Rangers Agree to Terms with Gabriel Fontaine and Darren Raddysh
NEW YORK, October 16, 2020 – The New York Rangers announced today that the team has agreed to terms with restricted free agents Gabriel Fontaine and Darren Raddysh.
Fontaine, 23, has skated in 153 career American Hockey League (AHL) games over three seasons (2017-18 – 2019-20), all with the Hartford Wolf Pack, registering 21 goals and 26 assists for 47 points, along with 24 penalty minutes. He established AHL career-highs in games played (72), goals (11), assists (15), and points (26) in 2018-19.
The 6-1, 203-pounder received the Wolf Pack’s Unsung Hero Award in 2017-18. Fontaine registered 18 points (nine goals, nine assists) and two penalty minutes in 68 games as a rookie in 2017-18, and he was the only AHL player who skated in at least 60 games and was assessed two or fewer penalty minutes during the season. Prior to beginning his professional career, he played parts of four seasons (2013-14 – 2016-17) in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), and he helped the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies win the QMJHL Championship in 2015-16.
The Sherbrooke, Quebec native was selected by the Rangers in the sixth round, 171st overall, of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
Raddysh, 24, skated in 62 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) this past season, registering six goals and 22 assists for 28 points, along with a plus-12 rating and 33 penalty minutes. He established AHL career-highs in assists and plus/minus rating in 2019-20. Raddysh ranked second on the Wolf Pack in plus/minus rating, tied for third in assists, and ranked fifth in points this past season. In addition, he tied for first among Hartford defensemen in assists, and ranked second among Hartford defensemen in goals and points in 2019-20.
The 6-1, 200-pounder has skated in 204 career AHL games over three seasons (2017-18 – 2019-20) with Rockford and Hartford, registering 20 goals and 60 assists for 80 points, along with a plus-18 rating and 95 penalty minutes. Prior to beginning his professional career, Raddysh played parts of five seasons (2012-13 – 2016-17) with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). In his final season with Erie in 2016-17, Raddysh helped Erie win the OHL Championship, and he received the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the OHL’s Most Outstanding Defenseman.
The Toronto, Ontario native was acquired by the Rangers from Chicago on February 18, 2019.