TRADE: Mixed feelings for Leafs GM as Lyubushkin arrives, as defenceman removed from the roster

The Leafs GM experiences a range of emotions with the arrival of Lyubushkin while Giordano’s injury adds to the complexity of the situation

Brad Treliving’s trade of Ilya Lyubushkin brought joy to many, yet he remained somber as he realized that Mark Giordano had been removed from the Maple Leafs roster.

Prior to facing the media on Friday morning, the GM engaged in a lengthy discussion with the veteran 40-year-old defenseman, evaluating his concussion status and subsequently placing him on the injured reserve list.

After Lyubushkin arrived later in the evening, aiming to bolster the depleted Toronto defense in time for the playoffs with a debut on Saturday against the Rangers, Treliving was supporting Giordano in handling his recent personal and physical challenges.

While finalizing the details of the Lyubushkin trade with Anaheim the previous night, Giordano collided with the boards early in the game against Arizona, resulting in a head injury. The league’s oldest player had recently returned from over a week off following the sudden loss of his father, Paul, and had also been sidelined for a few weeks prior due to a broken finger.

“He will be sidelined for a while,” Treliving commented on the recent incident. “He’s showing signs of improvement in the concussion protocol today. He was in a rough state last night. Everyone in the arena held their breath when he collided forcefully.

“He was briefly unconscious, and when you add that to what he’s been through in the past month…”

Treliving has a history with Giordano dating back to their time in the Calgary Flames, as well as with teammate TJ Brodie, who tragically lost his father, Jay, to cancer just before the Leafs’ training camp.

“(Giordano) is progressing well; he will make a comeback,” Treliving assured. “You can’t help but empathize with him; he is truly a great person.”

Prior to finalizing the Lyubushkin acquisition – which involved sending him to Carolina for a third-round pick and a sixth rounder, with the Hurricanes covering 75% of his $2.75 million US cap hit – Treliving sought input from coach Sheldon Keefe, as well as other Leafs personnel who were present during Lyubushkin’s 38-game tenure with the team at the 2021 trade deadline and playoffs. Lyubushkin, a right-handed defenseman, addresses a current gap in the starting lineup and brings a physical presence at 6-foot-2.

“While exploring the trade market ahead of the upcoming deadline, you have to sift through the noise and focus on the realistic options,” Treliving explained. “In Lyubushkin, we see someone who fits in well and possesses the ability to disrupt plays, a reliable defender at the blue line. He brings a robust style of play.”

Among the most delighted members of the Leafs is goalie Ilya Samsonov, who has known Lyubushkin for several years, sharing a common language and background. Samsonov is pleased to have another rugged player to help clear his crease, having trained together and even shared Christmas with their families.

“I’m thrilled to have a long-time friend join the team,” beamed Samsonov. “We both have children. He’s a nice guy and a great player. Whenever you need assistance, just give him a call.”

Samsonov joked about not being available to pick up Lyubushkin from the airport on Friday night. When they exchanged texts, Lyubushkin mentioned his late arrival at 10:30 p.m. from California.

“Sorry, I’ll be asleep by then,” chuckled Samsonov, who is set to start on Saturday.

Keefe has been working to manage a somewhat awkward situation with six left-handed defensemen, including instances where Brodie and Jake McCabe had to play on their off sides. The addition of Lyubushkin is expected to help address this issue, although McCabe and Simon Benoit have proven to be an effective pairing.

Lyubushkin is likely to be well-rested as the Ducks had a few days off, and he was kept out of the lineup on Tuesday against San Jose as the trade was being finalized.

“Everyone here had a positive experience with Boosh during his previous stint,” Keefe remarked, although the player opted to join Buffalo for a better financial offer after the first-round playoff exit in 2021. “He had good relationships with the coaches, training staff, and particularly at this crucial time of the year (heading into the playoffs), that’s valuable.”

Treliving expressed his desire for Giordano to remain a part of the revamped defense, acknowledging the challenges of maintaining a healthy defensive lineup, especially at this grueling stage of the season.

Prior to Giordano’s situation, the team faced setbacks such as John Klingberg’s season-ending hip surgery, Conor Timmins dealing with multiple injuries, Timothy Liljegren being day-to-day due to various knocks, and Rielly missing five games due to a suspension.

“It’s just part of the game,” Treliving noted.

“Even after the trade deadline, there are still a few weeks left before the playoffs. You can never have too many defensemen.”