Buffalo receives 4th-round pick in 2025 Draft for defenseman
ByNHL.com @NHLdotcom
Ilya Lyubushkin was traded to the Anaheim Ducks by the Buffalo Sabres on Friday.
The Sabres received a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft for the defenseman. The pick was acquired by Anaheim in the trade that sent defenseman John Klingberg to the Minnesota Wild on March 3.
"We are excited to add Ilya to our blue line as we targeted another defenseman for the right side this offseason," Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said. "He is a big, physical, hard-nosed player that can kill penalties and will make us harder to play against."
Lyubushkin had an NHL career-high 14 points (two goals, 12 assists) in 68 games with Buffalo last season. He ranked second on the team in blocked shots (104), behind defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (132), and third in hits (99), behind defenseman Mattias Samuelsson (107) and Dahlin (105).
The 29-year-old is entering the final season of a two-year, $5.5 million contract ($2.75 million average annual value) and can become an unrestricted free agent after the season.
Signed by the Arizona Coyotes as an undrafted free agent on May 23, 2018, Lyubushkin has 39 points (five goals, 34 assists) in 279 regular-season games for the Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs and Sabres. He has one assist in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games.
