The Toronto Maple Leafs made Darren Raddysh one of their biggest NHL offseason investments. Now, expectations are rising before he has played a regular-season game for his hometown team.Toronto acquired Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning in a sign-and-trade on June 19. The Maple Leafs surrendered only a 2026 fifth-round pick before signing the defenseman to an eight-year, $68 million contract carrying an $8.5 million annual cap hit.MORE: Morgan Riellys Maple Leafs exit looms ahead of 2026-27 NHL seasonSpeaking on Leafs Morning Take, host Nick Alberga questioned how quickly Toronto fans would judge the 28-year-old.I think Darren Raddysh has the most pressure, Alberga said. Toronto native, people are going to wonder, was last year a fluke?Alberga added, What happens if Darren Raddysh starts the year and he has two points in the first 10, 15 games?Those concerns stem from Raddyshs breakout 2025-26 campaign. He recorded 22 goals and 70 points in 73 games, setting a Lightning franchise record for goals by a defenseman. He also led NHL blueliners with 10 power-play goals while averaging 22:42 of ice time and finishing plus-21.Darren Raddysh has already overcome bigger obstaclesRaleigh, North Carolina, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh (43) takes a shot at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn ImagesFormer Maple Leafs forward Jay Rosehill believes Raddyshs career path suggests he can handle the pressure.The thing with Raddysh is he has constantly made steps, getting better, getting better, Rosehill said. He was given nothing. He wasnt drafted with a silver spoon in his mouth, undrafted, had to work, had to work up from the minor leagues, had to work up the depth charts, had to work up to the point where he got to where he got last year.[He] got rewarded for it, rightfully so, and now hopefully he can just continue on that journey of taking steps, proving people wrong.Rosehill added that Raddysh has consistently proved doubters wrong throughout his career.I feel like he could have the mentality to do it, Rosehill said. Theres going to be chatter all over the place, and maybe he can, not hide, but maybe that pressure spreads out a little bit amongst the team, and he can maybe find his form without being the one guy everyones staring at from the drop of the puck.The pressure is understandable. Toronto finished 32-36-14 last season, missed the playoffs, and responded with a major roster overhaul under general manager John Chayka and head coach Jim Hiller. Sergei Bobrovsky, Gavin McKenna, Emil Andrae, Nick Paul, Jack Roslovic, and Colton Sissons also joined the team.MORE: Toronto columnist says Mitch Marner was spoiled & blasts agent for spewing drivelStill, Raddysh remains the centerpiece of Torontos transformation. His $68 million contract was awarded because management believes last season was the beginning, not the peak. The opening weeks of the season will determine whether that belief immediately pays off.