NHL trade grades: Lyubushkin a boost for the Maple Leafs - ESPN

Another day closer to the March 8 NHL trade deadline. Another right-handed defenseman who's off the board.

The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Ilya Lyubushkin, who played part of the 2021-22 season with the club, from the Anaheim Ducks in a three-team trade that also involved the Carolina Hurricanes. The Leafs received Lyubushkin — the No. 29 player on Greg Wyshynski's trade board — and the rights to prospect forward Kirill Slepets, with the Ducks receiving the Leafs' 2025 third-round pick while retaining 50% of Lyubushkin's $2.75 million salary.

As for the Hurricanes, they received the Leafs' 2024 sixth-round pick for serving as a third-party broker that will pay 25% of Lyubushkin's salary.

Getting Lyubushkin comes a day after the Dallas Stars were the first team to enter the right-handed defenseman market, trading for Chris Tanev from the Calgary Flames as part of a three-team deal involving the New Jersey Devils.

Exactly how did the GMs perform with this trade? Check out our grades.

Getting creative with the salary cap has been part of the Leafs' strategy over the past several years. It's become even more of a challenge this season when it comes to strengthening the Leafs' defense. Both John Klingberg and Conor Timmins are on injured reserve while Jake Muzzin is on long-term injured reserve after he was ruled out for the regular season and playoffs with a cervical spine issue.

Then there are the more recent developments related to the health of the Leafs' blue line. Timothy Liljegren missed a second straight game with an undisclosed injury while Mark Giordano left the Leafs' 4-2 win Thursday with a head injury in the first period. That led to winger Mitch Marner filing in on defense — which was an option that Leafs coach