Ilya Lyubushkin

{{family name hatnote|Nikolaevich|Lyubushkin|lang=Eastern Slavic}}

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Ilya Lyubushkin

| image =

| image_size = 225px

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|4|6|df=y}}

| birth_place = Moscow, Russia

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lb = 209

| position = Defence

| shoots = Right

| league = NHL

| team = Dallas Stars

| prospect_team =

| prospect_league =

| former_teams = Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
Arizona Coyotes
Toronto Maple Leafs
Buffalo Sabres
Anaheim Ducks

| draft = Undrafted

| career_start = 2012

| career_end =

}}

Ilya Nikolaevich Lyubushkin ({{langx|ru|Илья Николаевич Любушкин}}; born 6 April 1994) is a Russian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Anaheim Ducks of the NHL and Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

Playing career

Lyubushkin began his career in Russia with Metallurg Novokuznetsk of the Supreme Hockey League (VHL). However, after the plane crash that killed many of the players from Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), a draft was held to repopulate the team and Lyubushkin was among those selected.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/507951/2018/09/06/yaroslavls-tragedy-created-ilya-lyubushkins-nhl-opportunity/ |title=Deadly plane crash created Ilya Lyubushkin's NHL opportunity |last=Morgan |first=Craig |work=The Athletic |date=6 September 2018 |access-date=15 February 2024}} Lyubushkin made his KHL debut playing with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl during the 2012–13 KHL season.{{cite web| url = http://en.khl.ru/players/17570/ | title = Ilya Lyubushkin player profile | publisher = Kontinental Hockey League | date = 2013-04-05 | access-date = 2013-04-05}} He played his first five professional seasons with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl before opting to become a free agent following the 2017–18 season.{{cite web |title=Coyotes Sign Lyubushkin to One-Year Contract |url=https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/news/coyotes-sign-lyubushkin-to-one-year-contract/c-298756296 |publisher=Arizona Coyotes |via=NHL.com |access-date=24 May 2018 |date=23 May 2018}}

=Arizona Coyotes=

Lyubushkin signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League (NHL) on 23 May 2018. In his debut season in North America in the 2018–19 season, Lyubushkin remained on the Coyotes roster for the duration of the year, adding a defensive physical presence. He registered 4 assists in 41 games while finishing fourth on the team and third among all NHL rookies with 150 hits. On 14 June 2019, Lyubushkin was re-signed to a one-year contract to continue with the Arizona Coyotes.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/news/coyotes-sign-lyubushkin-to-one-year-contract/c-307859338 | title = Coyotes sign Lyubushkin to one-year contract | publisher = Arizona Coyotes |via=NHL.com | date = 14 June 2019 | access-date = 14 June 2019 }} He scored four points in 51 games with the Coyotes during the 2019–20 season. As a restricted free agent, Lyubushkin returned for a third season with the Coyotes by agreeing to a one-year, $1 million contract extension on 5 October 2020.{{cite web |url= https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/news/coyotes-re-sign-capobianco-and-lyubushkin/c-319310298 | title = Coyotes re-sign Capobianco and Lyubushkin | publisher = Arizona Coyotes |via=NHL.com | date = 5 October 2020 | access-date = 5 October 2020}} He was later returned on loan by the Coyotes to join former club, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, until the commencement of NHL training camp on 28 October 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/coyotes-ilya-lyubushkin-loaned-to-khl-club/ |title=Coyotes' Ilya Lyubushkin: Loaned to KHL club |work=CBS Sports |date=28 October 2020 |access-date=14 February 2024}} During the 2020–21 season, Lyubushkin scored his first NHL goal against Jonathan Quick in a 4–3 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on 8 April 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/nhl/recap/_/gameId/401272716 |title=Grundstrom's goal caps Kings' rally for 4-3 win over Coyotes |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=8 April 2021 |access-date=14 February 2024}}

=Toronto Maple Leafs=

On 19 February 2022, Lyubushkin was traded, along with teammate Ryan Dzingel, to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Nick Ritchie, and a choice of a third-round pick in 2023 or a second-round pick in 2025.{{Cite web |title=Maple Leafs Acquire Dzingel and Lyubushkin from Arizona |url=https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/leafs-acquire-dzingel-and-lyubushkin/c-330991426|access-date=2022-02-20|via=NHL.com |publisher=Toronto Maple Leafs |date=20 February 2022}} Lyubushkin made his Maple Leafs debut on 22 February versus the Columbus Blue Jackets.{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/lyubushkin-make-maple-leafs-debut-vs-blue-jackets-muzzin-resting-toronto/ |title=Lyubushkin makes Maple Leafs debut vs. Blue Jackets, Muzzin resting in Toronto |work=Sportsnet |date=22 February 2022 |access-date=14 February 2024}} He scored his first goal for the Maple Leafs on 14 April 2022, in a 7–3 win over the Washington Capitals.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs-washington-capitals-nhl-recap-april-14-1.6420603 |title=Matthews records 100th point of season as Maple Leafs score 7 in rout of Capitals |work=CBC Sports |last=Wharnsby |first=Tim |agency=The Canadian Press |date=14 April 2022 |access-date=14 February 2024}} He made his Stanley Cup playoffs debut on 2 May in a 5–0 rout over the Tampa Bay Lightning, a game in which he fought Corey Perry.{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2022/05/02/nhl-playoffs-maple-leafs-lightning-brawl-toronto-routs-tampa-bay/9624105002/ |title=Ugly brawl breaks out as Toronto Maple Leafs rout Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 |work=USA Today |last=Brehm |first=Mike |date=2 May 2022 |access-date=14 February 2024}} The Maple Leafs were eliminated by the Lightning in seven games in the first round.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/2022-stanley-cup-playoffs-lightning-beat-maple-leafs-in-game-7-still-hunting-for-third-straight-championship/ |title=2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Lightning beat Maple Leafs in Game 7, still hunting for third straight championship |work=CBS Sports |first=Wajih |last=AlBaroudi |date=14 May 2022 |access-date=14 February 2024}}

=Buffalo Sabres=

On 13 July 2022, Lyubushkin was signed as an unrestricted free agent to a two-year, $5.5 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/buffalo-sabres-sign-defenseman-ilya-lyubushkin-2-year-contract/c-334957308 |title=Sabres sign Lyubushkin to 2-year contract |publisher=Buffalo Sabres |via=NHL.com |date=13 July 2022 |access-date=13 July 2022}} He made his debut in the season opener, a 4–1 win over the Ottawa Senators, registering his first point (an assist) for his new team.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-ott/2022/10/13/2022020013 |title=Peterka helps Sabres defeat Senators in season opener |last=Engel |first=Heather |publisher=National Hockey League |date=13 October 2022 |access-date=14 February 2024}} He scored his first goal for the Sabres in a memorable fashion on 23 February 2023. He scored the game winner in overtime, while shorthanded on a breakaway against Andrei Vasilevskiy in a 6–5 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. It was the first shorthanded overtime goal in Sabres' history.{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/nhl-sports-buffalo-bulls-ilya-lyubushkin-andrei-vasilevskiy-0c18036f4af11317e409dce0eaf03d38 |title=Lyubushkin scores in overtime as Sabres top Lightning 6-5 |work=AP News |agency=Associated Press |last=Kreiser |first=John |date=23 February 2023 |access-date=14 February 2024}} In his first season with the Sabres, he set a career high in points with 14 while scoring 2 goals.{{cite web |url= https://www.nhl.com/news/ilya-lyubushkin-traded-to-ducks-by-sabres/c-345623864?tid=278542340 |title=Lyubushkin traded to Ducks by Sabres |publisher=National Hockey League |date=18 August 2023 |access-date=14 February 2024}}

=Anaheim Ducks=

After one season in Buffalo, Lyubushkin was traded to the Anaheim Ducks on 18 August 2023, in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2025 draft (previously acquired in a deal for John Klingberg). He appeared in 55 games for Anaheim, recording four points.{{cite web |title=Maple Leafs Acquire Defenceman Ilya Lyubushkin |url=https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/maple-leafs-acquire-defenceman-ilya-lyubushkin |publisher=Toronto Maple Leafs |via=NHL.com |date=29 February 2024 |access-date=29 February 2024}} He was often paired with Anaheim's rookie defenceman Pavel Mintyukov.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nhl/2024/02/29/lyubushkin-trade-leafs-ducks-hurricanes/f547bc88-d783-11ee-82ad-c2391b06a8f5_story.html |title=Maple Leafs acquire D Ilya Lyubushkin from Ducks in 3-team trade involving Hurricanes |newspaper=The Washington Post |agency=Associated Press |date=29 February 2024 |access-date=1 March 2024}}

=Return to Toronto=

On 29 February 2024, Lyubushkin was traded back to the Maple Leafs in a three-team deal involving the Carolina Hurricanes. In the trade, Anaheim acquired Toronto's third-round draft pick in the 2025 draft, while Carolina received Toronto's sixth-round draft pick in the 2024 draft. Toronto also acquired the rights to unsigned Carolina draft pick Kirill Slepets, who was playing with Amur Khabarovsk of the KHL at the time. He made his return with the Maple Leafs in a 4–3 victory over the New York Rangers on 2 March. However, in the second period, he took a hit from Matt Rempe and did not return to the game.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/401560187 |title=Max Domi scores deciding goal in shootout to lift Maple Leafs to 4-3 win over Rangers |agency=Associated Press |work=ESPN |date=3 March 2024 |access-date=16 July 2024}} He played in the following game against the Boston Bruins on 4 March, a 4–1 loss. However, Lyubushkin registered his first point with the Maple Leafs that season, assisting on Toronto's only goal by John Tavares.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-tor/2024/03/04/2023020978 |title=Swayman makes 32 saves, Bruins slow down Maple Leafs |publisher=National Hockey League |date=4 March 2024 |access-date=16 July 2024}} He finished with four points in 19 regular season games with the Maple Leafs.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/stars/news/dallas-stars-sign-defenseman-ilya-lyubushkin-to-a-three-year-contract-070124 | title = Stars sign Ilya Lyubushkin to a three-year contract | publisher = Dallas Stars |via=NHL.com | date = 1 July 2024 | access-date = 15 July 2024}} In the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, Lyubushkin registered three points in seven games as the Maple Leafs were eliminated by the Bruins in the first round.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/leafs-bruins-game-7-recap-playoffs-1.7194522 |title=Boston Bruins eliminate Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7 OT win |work=CBC Sports |last=Clipperton |first=Joshua |agency=The Canadian Press |date=4 May 2024 |access-date=16 July 2024}}

=Dallas Stars=

An unrestricted free agent, on 1 July 2024, Lyubushkin signed a three-year, $9.75 million contract with the Dallas Stars.

International play

{{MedalCountry|{{ih|RUS}}}}

Lyubushkin was selected to play for Russia at the 2014 World Junior Championships. Russia defeated Canada 2–1 to win the bronze medal at the tournament.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/world-juniors-2014-russia-wins-2-1-over-canada-for-bronze-1.2484696 |title=World juniors 2014: Russia wins 2-1 over Canada for bronze |work=CBC News |date=5 January 2014 |access-date=15 February 2024}}