Boston Bruins
Raddysh had a breakout season on Tampa’s D corps, scoring 22 objectives and 70 factors.
There are a number of avenues that Sweeney and Co. might discover this offseason in hopes of shoring up a D corps that each took on far an excessive amount of water in their very own zone and did not generate offense down the opposite finish of the frozen sheet.
The simplest choice for the Bruins is to easily open up their pockets and signal an influence D-man as soon as the free-agency feeding frenzy begins on July 1.
Rasmus Andersson’s established pedigree as a top-four stalwart and minutes-muncher ought to make him one of many high choices available on the market.
However, Tampa Bay blueliner Darren Raddysh may supply a better upside for a Bruins group in want of a game-changer in that section of the roster.
In fact, concentrating on a 30-year-old skater with a much-smaller physique of labor like Raddysh additionally presents loads of danger for a Bruins group that may’t be encumbered by a number of burdensome contracts if it needs to domesticate a sustainable contending roster.
So ought to the Bruins be within the combine for one of many extra coveted free brokers available on the market?
Let’s weigh the professionals and cons of Boston concentrating on Raddysh.
Professional: Raddysh would verify off a number of bins for Bruins
There’s a sound case to be made that the Bruins’ D corps stands as essentially the most regarding space of Boston’s roster — be it for subsequent season or increasing into extra of a long-term outlook.
Boston does have just a few strong stalwarts in place with Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, and Nikita Zadorov. However, the absence of a real, influence skater behind McAvoy was obtrusive this previous season, whereas Lindholm is about to show 33 in January.
Whereas Boston’s pipeline of younger expertise has a number of intriguing forwards like Fraser Minten, James Hagens, Dean Letoureanu, Will Zellers, and Cooper Simpson, the identical can’t be stated in regards to the Bruins’ subsequent wave of D-men — particularly on the correct aspect.
With Boston in rapid want of a repair on the correct aspect, Raddysh would assuage a number of flaws which have plagued Boston in recent times.
Raddysh picked a good time to string collectively a profession 12 months simply forward of free company.
The 30-year-old skater, who solely performed his first 82-game season within the NHL in 2023-24, made the many of the added reps afforded to him this previous 12 months.
In 73 video games, Raddysh scored 22 objectives and 70 factors — good for third and seventh, respectively, amongst NHL blueliners this previous 12 months.
Skating on a potent power-play unit orchestrated by Nikita Kucherov had its perks for Raddysh, who scored 10 objectives and 26 whole factors on the person benefit.
However, Raddysh was removed from simply an offensive-minded weapon for Jon Cooper, with Raddysh averaging 22:42 of ice time per sport for a Bolts group that performed with out Victor Hedman for a big stretch of the 12 months.
A glance beneath the hood at Raddysh’s numbers additionally paints the image of a participant who wasn’t a legal responsibility in his personal finish.
In Raddysh’s 1,228 minutes of 5-on-5 reps, Tampa outscored opponents, 71-49, whereas the Bolts additionally held a large benefit in anticipated objectives, 67.4 to 50.65, over that very same stretch.
If Raddysh’s breakout season will not be an outlier, he’d shore up a number of regarding flaws on Boston’s roster.
Past stabilizing a second D pairing, Raddysh’s knack for hammering the puck from the blue line and producing offense can be a welcome sight on a Boston roster that ranked 18th within the NHL this previous 12 months in objectives by defensemen (36).
Handing the keys to Raddysh on the facility play is also a optimistic domino impact, lightening the load on McAvoy and liberating him up elsewhere to function extra of a bodily rover — much like his position on Group USA.
In fact, essentially the most urgent query when it comes to Boston’s pursuit of Raddysh is whether or not or not this previous 12 months was a flash within the pan.
Con: Raddysh’s age and restricted pattern measurement invite danger
As a lot as Raddysh’s profile may attraction to a group like Boston, he gained’t come low cost.
According to AFP Analytics, Raddysh is projected to signal a six-year contract this offseason price a projected $8.037 million annual cap hit — and which may undersell the veteran’s whole payout given the variety of suitors that he’ll doubtless entice this summer time.
The Bruins — at the moment working with a projected $15.4 million in cap space — have the means to dole out a hefty deal for Raddysh.
However, after already feeling the sting of the Elias Lindholm contract, the Bruins might put themselves in a severe bind if Raddysh doesn’t reside as much as the billing as a real influence D-man.
Past the truth that Raddysh is about to show 31 years outdated in February 2027, the Ontario native isn’t precisely a confirmed commodity past this previous season.
Previous to that 2023-24 season, the place he carved out a third-pairing position in Tampa, Raddysh appeared in simply 21 whole video games within the NHL cut up throughout two seasons from 2021-23.
His earlier profession highs in objectives and factors in a season earlier than this previous 12 months have been six tallies and 37 factors.
The case could be made that Raddysh is only a late bloomer who’s now simply hitting his prime and might nonetheless drive play at a excessive fee for the subsequent three or 4 seasons.
In some respects, the Bruins would financial institution on him serving as their model of J.D. Martinez, who joined the Crimson Sox in 2018 at 30 years outdated and continued to hold his delayed peak efficiency into his early 30s.
Even when Raddysh is extra of a 50-point common as an alternative of what he showcased this previous season, that might seemingly be commensurate worth for what an $8-9 million common annual worth is on this shifting market.
But when 2025-26 was simply the proper storm for Raddysh and he regresses into extra of a third-pairing choice, it will be disastrous for the Bruins or another membership that places pen to paper on a brand new deal.
Professional: Boston gained’t must deal away belongings
As a lot of a danger as an expensive contract for Raddysh is perhaps, any various choice for Boston may also sting — particularly if the Bruins are going to must half with precious belongings by way of commerce as a way to usher in one other succesful top-four choice.
Even when the Bruins have been to accumulate a youthful, unproven blueliner like Simon Nemec or Olen Zellweger (a left-shot choice), Boston would doubtless have to surrender first-round picks or blue-chip prospects as a way to full stated commerce.
And, if it’s extra established D-men like St. Louis’ Colton Parayko or Vancouver’s Filip Hronek, the value shall be even larger.
If the Bruins want to speed up their present competition window and handle a key want —with out having to promote the farm within the course of — signing Raddysh would verify off all these bins.
And even when the Bruins’ high brass have been nonetheless on the prowl for a hockey commerce or have been prepared to surrender picks or prospects for the correct deal, they may flip those self same belongings for assist up entrance, quite than allocate them for a top-four defenseman.
The Bruins might not have the abdomen/outright belongings to accumulate BOTH a top-six ahead and top-four blueliner by way of commerce this summer time.
However, they might verify off each bins by signing one in free company and pooling these commerce chips towards one other top-flight goal.
The decision?
At preliminary look, Raddysh seems like a powerful match for a Bruins group that each must improve its D corps, but in addition has a number of different urgent must account for over the subsequent few months.
The one situation? A participant like Raddysh goes to be coveted by a number of different groups this offseason, which might trigger a considerable bidding warfare — particularly with one other top-free-agent goal in Andersson having a shaky postseason with Vegas.
Boston may like Raddysh, however committing $9 million or extra for a participant who does have some boom-or-bust qualities to his sport is a hefty danger for a Bruins group that’s already beginning to really feel the squeeze from some ill-advised contracts like Lindholm.
If Boston can find a way to clear a few contracts off their books, taking a swing on a participant who could possibly be a late bloomer (and a big improve) in Raddysh is perhaps an interesting choice.
However, as at the moment constituted, Boston doesn’t have the identical leeway as different groups to only hand Raddysh $8-10 million per season.
For now, anticipate them to kick the tires on stated participant. However, a commerce is perhaps a extra real looking choice for a Bruins group that needs to be daring this offseason.
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