Maple Leafs Swing 3-Way Trade With Ducks & Hurricanes

The Toronto Maple Leafs finally pulled off a trade for a right-shot defenseman, and all it took was another injury to Mark Giordano to spark GM Brad Treliving into action Thursday night. It's a three-way deal, with draft picks going to the Anaheim Ducks and Carolina Hurricanes in return for Ilya Lyubushkin.

Lyubushkin will go to TOR with 75 per cent retained. Ducks get a 3rd, Hurricanes get a 6th

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 1, 2024

Toronto brings back "the Russian Bear" for a second go-round with the team, and a second playoff run after the 6'2", 200-pounder proved his mettle for the team in the 2022 playoffs, handing out 28 hits in just seven games. 

After Giordano went down in the first period Thursday night and Mitch Marner was forced to play blueline minutes, the Leafs GM "hopped on the phone with Anaheim Ducks GM Pat Verbeek and secured the services of stay-at-home righty Lyubushkin," per Luke Fox of Sportsnet.

The price, at least monetarily, was right.  

With 75% retained on Lyubushkin's $2.75 million cap hit, the Leafs are only responsible for $687,500. However, two more picks are heading out the door (3rd rounder in 2025 to the Anaheim Ducks, 6th rounder this year to the Carolina Hurricanes for their part in picking up 25% of Lyubushkin's cap hit), and the Leafs' draft capital is further diminished. The team has now traded its picks in the first five rounds in 2025, as well as having none in the second or third round this year.

But the need was urgent, and it appears that the big, bruising defenseman will join Morgan Rielly on the first pairing, allowing the roaming assistant captain to carry the puck while Boosh stays at home. 

Lyubushkin played 31 regular season games for Toronto after he was acquired late in the 2021-22 season and delivered a +4 rating in 16 1/2 minutes per night. 

This season in Anaheim, he's blocked 138 shots in 55 games, adding 112 hits and 50 minutes in penalties.

Photo: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports