NHL trade grades: Lyubushkin fills a need at a smart value for the Leafs

Another day closer to the March 8 NHL trade deadline. Another right-handed defenseman who’s off the board.

The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Ilya Lyubushkin, who played part of the 2021-22 season with the club, from the Anaheim Ducks in a three-team trade that also involved the Carolina Hurricanes. The Leafs received Lyubushkin — the No. 29 player on Greg Wyshynski’s trade board — and the rights to prospect forward Kirill Slepets, with the Ducks receiving the Leafs’ 2025 third-round pick while retaining 50% of Lyubushkin’s $2.75 million salary.

As for the Hurricanes, they received the Leafs’ 2024 sixth-round pick for serving as a third-party broker that will pay 25% of Lyubushkin’s salary.

Getting Lyubushkin comes a day after the Dallas Stars were the first team to enter the right-handed defenseman market, trading for Chris Tanev from the Calgary Flames as part of a three-team deal involving the New Jersey Devils.

Exactly how did the GMs perform with this trade? Check out our grades.

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