The Toronto Maple Leafs have reconnected with a familiar face, acquiring Ilya Lyubushkin via trade. He was first acquired by Toronto during the 2021-22 midseason, this time from the Arizona Coyotes. This time, he was with the struggling Anaheim Ducks before being traded to the Big Smoke.
The Anaheim Ducks trade defenceman Ilya Lyubushkin.
The specifics of the Ilya Lyubushkin transaction are a little convoluted. The Carolina Hurricanes are also included in the trade. Lyubushkin, who is slated to become a UFA in the winter, presently earns $2.75 million. Anaheim will pay 50%, with Carolina taking on 25%. Furthermore, the Ducks received a 2025 third-round pick as part of the trade. The Canes also acquired a sixth-round draft pick in 2024. And that’s not all; Toronto was able to add prospect Kirill Slepets from Carolina. Slepets, a winger now playing overseas, has 19 points in 53 games.
A Look at Lyubushkin’s Statistics
Lyubushkin’s poor performance in 2023-24 could be attributed to playing for a weak club, although he is having a bad statistical season. So far, he has four assists in 55 games. He also has a Point Share of 0.4, which indicates that he is not carrying the needed burden in the lineup. Hopefully, Lyubushkin will be able to restore his form from his greatest season, 2021-22. He had 15 points that year and was playing approximately 17 and a half minutes every night. His career ice time is under 16 minutes. Perhaps returning to Toronto, where he had six points in 31 games, including seven playoff games, would help him get back on track.
What Does This Mean For Toronto?
This is a crucial deal for the Maple Leafs. They didn’t have a regular right-handed defenseman other than Timothy Liljegren, so Lyubushkin will assist balance their lineup. In addition, Liljregren and Mark Giordano have lately lost time, thus their short-term availability is unknown. That’s why, if nothing else, the deal adds depth, and General Manager Brad Treliving did it on a tight budget.
