Darren Raddysh (born February 28, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Darren Raddysh
Raddysh with the Syracuse Crunch in 2023
Born (1996-02-28) February 28, 1996 (age 28)
Caledon, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Right
NHL team Tampa Bay Lightning
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2017–present

Early life

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Raddysh was born on February 28, 1996, in Caledon, Ontario to warehouse manager Dwayne and accountant Gwen Raddysh.[1] Growing up in Toronto with his brother Taylor, their father bought them rollerblades to practice shooting and skating at home.[2] As the two were a few years apart, they played competitive lacrosse on the same teams and golfed together at the Caledon Country Club.[3]

Playing career

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Youth

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Raddysh began his minor hockey career with the Toronto Marlboros Minor Midget AAA team, with whom he won the 2009 Silver Stick tournament in Michigan.[4] During his tenure with the team, Raddysh was drafted in the fifth round, 84th overall, by the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).[5] At the time of his selection, he stood at 5-foot-11 and weighed 165 pounds.[6] He remained with the Marlboros for the 2012–13 season, during which he earned a call up to the Georgetown Raiders of the Ontario Junior Hockey League for seven games.[7] Raddysh made his OHL debut with the Otters to complete their 2012-13 season, playing in 24 games and recording two assists.[8]

Once Taylor was drafted by the Otters, Raddysh requested that his brother lives with him since he had already completed high school. However, the team refused for they wished for Taylor to "not rely solely on his brother for direction."[3] Raddysh remained undrafted during his tenure with the Otters but received invitations to training camps from the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks.[9]

Raddysh re-joined the Otters for his fifth and final year in major juniors and recorded a comeback season, gaining attention from various NHL teams.[6] Following a game against the Kitchener Rangers in January, Raddysh became the new franchise leader for points by a defenceman with 151.[10] The following month, he set a new franchise single-season record for points by a defenceman with his 68th of the season.[11] With his assistance, the Otters won the J. Ross Robertson Cup as the playoff champion of the Ontario Hockey League and qualified for the 2017 Memorial Cup. Alongside his brother Taylor, they became the first pair of brothers to compete against another pair of brothers (the McLeod's) in an OHL Final since 2012.[12] As a result of his play, Raddysh became the first player in OHL history to simultaneously win the Max Kaminsky Trophy as OHL Defenceman of the Year and the Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy as Overage Player of the Year.[13] The Otters competed against the Windsor Spitfires in the Memorial Cup, losing in seven games. At the end of the tournament, Raddysh was named to the 2017 Mastercard Memorial Cup All-Star Team alongside his brother.[14]

Raddysh concluded his major junior career on June 20, 2017, by signing a one-year American Hockey League (AHL) contract with the Rockford IceHogs.[15]

Professional

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Raddysh began his professional career with the IceHogs after making their opening night roster prior to the 2017–18 season.[16] He recorded his first professional goal on October 15, during a 5–3 loss to the Milwaukee Admirals.[17] On May 21, 2018, Raddysh signed a two-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks that ran through the 2019–20 season.[18] On February 18, 2019, Raddysh was traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for Peter Holland.[19] After the trade he was sent to the Rangers' AHL affiliate, The Hartford Wolf Pack where after 22 games he recorded his first goal in their final regular season game against the Hershey Bears.[20]

He attended the Rangers' training camp prior to the 2019–20 season but was reassigned to their AHL affiliate.[21] Once the NHL began their Return to Play initiative, Raddysh was named to the Rangers' Phase 3 training camp roster.[22]

On July 28, 2021, Raddysh signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.[23]

Raddysh made his NHL debut on December 30, 2021 against the Florida Panthers, filling one of the numerous Covid-related vacancies on the Lightning roster.[24] In a 9–3 loss, Raddysh was on the ice for 14 minutes and 57 seconds and recorded his first NHL hit.[25]

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2012–13 Toronto Marlboros GTHL 19 2 1 3 16
2012–13 Georgetown Raiders OJHL 7 0 2 2 0
2012–13 Erie Otters OHL 24 0 2 2 2
2013–14 Erie Otters OHL 60 3 10 13 27 2 0 0 0 2
2014–15 Erie Otters OHL 60 14 34 48 38 20 2 7 9 18
2015–16 Erie Otters OHL 66 8 32 40 80 13 4 5 9 8
2016–17 Erie Otters OHL 62 16 65 81 63 22 8 14 22 14
2017–18 Rockford IceHogs AHL 66 5 17 22 26 9 0 2 2 4
2018–19 Rockford IceHogs AHL 54 8 18 26 20
2018–19 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 22 1 3 4 16
2019–20 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 62 6 22 28 33
2020–21 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 24 2 13 15 12
2021–22 Syracuse Crunch AHL 61 7 18 25 40 5 0 2 2 2
2021–22 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 4 0 0 0 0
2022–23 Syracuse Crunch AHL 50 13 38 51 40
2022–23 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 17 1 2 3 4 6 1 1 2 2
2023–24 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 82 6 27 33 21 3 0 0 0 0
NHL totals 103 7 29 36 25 9 1 1 2 2

References

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  1. ^ "Darren Raddysh" (PDF). nhl.bamcontent.com. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  2. ^ Voogel, Steven (July 16, 2020). "Exclusive interview with Darren Raddysh, from undrafted defenseman to the Rangers post-season roster". foreverblueshirts.com. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Kloke, Joshua (April 16, 2017). "Erie Otters' Raddysh Brothers Embracing Final OHL Playoff Run Together". vice.com. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  4. ^ "Malboros take top spot at Silver Stick tournament". toronto.com. February 3, 2009. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  5. ^ "Follow the 2012 OHL Priority Selection here!". ottershockey.com. April 7, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Kennedy, Ryan (June 1, 2017). "Teams lining up to sign Erie defenseman Darren Raddysh". si.com. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  7. ^ "Georgetown Raiders". pointstreak.com. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  8. ^ "Darren Raddysh". eliteprospects.com. Elite Prospects. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  9. ^ Cicerella, Kyle (May 21, 2017). "Otters' Darren Raddysh still hopeful for NHL career despite going undrafted". The Chronicle Journal. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  10. ^ "Otters' Raddysh becomes new franchise leader in points by defencemen". ontariohockeyleague.com. Ontario Hockey League. January 25, 2017. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  11. ^ "Otters' Raddysh sets franchise single-season mark for points by a defenceman". ontariohockeyleague.com. Ontario Hockey League. February 27, 2017. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  12. ^ "Brothers give it all they've got in Rogers OHL Championship Series". ontariohockeyleague.com. Ontario Hockey League. May 11, 2017. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  13. ^ "Darren Raddysh Named OHL Defenceman of the Year". ontariohockeyleague.com. Ontario Hockey League. May 2, 2017. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  14. ^ "2017 Mastercard Memorial Cup Awards & All-Stars". ontariohockeyleague.com. Ontario Hockey League. May 28, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  15. ^ "DARREN RADDYSH SIGNS WITH ROCKFORD". icehogs.com. Rockford Ice Hogs. June 20, 2017. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  16. ^ "ROCKFORD ICEHOGS ANNOUNCE SEASON-OPENING ROSTER". icehogs.com. Rockford Ice Hogs. October 5, 2017. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  17. ^ "LATE RALLY FALLS SHORT AS ADS OUST HOGS, 5-3". icehogs.com. Rockford Ice Hogs. October 15, 2017. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  18. ^ "Blackhawks agree to terms with four players". nhl.com. National Hockey League. May 21, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  19. ^ "Rangers Acquire Defenseman Darren Raddysh". nhl.com. National Hockey League. February 18, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  20. ^ "WOLF PACK SEASON ENDS WITH LOSS IN HERSHEY". hartfordwolfpack.com. Hartford Wolf Pack. April 14, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  21. ^ "FOUR MORE PLAYERS ASSIGNED FROM RANGER CAMP". hartfordwolfpack.com. Hartford Wolf Pack. September 20, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  22. ^ "New York Rangers 2020 Phase 3 training camp roster". hartfordwolfpack.com. Hartford Wolf Pack. July 13, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  23. ^ "Lightning sign five players to one-year, two-way contracts". NHL.com. July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  24. ^ Burns, Bryan (December 30, 2021). "Lightning's Darren Raddysh: Set for NHL Debut". Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  25. ^ "TB at FLA Box Score". December 30, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
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