Ilya Lyubushkin

Ilya Lyubushkin

30-Year-Old DefensemanD
Toronto Maple Leafs
2023 Fantasy Outlook
Lyubushkin's first campaign in Buffalo in 2022-23 was a mixed bag. He did record two goals and 14 points in 68 contests, which makes it the best season of his career from a points-per-game perspective, but the 29-year-old never has never significantly helped fantasy managers from an offensive perspective. Instead, the defenseman's value has traditionally been in terms of hits, but after setting a career high with 187 hits in 77 outings between Arizona and Toronto in 2021-22, Lyubushkin dropped to a personal-low 99 hits in the subsequent campaign. Traded to the Ducks in August, Lyubushkin projects to serve as a bottom-four defender for a poor Anaheim team in 2023-24, further diminishing his already minimal fantasy value. Read Past Outlooks
$Signed a two-year, $5.5 million contract with the Sabres in July of 2022.
Good to go Sunday
DToronto Maple Leafs
March 24, 2024
Lyubushkin (illness) will be in Sunday's lineup against Carolina, David Alter of The Hockey News reports.
ANALYSIS
Lyubushkin will return after missing the last three contests. The 29-year-old has two assists in seven games since joining the Maple Leafs.
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NHL Stats
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2022
2021
2020
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2018
2023 NHL Game Log
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2022 NHL Game Log
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2021 NHL Game Log
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2020 NHL Game Log
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2019 NHL Game Log
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2023–24 Time On Ice Stats
  • Average Time On Ice:
    17:09
  • Average Power Play TOI:
    0:02
  • Average Short-Handed TOI:
    2:57
  • Average Time On Ice:
    17:03
  • Average Power Play TOI:
    0:02
  • Average Short-Handed TOI:
    2:01
 
Ice Time
Power Play
Short-Handed
2021–22
18:06
0:03
2:32
2021–22
16:28
0:00
0:55
2022–23
15:01
0:02
2:03
2023–24
17:09
0:02
2:57
2023–24
17:03
0:02
2:01
Maple Leafs Depth Chart
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Skating Monday
DToronto Maple Leafs
March 4, 2024
Lyubushkin, who suffered a head injury against the Rangers on Saturday, was back on the ice for Monday's game-day skate, David Alter of The Hockey News reports, which could indicate he'll be available versus Boston.
ANALYSIS
Lyubushkin's status will likely become more clear once head coach Sheldon Keefe speaks to the media, but the fact that he was on the ice is certainly a good sign. Even if the 29-year-old blueliner plays, it's unlikely to impact the majority of fantasy managers considering he has gone 22 games without a point, though he's dished out 46 hits and made 54 blocked shots over that stretch.
See All NHL Rumors
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2020
2019
2018
Lyubushkin split last season between Arizona and Toronto, setting new career-best marks in games played (77), goals (2), assists (13), points (15), shots on goal (54), average time on ice (17:27), hits (187) and blocks (92). He entered unrestricted free agency this summer, ultimately signing a two-year, $5.5 million deal with the Sabres. There's little to be excited about here from a fantasy perspective, but Lyubushkin should again prove to be a cheap source of hits and blocks for those who miss out on them in the early and middle rounds of their drafts.
Lyubushkin drew into 51 NHL games last season, producing four assists. That matches his output from 2018-19, albeit in 10 more games. Lyubushkin has yet to show a scoring touch, but he's racked up 301 hits in 92 career games with the Coyotes. The Russian blueliner will likely compete with Jordan Oesterle and top prospect Victor Soderstrom for a spot in the lineup during training camp. Lyubushkin is a candidate to serve as a healthy scratch frequently, and he's unlikely to produce much offense when he does get into the lineup. Don't expect the 26-year-old to crack 10 points in 2020-21.
Lyubushkin appeared in 41 games for the Coyotes in 2018-19, registering four assists, 150 hits and a minus-9 rating. The Russian defenseman, known for being more of a stay-at-home player, was rewarded with another one-year contract. He'll be in the mix for bottom-pairing minutes again this season, but don't expect the 25-year-old to crack double-digits in points.
Lyubushkin is a 6-foot-2, 201-pound defenseman. He unloads a right-shot cannon from the point, but the Russian needs to prove that he can adjust to the smaller rinks, and in general, a faster game than he's accustomed to at home in the KHL. Last season, with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv, he generated just three goals and nine assists over 50 games, though he did maintain a plus-14 rating over that span. Even if he cracks the Opening Night roster with the Coyotes, fantasy owners aren't likely to pay much regard to a stay-at-home type.
More Fantasy News
Unavailable for Saturday
DToronto Maple Leafs
Illness
March 22, 2024
Lyubushkin (illness) will not be in the lineup against Edmonton on Saturday, David Alter of The Hockey News reports.
ANALYSIS
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Under the weather
DToronto Maple Leafs
Illness
March 18, 2024
Lyubushkin is dealing with an illness and is not expected to play against the Flyers on Tuesday, David Alter of The Hockey News reports.
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Expected to play Saturday
DToronto Maple Leafs
Undisclosed
March 16, 2024
Lyubushkin (undisclosed) participated in Saturday's morning skate and is expected to be in the lineup versus Carolina, according to Mark Masters of TSN.
ANALYSIS
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Questionable for Saturday
DToronto Maple Leafs
Undisclosed
March 15, 2024
Lyubushkin (undisclosed) was not at practice Friday after getting banged up Thursday in Philadelphia, Mark Masters of TSN reports.
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Grabs first point since trade
DToronto Maple Leafs
March 4, 2024
Lyubushkin assisted on the Maple Leafs' lone goal during Monday's 4-1 loss to the Bruins.
ANALYSIS
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