The 29-year-old blueliner was dealt by Buffalo to Anaheim last August
The 29-year-old blueliner was dealt by Buffalo to Anaheim last August
A number of former Buffalo Sabres have been mentioned in trade rumors and could be on the move before the March 8th trade deadline. One name on several trade lists was blueliner Ilya Lyubushkin, but he can be scratched off, as the veteran defenseman was dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.
The 29-year-old signed a two-year, $5.5 million contract with Buffalo after playing 31 games for the Leafs at the end of the 2021-22 season. Lyubushkin played 68 games for the Sabres last season, but was traded last August for a 2025 fourth-round pick to clear his $2.75 million salary and because Buffalo had added a pair of veteran right-handed defensemen in Erik Johnson and Connor Clifton via free agency.
Toronto gave up their 2025 third-round pick to Anaheim to get the Ducks to retain 50% of Lyubushkin’s salary and a 2024 sixth-round pick to get Carolina to retain another 25%.
Lyubushkin joins another ex-Sabre Jake McCabe on the Leafs blueline, which suffered another injury in a 4-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes, as veteran defenseman Mark Giordano fell into the boards in the first period and will be out indefinitely with a concussion.
Other former Buffalo players in trade chatter include Seattle defenseman Will Borgen (who is signed through 2024-25) and Minnesota blueliner Zach Bogosian (a pending UFA).
With the trades of Lyubushkin and Chris Tanev, the market for righty defensemen is quickly evaporating. Johnson might now be a Plan B option for clubs who did not get their first choice.
Sabres GM Kevyn Adams may have to retain salary on some to get any value in a return for the 35-year-old blueliner.
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