The Toronto Maple Leafs are acquiring defenseman Darren Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning in a sign-and-trade deal, according to ESPN.
The move takes Raddysh, described as one of the top offensive defensemen available, off the upcoming NHL free agent market before he could reach it. The deal was confirmed by a source cited by ESPN.
Raddysh had been with Tampa Bay and was set to become a free agent. The Leafs moved to secure him through the sign-and-trade mechanism, which allows teams to negotiate terms with a pending free agent before the open market begins.
No additional terms of the deal were immediately available.
