The Toronto Maple Leafs made a significant move on Thursday night by acquiring defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin from the Anaheim Ducks in a complex three-way trade involving the Carolina Hurricanes.
In this deal, Anaheim received Toronto’s third-round pick in the 2025 draft and agreed to retain 50% of Lyubushkin’s salary. Meanwhile, Carolina obtained a 2024 sixth-round pick from Toronto in exchange for also retaining half of Lyubushkin’s remaining salary. As a result, the Maple Leafs will only have a cap hit of $687,500 for the seasoned defenseman, providing them with financial flexibility leading up to the NHL trade deadline on March 8.
To facilitate this multi-team transaction, the Hurricanes included unsigned KHL forward Kirill Slepets in the trade package sent to Toronto. Slepets, selected by Carolina in the fifth round of the 2019 NHL draft, adds a prospect element to the Maple Leafs’ acquisition.
Before the trade was finalized, Lyubushkin, known for his defensive prowess and physical play, was withheld from the Ducks’ recent game against the San Jose Sharks in anticipation of the move. This season, he has amassed four points in 55 games while averaging 17:09 of ice time per game.
Lyubushkin previously suited up for the Maple Leafs during the 2021-22 season, following his acquisition by former general manager Kyle Dubas from the Arizona Coyotes. During his stint with Toronto, he appeared in 31 regular-season games and contributed in seven playoff games.
Throughout his NHL career spanning 334 games, Lyubushkin has accumulated 43 points. As a right-side defenseman, he is noted for his physical presence and penalty-killing abilities, making him a valuable asset in defensive situations.
ESPN’s trade deadline board positioned Lyubushkin as one of the top available defensive defensemen, highlighting his appeal in the market. The Leafs had also shown interest in Calgary Flames defenseman Chris Tanev, who was ultimately traded to the Dallas Stars the day before in another notable transaction.
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