Rielly and Lyubushkin spent a lot of time as a defensive pair during the Russian's first run with Toronto in 2022.
Rielly and Lyubushkin spent a lot of time as a defensive pair during the Russian's first run with Toronto in 2022.
Morgan Rielly found out when he arrived home that the Maple Leafs had brought back Ilya Lyubushkin.
"I don't know when he gets in but the sooner the better," Rielly said.
The Maple Leafs were in desperate need of another right-handed defenseman. Shortly after the club defeated the Arizona Coyotes 4-2 on Thursday, Maple Leafs GM Pulled the trigger on a deal with the Anaheim Ducks to land the defenseman known as the 'Russian Bear'.
Rielly is excited for the defenseman's arrival. Not just because he adds a boost to the group, but because he knows exactly what's he's getting out of a defensive partner.
"He’s physical. He was one of those guys that you like being around," Rielly said. "He’s competitive. He puts the team first with how he plays and how he acts. He’s just one of those guys you like having on your team."
The Leafs practiced on Thursday with plans to have Lyubushkin in the lineup on Saturday against the New York Rangers. Rielly was paired with Max Lajoie, who was clearly skating as a placeholder for the Russian's arrival.
Lyubushkin isn't expected to arrive until late on Friday. Maple Leafs Sheldon Keefe said the plan is for the player to be an option on Saturday, provided he gets to Toronto smoothly and there are no issues with his visa. The last time the Leafs acquired him in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes, it took several days to get the player's visa prepared.
Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov is excited to have another friend on the team. Both Lyubushkin and Samsonov first met when travelling outside of Russia to collect American visa and the players have remained close since.
"He’s been in Florida too, practicing," Samsonov said of Lyubushkin."(He) play golf. "Yeah, he’s (a) nice guy. Everybody knows him in the locker room."
Last season, Samsonov and his family spent the Christmas break at Lyubushkin's house in Buffalo, while the player was with the Sabres. Lyubushkin also told The Hockey News that he texted Samsonov to check in on him when the player was away from the team and struggling in the net.
At the end of the day, it was Brad Treliving who pulled the trigger on bringing in the 6-foot-2, 200-pounder into the fold.
Having not been around for Lybushkin's first run with the Leafs in 2022, he consulted several players and management staff before getting most of the deal worked out before the team's game against the Coyotes on Thursday.
"He's got the ability to stop plays," the Maple Leafs GM said of Lyubushkin. "When we look at our data, he was a strong denier of the blue line. Doing what he's able to do and the number that he came in at provides us some flexibility."
But a lot of this is about finding a match for Rielly. The player has bounced around with several different partners over the years and a natural defensive defenseman who shoots right has always brought out the best part out of the longest-tenured defenseman. Whether it's Lyubushkin, or Luke Schenn, who played in a similar role last year, that was the position of biggest need.
And Rielly, among other teammates, are glad to have him back.
"I really enjoyed my time with him," Rielly said of Lyubushkin.
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