The Real Maple Leafs Comparison to Makar’s Record Deal Isn’t Who You Think – The Hockey Writers – Toronto Maple Leafs

If the money were equal, there’s no debate that Cale Makar is a far better bet than Darren Raddysh. Honestly, it’s a no-brainer. But this week, we learned the money isn’t equal. The Toronto Maple Leafs signed Raddysh, a pending UFA defenseman who was acquired in a sign-and-trade, to an eight-year deal at $8.5 million per season. The Colorado Avalanche just paid Makar $11.9 million per season, inking him to a similar eight-year extension that is worth $20.4 million per season.

It’s a big bet by both teams, and there’s a bit of a buzz on social media this weekend as fans (mostly of the Maple Leafs) try to push the narrative that they’d rather have Raddysh at $8.5 million than Makar at $20.4 million.

The “Would You Rather” Debate

Choosing Raddysh at $8.5 million over Makar at $20.4 million is certainly a take. Not everyone will be on board. But there’s a legitimate salary-cap argument that the Leafs can get better production for the same $20.4 million, just in a different way.

This isn’t about pretending Raddysh is Makar’s on-ice equal. He isn’t. Instead, it’s about roster construction. What Toronto gets for $8.5 million — Raddysh puts up tons of points, can run a power play, and isn’t terrible defensively — and what they can build around it, may end up mattering more than what one dominant player provides on his own.

Makar’s $20.4 million cap hit is more than double Raddysh’s, and that $11.9 million gap is a lot of money to spend elsewhere. When you think about what the Leafs can add to Raddysh’s potential offensive production, it’s a pretty decent haul.

They’d have enough money to add another top-six forward, shore up a shaky third pairing on the blue line, or spread across multiple depth signings that make a lineup deeper from top to bottom. This is two or three other players the Avalanche can’t add. In fact, Colorado may have to move someone or let another player walk to accommodate Makar’s record-breaking salary.

Cap flexibility wins championships as often as star power does, and Toronto’s front office is betting on the former. The question becomes, would you rather have a 70-point defenseman and two other pieces over Makar?

The Hurdles In Fairly Comparing These Two Contracts

A reminder: comparing Raddysh to Makar is not an apples-to-apples comparison. Both deals are long-term, eight-year commitments, which matters in respect to term, but the players aren’t the same.

Raddysh signed his eight-year, $68 million extension in June 2026, running through 2033-34. Makar’s deal, agreed to this week, is an eight-year, $163.2 million extension that doesn’t kick in until 2027-28 and runs through 2034-35 — a full year after the Raddysh signing. Yes, Makar’s cap hit is massive (the first player in NHL history to crack $20 million), but his actual cap impact doesn’t land for another season. Raddysh’s hit is immediate.

Pedigree, of course, isn’t close. Makar is a two-time Norris Trophy winner, a Calder Trophy winner, and a Conn Smythe winner from Colorado’s 2022 Stanley Cup run. He’s arguably the most dominant defenseman of his generation, with 507 points in 470 regular-season career games. Raddysh, by contrast, is coming off a genuine breakout: 70 points and 22 goals in 73 games this past season, after totaling 143 points across his first 249 NHL games combined. That’s one big year and average production outside of it.

If Raddysh goes back to being a 35-point defenseman, this debate changes dramatically.

Raddysh has emerged as a power-play weapon, but that makes him more a complementary piece than a true No. 1 defenseman. He won’t touch Makar’s five-on-five dominance or his ability to single-handedly drive transition offense.

The question is, what is the $11.9 million gap worth? The answer depends on what the Maple Leafs do with the money and what Raddysh offers this coming season. We know what Makar is. It’s hard to say the same about Raddysh.

There is no doubt the Raddysh deal looks better today than it did a few days ago. Is it fair to compare his contract to Makar’s?