We’re finally getting around to reviewing the 2022-23 season. Instead of assigning grades or any of that nonsense, we’ll start by looking at the player’s best goal from the season and go from there. For some it’ll be easy, others have way more to choose from.
Player:
Darren Raddysh
Stat Line:
17 games played, 1 goal, 2 assists, 4 PIMs, 25 shots on goal, 1.1 iXG (5v5), 25 hits
Playoffs: 6 games played, 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 PIM, 14 shots on goal, 0.45 iXG (5v5), 20 hits
Goal of the Year Video:
Goal of the year description:
While beating Igor Shesterkin for your first career NHL goal is a pretty cool thing to have on your resume, that goal was the result of some expert forechecking by his teammate’s and a lucky deflection off of a defender. His goal in the playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leafs was much more of an individual highlight.
Things were tied in the second period of a back-and-forth Game 3 when Steven Stamkos won an offensive zone face-off. Nikita Kucherov drew a player to him as he controlled the puck which opened up a lane along the boards for Raddysh to pinch in. A deft little backhand pass led Raddysh into the open space where he was able to squeeze by rookie Matthew Knies (to his credit the youngster had to fight through a little interference from Brayden Point).
Knies failed to separate the puck from Raddysh or even slow him down and the defenseman wheeled behind the net. Jake McCabe lined him up for a play-stopping hit, but Raddysh was able to avoid most of the collision. William Nylander is caught drifting back to prevent the pass back to Mikhail Sergachev at the point, which based on the way the Lightning like to play is the odds-on move to make. However with McCabe scrambling to regain his position it left a wide-open spot for Raddysh to wheel into the circle.
The Leafs did a pretty good job of eliminating options for Raddysh as Stamkos and Point are well tied up by defenders. McCabe was able to slide back in front of the net and he dropped down to a knee to try and block a shot. Raddysh hesitated for a second, allowing McCabe to clear in front of him, and then roofed a shot just under the bar and over Ilya Samsonov’s shoulder for the go ahead goal.
It was an excellent read and decision by Raddysh. His head was up the whole time following the hit from McCabe and he quickly realized his options were limited.
How did the 2022-23 season go for them?
Overall it was a tremendously successful year for Darren Raddysh. His first year in the organization (2021-22) was solid enough to earn a two-year, two-way extension prior to free agency in the summer. He also made a brief NHL debut as he played two games for the Bolts while the team was ravaged with COVID absences and then a couple at the end of the year as well.
Brought in to provide some veteran leadership for an overhauled Syracuse Crunch team, he led the way in 2022-23 by recording 13 goals and 38 assists (both career highs) in 50 games and being named to the AHL All-Star Game where he won the hardest shot competition with a 102 MPH shot.
Recalled after the NHL trade deadline to provide some depth at the blueline Raddysh ended up playing in 16 games down the stretch as injuries nicked up players on the right-side of the defense. In five of his eight final regular season games Raddysh logged more than 19 minutes of ice time.
The experience proved vital as he was relied upon heavily in the opening round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, especially once Erik Cernak was knocked out of the series. In those six games the 27-year-old averaged 25:13 of ice time, most of it with Mikhail Sergachev, the Lightning’s most-used pairing at 5v5. Drawing the heaviest competition, the pairing struggled to provide offense, with a 2.05 GF/60 and a 39.79% share in expected goals while they were on the ice.
Still, it was an impressive showing for the undrafted rookie who had logged 339 games in the AHL with Rockford, Hartford, and Syracuse. While 16 regular season games in the NHL isn’t enough to determine to declare that he’s a permanent fixture in the league, he did show positive signs during his time with the Bolts.
2023-24 Contract Status:
Signed. He will be in the second year of a two-year, two-way deal with a cap hit of $762,500. Following that season he will be an unrestricted free agent.
Do we expect them to score more or less next season:
This is a strong maybe. A lot will depend on the moves Julien BriseBois makes over the next two months. As of right now, Raddysh is likely penciled into the right side of the third pairing where he faces inhouse competition from Zach Bogosian and Philippe Myers. Should Mr. BriseBois find another right-shot defenseman via a trade or through the free agent market, Raddysh could end up in Syracuse leading that young defense.
The Lightning valued his play enough to not let him play any more after the loss to Toronto. The Crunch probably could have used him in their first round series against the Rochester Americans, but Mr. BriseBois thought there was a real chance a team would claim Raddysh if they tried to slip him through waivers.
His contact works in his favor as well. Of the potential 6th or 7th defensemen currently on the roster, his $762,500 cap hit is tied for the lowest with Haydn Fleury. Quite frankly, Raddysh brings more value to the table than Fleury. Raddysh has shown that he can shoulder big minutes and, in a pinch, run a power play unit.
If he makes the team on the third pairing, there is a really could chance that he could chip in four or five goals from the blue line.
