Lyubushkin is the Leafs' Missing Piece & 2 Defencemen With Size They Should Target
Plus, Leafs untouchables at the 2024 Trade Deadline & more
Welcome to the THW Toronto Maple Leafs Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Maple Leafs writers.
Ilya Lyubushkin is a Leaf once again and is just what they needed, two defencemen that the Leafs should pursue at the deadline, who the Leafs should keep off limits at the 2024 Trade Deadline, and the latest news and rumours surrounding the club.
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Now on to the good stuff…
Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Samsonov, Jarnkrok, Giordano & Slepets
March 2, 2024 by The Old Prof
Tonight, the Toronto Maple Leafs host the tough New York Rangers. If things go as planned with visas and the like, Maple Leafs fans will get their first look at the return of defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin who’s coming from the Anaheim Ducks. This move was made on the heels of defenseman Mark Giordano’s concussion that left a gap in Toronto’s defensive lineup.
Will Lyubushkin Trade Signal More Maple Leafs Movement?
March 2, 2024 by The Old Prof
Even before Thursday’s game between the Arizona Coyotes and the Toronto Maple Leafs was completed, with Mark Giordano’s unfortunate injury, general manager (GM) Brad Trelivng was at work. He knew that the Maple Leafs were in dire need of a replacement right-handed defenseman, and he wasted no time finalizing the issue. The Maple Leafs GM took quick action and landed a deal with the Anaheim Ducks to acquire Ilya Lyubushkin, a physical defenseman affectionately known as the ‘Russian Bear.’
Maple Leafs Still Need Defensive Upgrade After Lyubushkin Trade
March 2, 2024 by Jesse Courville-Lynch
The Toronto Maple Leafs decided to bring in Ilya Lyubushkin from the Anaheim Ducks in a three-way trade involving the Carolina Hurricanes after they missed out on one of the top defencemen available in Chris Tanev, who was sent to the Dallas Stars. While the Maple Leafs are acquiring him at 75% retention, he isn’t the most ideal pickup for them, and they will still need to make a defensive upgrade if they want any chance of going deep into the playoffs this season. Tanev would have been the ideal pickup, and players like Matt Dumba, Zach Bogosian, and Noah Hanifiin are still available heading toward the trade deadline, so the Maple Leafs need to try and make another trade soon.
Ilya Lyubushkin Is the Missing Piece the Maple Leafs Need
March 2, 2024 by Peter Baracchini
The Toronto Maple Leafs managed to dip into the trade market late Thursday night by trading for Anaheim Ducks defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin in a three-team deal. The Ducks got a third-round pick and retained 50% of his contract, while the Carolina Hurricanes got a sixth-round pick to retain additional salary, with 75% of his contract being retained overall.Â
Maple Leafs’ Untouchables at 2024 Trade Deadline
March 2, 2024 by Jesse Courville-Lynch
The Toronto Maple Leafs were quiet until recently when they chose to acquire Ilya Lyubushkin from the Anaheim Ducks in a three-team deal involving the Carolina Hurricanes, who helped facilitate the trade. They brought in Lyubushkin for 25 percent of his contract, as the Ducks retained 50 percent and the Hurricanes retained 25 percent. While he will help the Maple Leafs’ depth heading into the postseason, he is a secondary option after they lost out on acquiring Chris Tanev, who was recently traded to the Dallas Stars.
2 Defencemen with Size the Maple Leafs Should Target in a Trade
March 1, 2024 by Spencer Lazary
There are only six days left until the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, which means the trade action is about to ramp up. The Vancouver Canucks got ahead of it when they acquired Andrei Kuzmenko and Nikita Zadorov from the Calgary Flames. The next big domino to fall was thought to be the Toronto Maple Leafs’ biggest target, Chris Tanev, who went to the Dallas Stars. The Flames are selling off pieces this season, and a few teams have capitalized on that; however, the Maple Leafs don’t seem to be one of those teams, unless they can trade a depth forward from them.
Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Matthews, Nylander, Woll & the Bear
March 1, 2024 by The Old Prof
On Thursday (Feb. 29) night, the Toronto Maple Leafs secured a hard-fought 4-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes in a game that proved to be more challenging than anticipated. Initially, the Maple Leafs seemed to have firm control of the game, establishing a commanding 3-0 lead. However, the momentum shifted when former Maple Leaf Alex Kerfoot scored a breakaway goal for the Coyotes while shorthanded. This goal injected new energy into the Coyotes, who began to mount a comeback.
