The Toronto Maple Leafs have already started reshaping the organization after firing head coach Craig Berube under the new leadership group led by John Chayka and franchise icon Mats Sundin.
Now, with attention shifting toward roster upgrades, one NHL insider is already pouring cold water on the Leafs’ chances of landing one of the biggest names in the 2026 free-agent class.
Toronto Maple Leafs Unlikely to Land Top 2026 Free Agent
The Tampa Bay Lightning’s breakout star, Darren Raddysh, is expected to be a sought-after man in 2026 free agency. The right-shot defenseman just wrapped up a two-year, $1.95 million contract after putting together a remarkable season.
Raddysh exploded offensively with 70 points in 73 games, taking on a massive role while Victor Hedman battled injuries. He quarterbacked Tampa Bay’s top power-play unit and quickly turned himself into one of the league’s most valuable blue-liners.
Despite Raddysh being a Toronto native, there is little belief around the league that Tampa Bay will actually let him walk. NHL insider Darren Dreger summed it up simply: “Do we think that Darren Raddysh is leaving Tampa Bay? I don’t.”
Lightning GM Julien BriseBois is expected to do everything possible to get Raddysh signed to a long-term extension before he ever reaches free agency.
Part of the reason is the weak 2026 free-agent market for elite defensemen. Outside of Raddysh, the best puck-moving options could be aging veterans like John Carlson or someone like Rasmus Andersson, a turn of events that has only driven Raddysh’s value even higher.
If he somehow reaches the open market, teams would likely enter a massive bidding war. Even though Toronto is projected to have roughly $22 million in cap space, a numbers-driven executive like Chayka may hesitate to hand out a huge contract based on one breakout season.
With Raddysh likely staying in Tampa Bay, the Leafs could shift their focus toward the trade market instead of relying on free agency to fix the blue line.
“The way the team breaks the puck out, the way they defend, the way they move through the neutral zone, I think there needs to be a change of the mix. Or change the strategy,” Chayka said. “Adding to the defence corps is a priority. I don’t have a crystal ball. We’ll see what the options are as they become available. But we intend on being aggressive there.”
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One of the biggest rumors surrounding Toronto involves potentially moving Morgan Rielly to the San Jose Sharks in order to clear cap space for a blockbuster pursuit of Dougie Hamilton from the New Jersey Devils, who has been linked to the Leafs for much of the season.
For now, though, it appears the dream of bringing Raddysh home to Toronto may not last much longer.
