing what I do. Try to go about my business, and eventually one will fall.”
While the Leafs aren’t off to a great start, the play of Raddysh isn’t something that Leafs fans should be concerned about.
