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Toronto Maple Leafs: Former Defenseman Traded from Divisional Rival

By David Corcoran

TORONTO, ON - MAY 4: Ilya Lyubushkin #46 of the Toronto Maple Leafs warms up prior to playing against the Tampa Bay Lightning during Game Two of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 4, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MAY 4: Ilya Lyubushkin #46 of the Toronto Maple Leafs warms up prior to playing against the Tampa Bay Lightning during Game Two of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 4, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Friday afternoon former Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin was traded from the Buffalo Sabres to the Anaheim Ducks.

The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Lyubushkin in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes during the 2021-22 season.

The trade was more of a salary cap dump after former GM Kyle Dubas had signed forward Nick Ritchie to a two-year $5 Million deal it was evident after a dozen games he wasn’t fitting in.

Dubas was able to unload Ritchie and his two goals in 33 games to the Coyotes, which cost the Maple Leafs a conditional pick (2025 second round pick) for Lyubushkin.

Ilya Lyubushkin Was a Good Fit With the Toronto Maple Leafs

Lyubushkin fit in nicely on the Toronto Maple Leafs and played quite well as a depth defenseman averaging 16:28 of ice-time a game and had nearly 100 hits in his 31 games during the regular season as he added a much needed physical prescience to the back end.

He was inexplicably used near the top of the lineup at times, and was incredibly overrated by some fans, but he was OK for what he was and did the best he possibly could have.

The Russian defenseman earned himself a multi-year deal from the Buffalo Sabres worth $5.5 Million a season. This was a massive overpay, since Lyubushkin is, at best, a replacement player who should likely never be paid above the league minimum.

In his first season of the two-year contract in Buffalo, Lyubushkin averaged 15:01 a game (credit: hockey-reference.com) and despite missing 12 games still finished second on the team in blocked shot (104) and third in hits (99).

He posted a 42% xGoals rating, and his team was beaten soundly whenever he was on the ice. You can see why the Sabres traded him.

In the trade, the Buffalo Sabres send Lyubushkin to the Ducks and in return they will acquire Minnesota’s fourth round pick in the 2025 draft.

The pick was previously acquired by Anaheim from the Wild in the John Klingberg trade last season.

Prior to the trade, Buffalo had eight defenseman on their roster making at least $1.35 Million per season with six of them making over $2 Million.

Lyubushkin will now get a chance to play some tough minutes on a rebuilding team in Anaheim which can allow him to showcase his skills going into another free agency.  The Ducks will likely be able to recoup a higher draft pick at the trade deadline.

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Could Lyubushkin find himself back in Toronto by year end?

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