Sabres Sign UFA Defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin 2 Years 2.75 Million AAV

[thewookie1]

49 minutes ago, RangerDave said:

How does he compare with Rasmus Ristolainen?  He was physical.  Is this guy better, worse, or the same as Risto was for us?

 

He took all of his talent points and loaded them into Defensive Attributes. He likely won't even hit 10 pts this season but should be a very effective 3rd pairing Dman that helps the PK while bringing some seriously bone crushing hits.

[Brawndo]

 

 

[HumanSlinky39]

This is a low-key fantastic signing. Physical guy, RHD, Russian and snuffs out opponents offenses. No downside to this one.

[LGR4GM]

[Buffalonill]

6 hours ago, Crusader1969 said:

Can’t be good then.  

I've never heard of nolan pratt and by the end I liked him alot

Hopefully it's the same 

[Flashsabre]

Leafs fans and media members here in Toronto are angry they lost him.

He is a guy who knows his role, his strengths and plays to them well. 

6’2 208lbs, plays the body, plays aggressively in the d zone, very good on the PK.  Blocks shots. He will be a fan favourite without ever really contributing offensively. Think Rhett Warrener/ Jay McKee type.

Leafs played him with Reilly and was a good ying to Morgan Reilly’s yang.

I think he would be a good match for Power.

Edited July 14, 2022 by Flashsabre

[Doohicksie]

2 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

6’2 208lbs, plays the body, plays aggressively in the d zone, very good on the PK.  Blocks shots. He will be a fan favourite without ever really contributing offensively.

I'm reading this and thinking Jay McKee... and then you summed it up with:

2 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

Think Rhett Warrener/ Jay McKee type.

Yes, please.

The thing is:  With the offensive talent on the blue line with our high draft picks, Lyubushkin can be a star on the team without having to score.  There's no pressure on him to expand his role.  So he doesn't have to be a tough player like Risto who also felt pressure to add to the scoring.  He can just be that punishing defensive presence and stay home.

[Porous Five Hole]

I just love saying Lyubushkin. 
 

I started calling my kid Lyubushkin instead of his name, Dean (he’s 11 and doesn’t care about sports), today because it’s so much fun. 
 

GET IN THE CAR LYUBUSHKIN!!

[Doohicksie]

It's a name that could become a trademark move:  "He just gave Marner the ol' Lyubushkin!"

[Zamboni]

It also sounds like a hearty meal a great grandmother made in the old country before she came to the states.

 

“When I was a boy, On cold winter days my Grandma made a warm pot of Lyubushkin and fresh bread.”

[Porous Five Hole]

21 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

It's a name that could become a trademark move:  "He just gave Marner the ol' Lyubushkin!"

I can see myself using it as a verb. “Did you really just Lyubushkin the table when you walked by?” This might be specific to my clumsy eleven year old.

“I just Lyubushkin’d that garbage plate.”

And then there’s the innuendo opportunity. ”If you touch my Lyubushkin, there’s no turning back.”

So yea, I really like the name/term Lyubushkin and I look forward to using it in all situations.  

[Doohicksie]

20 minutes ago, Porous Five Hole said:

I can see myself using it as a verb. “Did you really just Lyubushkin the table when you walked by?” This might be specific to my clumsy eleven year old.

“I just Lyubushkin’d that garbage plate.”

And then there’s the innuendo opportunity. ”If you touch my Lyubushkin, there’s no turning back.”

So yea, I really like the name/term Lyubushkin and I look forward to using it in all situations.  

Be careful how you use it or the mods will add it to the banned words list!

[Porous Five Hole]

11 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

Be careful how you use it or the mods will add it to the banned words list!

Dear Mods, I Lyubushkin’d her so deeply that we’re married. Now she calls me Ilya for short. 

[nfreeman]

3 hours ago, Buffalonill said:

I've never heard of nolan pratt and by the end I liked him alot

Hopefully it's the same 

What?

if this guy isn’t at least 3x better than Pratt I’ll be deeply disappointed and deeply concerned that KA has poop for brains.  

[Buffalonill]

9 minutes ago, nfreeman said:

What?

if this guy isn’t at least 3x better than Pratt I’ll be deeply disappointed and deeply concerned that KA has poop for brains.  

 

9 minutes ago, nfreeman said:

What?

if this guy isn’t at least 3x better than Pratt I’ll be deeply disappointed and deeply concerned that KA has poop for brains.  

You didn't like pratt ? I thought he was pretty damn good for a cheap pickup 

[nfreeman]

4 minutes ago, Buffalonill said:

 

You didn't like pratt ? I thought he was pretty damn good for a cheap pickup 

He was the Michael Houser of defensemen.  

[Wyldnwoody44]

So his nickbame.. Lubes? 

 

[sabrefanday1]

typical of the Leafs to let their only real good defensive-defensman go free at a very reasonable amount of contract...this is exactly the kind of guy they need more of not less...great signing for us for sure 

[Doohicksie]

8 hours ago, nfreeman said:

He was the Michael Houser of defensemen.  

So you're saying he never got a fair chance to prove himself in the NHL?

[postseasonblues]

If he can play up to the hype here it would be great, but not expecting it. If he wasn't a right hand shot, he would be judged more harshly and that would probably be more accurate. 

Don't really see more than a 3rd pair to 7th d-man but people want to pencil him in as a top 4 based on him being a RHD.

[nfreeman]

7 hours ago, Wyldnwoody44 said:

So his nickbame.. Lubes? 

 

I’m thinking “Loobie.”

[Zamboni]

7 minutes ago, postseasonblues said:

If he can play up to the hype here it would be great, but not expecting it. If he wasn't a right hand shot, he would be judged more harshly and that would probably be more accurate. 

Don't really see more than a 3rd pair to 7th d-man but people want to pencil him in as a top 4 based on him being a RHD.

No, I think most realize he’s a physical stay at home D man who won’t acquire many points. Isn’t flashy. Will quietly do his job most nights. And will mostly be on the bottom pairing with occasional bump ups to the top 4 because of injuries or coaching adjustments in game etc …

Most are not thinking the way you are portraying. There absolutely is no “hype” with him.

[Curt]

28 minutes ago, postseasonblues said:

If he can play up to the hype here it would be great, but not expecting it. If he wasn't a right hand shot, he would be judged more harshly and that would probably be more accurate. 

Don't really see more than a 3rd pair to 7th d-man but people want to pencil him in as a top 4 based on him being a RHD.

He isn’t really more than a 3rd pair guy.  Seems he could be ok on a 2nd pair at times though.

The reason people are glad to have him is because he fills needs.

[Doohicksie]

32 minutes ago, nfreeman said:

I’m thinking “Loobie.”

[The Jokeman]

13 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

Leafs fans and media members here in Toronto are angry they lost him.

He is a guy who knows his role, his strengths and plays to them well. 

6’2 208lbs, plays the body, plays aggressively in the d zone, very good on the PK.  Blocks shots. He will be a fan favourite without ever really contributing offensively. Think Rhett Warrener/ Jay McKee type.

Leafs played him with Reilly and was a good ying to Morgan Reilly’s yang.

I think he would be a good match for Power.

I was thinking more Bob Boughner. I think he's a good bottom pair Dman but still like to see a top 4 RHD that can pair with Dahlin or Power that can get us 30 points a season.