Editor In Leaf
Fansided

Top 3 Defensemen the Toronto Maple Leafs Should Trade For

By Mike Jack

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 7: Corey Perry #94 of the Montreal Canadiens watches an incoming shot against Jake Muzzin #8 and Jack Campbell #36 of the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on April 7, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 7: Corey Perry #94 of the Montreal Canadiens watches an incoming shot against Jake Muzzin #8 and Jack Campbell #36 of the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on April 7, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
Jan 14, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Arizona Coyotes defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin (46) attempts to block the shot of Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri (91) ahead of goaltender Ivan Prosvetov (50) in the third period at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Arizona Coyotes defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin (46) attempts to block the shot of Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri (91) ahead of goaltender Ivan Prosvetov (50) in the third period at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Ilya Lyubushkin – Arizona Coyotes

Height: 6’2
Weight: 201 lbs
Shoots: Right
Age: 27
Blocked Shots: 51
Hits: 80
Giveaways: 12
Average Ice-Time: 17:57
Games Played: 39
Contract: $1.35 Million (UFA next season)

Ilya Lyubushkin is a very underrated defenseman hidden away on one of the NHL’s worst teams.  He’s currently playing in his fourth NHL season all with the Coyotes.  He’s not the kind of player that’s going to create a lot of offense.  He only has one goal and 15 assists in 173 career NHL games.

Lyubushkin is not huge, but he’s a bigger than average player at 6’2.  Only two of the Leafs regular defensemen are taller: Jake Muzzin (6’3) and Justin Holl (6’4).  He’s a right-handed shot which the Leafs need and his $1.35 million salary is very affordable and the Toronto Maple Leafs should be able to offer him an extension if they desire.

To put some of his numbers into perspective, Lyubushkin’s 51 blocked shots are tied with T.J. Brodie and Justin Holl who lead the Toronto Maple Leafs in blocked shots.  His 80 hits would lead the Leafs as Nick Ritchie has the current lead with 79 and Jake Muzzin is second with 74.

Lyubushkin’s 12 giveaways this season are less than any regular defenseman on the Toronto Maple Leafs.  Morgan Rielly has 40, Jake Muzzin has 39, T.J. Brodie has 27, Justin Holl has 25, Rasmus Sandin has 17, Travis Dermott has 16 and Timothy Liljegren has 15.

I may have had Ilya Lyubushkin a little higher in this list if it weren’t for his 17:57 minutes of average ice-time which is significantly less than anyone in the Toronto Maple Leafs top four, but playing less time makes his totals for hits and blocked shots even more impressive.

His giveaways per 60 minutes are nearly twice as good as any defenseman on the Leafs.  Jake Muzzin is actually the worst on the Leafs defense with 3.13 giveaways per 60, Rasmus Sandin is the best with 1.95 giveaways per 60 while Ilya Lyubushkin has only 1.03 giveaways per 60.

Ilya Lyubushkin is deserving of more ice-time and would be a great fit beside Jake Muzzin on the Toronto Maple Leafs shut down pair.  He’s also on the top penalty-killing unit in Arizona and would likely also be in Toronto.

The Arizona Coyotes are currently sitting last in the West and second last in the entire NHL.  They’re certainly going to be deadline sellers and with many teams going for higher profile players, Ilya Lyubushkin may be a player that could be acquire relatively cheap.

Home/Analysis