Darren Raddysh's snub is more revealing than it looks for the Leafs

Darren Raddysh finished seventh among NHL defensemen in scoring last season and did not crack NHL Network's top 20 list.

The Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman posted 70 points in 73 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Nobody ranked ahead of him needed anywhere near that production to get there.

Devon Toews opened the countdown at No. 20 with 24 points in 68 games. Jaccob Slavin landed 12th with eight points in 39 games.

Victor Hedman played a career-low 33 games and produced 17 points. He was ranked 18th anyway, four spots inside a group Raddysh missed entirely.

That absence is the same one that built Raddysh's season. Injuries across the Tampa Bay blue line, Hedman's among them, pushed Raddysh to 22:42 a night and handed him the power play.

He led all NHL defensemen with 10 power-play goals and tied for sixth with 26 power-play points. The panel effectively ranked the vacancy ahead of the player who filled it.

General manager John Chayka signed Raddysh to an eight-year contract worth $68 million, then said the point total was not what he valued most. He pointed to breaking out pucks, joining the rush and defending top opponents.

That is the currency this list actually trades in. Slavin ranked 12th on eight points because the Carolina Hurricanes allowed 2.79 goals per game with him dressed and 2.95 without him.

Toronto allowed 3.60 goals per game last season, 31st in the NHL. Raddysh was acquired to move that number, not to repeat 70 points.

Under new head coach Jim Hiller, the fastest route onto next season's list runs through Toronto's goals-against column. Points got Raddysh paid, and they did not get him ranked.

That distinction is now the whole assignment, and it is the only one that will change his ranking.

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