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— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) February 22, 2022
The Toronto Maple Leafs put in a lackluster performance in a 6-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Saturday and immediately following the game announced a trade that sent forward Nick Ritchie and a conditional draft pick to the Arizona Coyotes for defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin and forward Ryan Dzingel.
Lyubushkin is 6’2…, 208 lb., a right-hand shooter known for his physicality. The big Russian has nine assists and 26 penalty minutes in 46 games for Arizona this season, averaging just over 18 minutes per game, and has been a primary penalty killer for the Coyotes.
The 27-year-old played five KHL seasons with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv before signing with the Coyotes as a free agent in 2018 and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer after four seasons in Arizona.
“We don’t really have a lot of guys that have his utility. He is obviously a big, strong, right-shot defenseman, strong defensively, able to kill penalties, and play with a little more physicality than what we may have. He has kind of gone under the radar in Arizona. We thought, compared to the market on other types of guys, it was a good bet for us.… Leafs GM Kyle Dubas said on Sunday. “He was playing more this year and playing against better players this year and doing so fairly well.…
Dzingel is someone that Toronto is familiar with, playing five seasons with division rival Ottawa, as well as Columbus and Carolina before signing a one-year, $1.1 million deal with the Coyotes this season. The 29-year-old can play center and wing and has seven points (4 goals, 3 assists) in 26 games for Arizona this season. As with Adam Brooks, the Leafs placed Dzingel on waivers in hopes of clearing his salary before the trade deadline.
“I spoke with (Ryan) and his agent (Saturday) night, so they are aware of everything,… Dubas said. “He is an NHL player. Selfishly, we hope he gets through and can provide us with depth, but if not, that will just be another contract slot and some cash for us.…
UPDATE - Dzingel claimed by San Jose
The motivation for this deal was twofold. The Leafs traded a player in Ritchie who they deemed could not play in the NHL for them after giving him every chance during the first 30 games and gave up a conditional draft pick to clear his $2.5 million salary for 2022-23.
That will be invaluable in Toronto’s pursuit of re-signing goalie Jack Campbell and getting youngsters Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren locked up on bridge deals.
Lyubushkin has more experience and provides depth on the right side, and Dzingel is a forward who scored 20 goals in the not-so-distant past, but this move is not a difference-maker in terms of significantly improving the club where it needs to upgrade.
Dubas did not close the door on making more moves before the March 21 trade deadline. Based on where Sandin and Liljegren are in their development, the inconsistency and talent level of Travis Dermott and Justin Holl, Toronto does not have an adequate option to play alongside Jake Muzzin on the second pairing and that is what the Leafs GM will have to address in the next four weeks.
The Leafs begin a stretch of three games in four nights on Monday in Montreal. The Canadiens have won two straight under new bench boss Martin St. Louis, but still possess the league’s worst record at 10-33-7. Petr Mrazek will make the start against the Habs after Jack Campbell allowed five goals on 33 shots in the loss to the Blues.
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