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Leafs acquire Darren Raddysh from Lightning and sign him to an 8-year contract
By STEPHEN WHYNO, Associated Press at ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports
· June 19, 2026
· 1 min read
The Toronto Maple Leafs took a big swing at improving their blue line before the start of free agency, acquiring Darren Raddysh's rights from the Tampa Bay Lightning and signing the defenseman to an eight-year contract. The contract is worth $68 million, according to a person familiar with the de...
Key takeaway The contract is worth $68 million, according to a person familiar with the deal.
Why this matters in The McAllen
While the acquisition of Darren Raddysh by the Toronto Maple Leafs may seem like a distant development to McAllen residents, the move has implications for local hockey fans who follow the NHL. The Rio Grande Valley has a growing hockey community, with many residents keeping tabs on teams and players across the league. As the Maple Leafs look to bolster their defense with Raddysh's signing, Valley residents who follow the team will be watching closely to see how this investment pays off. The eight-year contract is a significant commitment, and fans will be eager to assess whether Raddysh can deliver on the promise of his $68 million deal. For McAllen hockey enthusiasts, this move may also spark discussions about the potential for similar investments in defensive talent by other teams, and how these roster changes could impact the league's balance of power.
About this story
Original reporting by ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports . The McAllen surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 19, 2026 ·
Source: ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? The Toronto Maple Leafs took a big swing at improving their blue line before the start of free agency, acquiring Darren Raddysh's rights from the Tampa Bay Lightning and signing the defenseman to an eight-year contract. The contract is worth $68 million, according to a person familiar with the de...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 19, 2026 by ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports and curated for The McAllen readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by STEPHEN WHYNO, Associated Press at ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports. To learn more about how The McAllen selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The McAllen, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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