Lightning Defender Should Build on Breakout Year

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh was a feel-good story for the club last season. After several seasons in the AHL, the 28-year-old earned a permanent spot on the Lightning's defense and broke out in a big way.

Raddysh showed that he can produce well from the point at the NHL level, recording six goals and 33 points in 82 games. Overall, the 6-foot-1 defenseman displayed that he can not only handle the NHL level but also be an offensive threat. Because of this, he played notable minutes for the NHL club.

After his breakout season, Raddysh should only continue to improve as he adjusts to the NHL. When looking at the Lightning's current defense, there's a real chance that he will once again spend time on the top pairing with Victor Hedman. In addition, given his offensive production, he should get plenty of reps on their second power-play unit in 2024-25.

Ultimately, it is hard not to feel optimism regarding Raddysh. He has emerged as one of the Lightning's top right-shot defensemen, and it will be quite interesting to see how he performs for the Bolts next season. The possibility of him hitting the 40-point mark if he stays healthy is there.

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