Ilya Lyubushkin, a defenseman, has agreed to a new contract with the Dallas Stars. He has a two-year contract worth 3.25 million AAV. Lyubushkin has now signed six contracts in his career; none of them have had terms longer than two years.
Lyubushkin the Dallas Stars signed him
Lyubushkin has been traded twice in the past year. The 30-year-old was traded in an off-season deal from the Buffalo Sabres to the Anaheim Ducks prior to the start of the previous campaign. Lyubushkin played 55 games for the Anaheim Ducks after joining them at the beginning of the season. He ultimately completed his season with the Toronto Maple Leafs after being traded to them ahead of the trade deadline. The Russian defenseman was dealt to the Leafs twice, and each time he was there, he performed admirably.
The Buffalo Sabres inked Lyubushkin to a two-year contract worth $2.75 million AAV.
Throughout the regular season, he participated in 19 games and contributed four assists. With Toronto, he averaged 17:03 minutes on the ice last season, which was a career-best. But in these most recent playoffs, Lyubushkin truly made his money—even though the Leafs lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games. The defensive defenseman recorded a team-high three assists in that series. impressive when playing with players like Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and Auston Matthews, who all possess enormous talent. Furthermore, with a plus-4, he led the team in the plus-minus category. Despite the fact that Lyubushkin has only played in two postseason series in his career (both with the Leafs), he has demonstrated that he is comfortable in such settings.
Dallas Increases the Size
The undrafted d-man is a beast, standing 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, right-handed. Actually, his capacity to neutralize attacks was a major factor in Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving’s acquisition of him. Lyubushkin is a model defender, and any team would be able to afford to sign him. He sacrificed his body in front of 168 shots and threw 176 hits in the previous season. Lyubushkin is useful as a penalty-killer as well. He spent two minutes a game on the PK on average while playing for the Maple Leafs in the regular season.
Main Photo: Toronto, Ontario, CAN; In the opening frame of Game Six of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena, defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin (46), of the Toronto Maple Leafs, skates with the puck, followed by forward Tyler Bertuzzi (59). The action takes place against the Boston Bruins. Required Credit: USA TODAY Sports/Dan Hamilton
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