Maple Leafs reportedly eyeing top free agent from divisional rival

Nick Kypreos dropped a bomb in the Toronto Star that has the insiders buzzing. The target is Darren Raddysh, the Tampa Bay Lightning's breakout star who is playing for his next contract.

This isn't just a rumor; it's a statement of intent. The Leafs have been searching for a right-shot defenseman who can actually score for a decade. Raddysh is that guy.

He is having a monster season. We aren't talking about a 'steady veteran' here. Raddysh has exploded for 17 goals and 35 assists in just 49 games.

That is elite production.

He stepped up when Victor Hedman went down and proved he can run a top power play. Now he is set to cash in on a massive raise from his $975,000 bargain deal.

Tampa is in cap hell. They likely can't afford the $7 million-plus ticket Raddysh will command on July 1.

But the Leafs can afford him. If they make room.

This is where it gets ugly for a franchise icon. You can't sign a big ticket like Raddysh without moving money out.

If Morgan Rielly isn't traded by the deadline, the focus shifts to a June trade or buyout.

It sounds crazy to buy out your longest-serving player. But the Leafs need a philosophical pivot. They need to move away from Rielly's style and find a right-handed shot who commands the offensive zone differently.

Management is looking at the big picture. They want a blue line that is younger and more dangerous.

Raddysh fits that mold perfectly. He is a bomb from the point and a play-driver.

So don't expect a quiet summer. If Rielly stays past the deadline, the clock starts ticking on his tenure in Toronto.

The Leafs are ready to win a bidding war in July.

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