The Dallas Stars have signed defenceman, Ilya Lyubushkin to a new contract. His contract is a two-year deal at 3.25 million AAV. This is Lyubushkin’s sixth contract of his career, he’s never signed a contract where the term lasted longer than two years.
Ilya Lyubushkin 2 x $3.25M Dallas
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 1, 2024
Lyubushkin Signed by Dallas Stars
Over the last year, Lyubushkin has been traded twice. Before the beginning of last season, the 30-year-old was moved from the Buffalo Sabres to the Anaheim Ducks in an off-season deal. Lyubushkin started the season with the Anaheim Ducks and played 55 games for them. Eventually, he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs before the trade deadline and finished his season there. This was the second time the Russian defenceman was traded to the Leafs and he was solid for them once he moved there.
Lyubushkin’s last contract was signed by the Buffalo Sabres, it was a two-year deal at $2.75M AAV.
He played 19 games in the regular season and provided four helpers along the way. Last season he hit his career-best in terms of time on ice, with Toronto he averaged 17:03. However, Lyubushkin really earned his money in these past playoffs despite the Leafs being eliminated by the Boston Bruins in seven games. In that series, the defensive defenceman put up three assists, which equals a team-high. Impressive while on a roster with immense talent such as Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Mitch Marner. On top of that, he led the team in the plus-minus department with a plus-4. While Lyubushkin has only featured in two playoff series in his career – both with the Leafs – he’s shown that he thrives in that environment.
Dallas Adds Some Size
The undrafted d-man clocks in as a 6-foot-2, 200-pound, right-shot beast. In fact, one of the main reasons that Maple Leafs General Manager, Brad Treliving acquired him is because of his ability to kill attacks. He is a textbook defender and any organization could afford to offer Lyubushkin a contract. Last season he threw 176 hits and sacrificed his body in front of 168 shots. Lyubushkin is also valuable as a penalty-killer. With the Maple Leafs in the regular season, he averaged two minutes on the PK per game.
Main Photo: Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin (46) skates with the puck followed by forward Tyler Bertuzzi (59) against the Boston Bruins in the first period in game six of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
