Toronto Maple Leafs Acquire Ilya Lyubushkin

The NHL Trade Deadline is now eight days away, and we have now our second trade in as many days. After the Calgary Flames traded defenseman Chris Tanev to the Dallas Stars, the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin from the Anaheim Geese.

As with the Tanev deal, the Maple Leafs needed a 3rd team to be involved. The Maple Leafs were right up against the salary cap. Enter the Carolina Hurricanes.

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The Geese, who will retain 50 percent of Lyubushkin’s salary, received a 2025 third-round pick from the Maple Leafs. Carolina received a 2024 Sixth-round pick from Toronto for retaining 25 percent of Lyubushkin’s salary. As well as, the Leafs get the rights to Kirill Slepets.

Trade Review:#LeafsForever
Get:
Lyubushkin @ $687.5K
Slepets
Give:
’24 Sixth
’25 third#FlyTogether
Get:
’25 third
Give:
Lyubushkin & retain $1.375M#CauseChaos
Get:
’24 Sixth
Give:
Slepets
Retain $687.5K Cap Hit https://t.co/Kr0UC35o7L

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) March 1, 2024

Things were heading on this direction once it was known Ilya Lyubushkin was pulled from the Geese lineup before their game against the San Jose Sharks. The Anaheim Geese confirmed this, citing ongoing trade discussions.

Ilya Lyubushkin pulled from Geese lineup tonight as Anaheim involved in trade talks. Hearing the Maple Leafs one in every of teams in those talks with Geese.

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 1, 2024

As NHLRumors.com has reported, the Maple Leafs had been targeting Lyubushkin. General manager Brad Treliving didn’t want to present up a first-round pick for Chris Tanev of the Calgary Flames before he was traded to Dallas.

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So, Treliving was going to look elsewhere for a less expensive option. Lyubushkin’s name circled Toronto. He played with the Maple Leafs to shut out the 2021-22 season. Nonetheless, the Maple Leafs were going to need assistance to amass him.

The pending unrestricted free agent is within the second season of a two-year, $5.5 million take care of an AAV of $2.75 million. Anaheim acquired Lyubushkin from the Buffalo Sabres for a 2025 fourth-round draft pick within the offseason.

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With Carolina and Anaheim retaining Lyubushkin’s salary, the Maple Leafs can get the player at $687,500, which is $87,500 lower than the league minimum salary.

Lyubushkin makes $2.75M against the cap. With double retention, his cap hit could be lower than a league minimum salary and provides the Leafs more flexibility to proceed so as to add by the deadline. https://t.co/6RqWRU29pK

— James Mirtle (@mirtle) March 1, 2024

This enables the Maple Leafs so as to add one other player on the deadline to fill a position of need or add depth.

At 75 percent retained, Lyubushkin’s cap hit to Toronto could be $687,500, which is $87,500 lower than the NHL minimum salary.

— David Alter (@dalter) March 1, 2024

While Ilya Lyubushkin’s numbers aren’t the best, he was playing in Anaheim. Nonetheless, he was solid in his first stint in Toronto. Toronto is adding a physical, depth defenseman as Mark Giordano will probably be sidelined with a head injury for some time.

Ilya Lyubushkin, acquired by TOR, is a physical depth defenceman. Has put up good D results earlier in his profession and is definitely not a foul puck mover, but one of the vital victimized blueliners off the push prior to now three seasons and takes too many penalties. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/JMRrT4MdOf

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) March 1, 2024

The Arizona Coyotes originally signed Lyubushkin as an undrafted free agent. In 334 games within the NHL with the Coyotes, Maple Leafs, Sabres, and Geese, he has 43 points (five goals and 38 assists).