The Tampa Bay Lightning sent nine members to Milano Cortina for the 2026 Winter Olympics, where they chased hardware on the international stage. Stars like Victor Hedman rack up assists for Sweden, Jake Guentzel grabs gold with a gritty Team USA squad that stunned Canada in overtime, and Darren Raddysh pays up on a bold bet by donning a USA jersey at practice.

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh, straight out of Toronto, struts into practice donning a Team USA jersey after losing a bold bet on the Olympic gold medal game. The proud Canadian picked his homeland to top the Americans, but Jack Hughes' overtime dagger and Connor Hellebuyck's wall of 41 saves flipped the script in one of the greatest Olympic thrillers ever.

Tampa Bay sits tied atop the East with Carolina, having dropped just one regulation game since January, and GM Julien BriseBois smells blood in the water for another Cup run. Insiders whisper he's zeroing in on the right side of the blue line, where Erik Cernak stands alone as a long-term lock amid Darren Raddysh's UFA status and Maxwell Crozier's playoff absence. Names like Braden Schneider float in hushed front-office calls, but BriseBois plays it close to the vest as the roster freeze lifts.

Chicago's official outlet unleashes a fire sale on jerseys featuring Connor Bedard at No. 98 alongside vets like Taylor Hall, Jonathan Toews, Seth Jones, and Nick Foligno. Fans who know the Hawks' roster churn recognize this as a signal that the front office clears inventory fast when rebuilds shift gears. With the team's centennial year underway, these deals hint at fresh looks on the horizon that could redefine the franchise's identity.

The Maple Leafs eye Tampa Bay's Darren Raddysh as the perfect right-shot defenseman to inject edge into their blue line during this so-called "Villain Era." Sources whisper that his booming point shots, physical hits, and blocks make him a dream fit, especially with Toronto scrambling for playoff positioning. Tampa sits atop the Atlantic, so a deadline deal seems unlikely, but his UFA status this summer has front offices buzzing about a potential bidding war.

Toronto whispers about pursuing Darren Raddysh as a UFA target have front offices smirking, wondering if this mirrors the ghosts of past signings that blew up in the Leafs' cap-strapped face. GM Brad Treliving knows the drill - cheap depth turns pricey fast when injuries hit and production dips. With the deadline looming, any move here carries the weight of playoff hopes or another summer of regret.