The NHL Commerce Deadline is now eight days away, and now we have our second commerce 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 wanted a 3rd workforce to be concerned. The Maple Leafs had been proper up towards the wage cap. Enter the Carolina Hurricanes.
NHL Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs Trying To Add Defensive Assist
The Geese, who will retain 50 % of Lyubushkin’s wage, obtained a 2025 third-round decide from the Maple Leafs. Carolina obtained a 2024 Sixth-round decide from Toronto for retaining 25 % of Lyubushkin’s wage. As well as, the Leafs get the rights to Kirill Slepets.
Commerce Evaluate:#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
Issues had been heading on this route as soon as it was identified Ilya Lyubushkin was pulled from the Geese lineup earlier than their sport towards the San Jose Sharks. The Anaheim Geese confirmed this, citing ongoing commerce discussions.
Ilya Lyubushkin pulled from Geese lineup tonight as Anaheim concerned in commerce talks. Listening to the Maple Leafs considered one of groups in these talks with Geese.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 1, 2024
As NHLRumors.com has reported, the Maple Leafs had been focusing on Lyubushkin. Common supervisor Brad Treliving didn’t wish to hand over a first-round decide for Chris Tanev of the Calgary Flames earlier than he was traded to Dallas.
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So, Treliving was going to look elsewhere for a less expensive possibility. Lyubushkin’s title circled Toronto. He performed with the Maple Leafs to shut out the 2021-22 season. Nevertheless, the Maple Leafs had been going to wish assist to amass him.
The pending unrestricted free agent is within the second season of a two-year, $5.5 million cope with an AAV of $2.75 million. Anaheim acquired Lyubushkin from the Buffalo Sabres for a 2025 fourth-round draft decide within the offseason.
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With Carolina and Anaheim retaining Lyubushkin’s wage, the Maple Leafs can get the participant at $687,500, which is $87,500 lower than the league minimal wage.
Lyubushkin makes $2.75M towards the cap. With double retention, his cap hit can be lower than a league minimal wage and provides the Leafs extra flexibility to proceed so as to add by the deadline. https://t.co/6RqWRU29pK
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) March 1, 2024
This permits the Maple Leafs so as to add one other participant on the deadline to fill a place of want or add depth.
At 75 % retained, Lyubushkin’s cap hit to Toronto can be $687,500, which is $87,500 lower than the NHL minimal wage.
— David Alter (@dalter) March 1, 2024
Whereas Ilya Lyubushkin’s numbers are usually not the best, he was enjoying in Anaheim. Nevertheless, he was strong in his first stint in Toronto. Toronto is including a bodily, depth defenseman as Mark Giordano will likely be sidelined with a head damage for some time.
Ilya Lyubushkin, acquired by TOR, is a bodily depth defenceman. Has put up good D outcomes earlier in his profession and is definitely not a nasty puck mover, however probably the most 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 initially signed Lyubushkin as an undrafted free agent. In 334 video games within the NHL with the Coyotes, Maple Leafs, Sabres, and Geese, he has 43 factors (5 objectives and 38 assists).