Ilya Lyubushkin Traded to Anaheim – Ilya Lyubushkin and Jeff Petry will have new destinations in the 2023-24 National Hockey League season as their old teams traded them in separate trades this week. The Anaheim Ducks acquired five-year veteran Lyubushkin from Buffalo for a 2025 fourth-round draft choice while the Montreal Canadiens sent 35-year-old Petry to the Detroit Red Wings for a 24-year-old defenseman and a conditional 2025 fourth-round pick. The latest developments are expected to boost the blue lines of both teams and bounce back from disappointing stints last season. The Ducks and Red Wings also hope that the new acquisitions will help their status in NHL betting odds in the upcoming tournament.
Ilya Lyubushkin Traded to Anaheim: Ducks Continue Blue Line Revamp
Anaheim resumed their blue line makeover as they traded for 29-year-old Lyubushkin. In return, the Sabres acquired the fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL draft. The veteran is expected to improve the Ducks in terms of penalty killing and contribute in other defensive categories in the upcoming season. Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said that adding Lyubushkin will make the team harder to play against.
The Moscow native, who began his NHL career with Arizona in 2018, led the Sabres in hits and blocked shots per 60 minutes. He had 14 points in 68 games with Buffalo last season. The trade meant that the Ducks will shoulder the second year of Lyubushkin’s USD5.5-million contract that he signed with the Sabres in July 2022. The Russian is the Ducks’ latest acquisition in the defenseman spot following the signing of Radko Gudas and Robert Hägg this summer. The Ducks seek to end their five-season playoff drought, and they expect Lyubushkin, Gudas, and Hägg to improve their defense in the 2023-24 season.
Canadiens Trade Petry to Red Wings
The Red Wings resumed their busy offseason acquiring veteran defenseman Petry from the Canadiens. In return, Montreal got 24-year-old Gustav Lindstrom and a conditional 2025 fourth-round draft pick. It is a homecoming of sorts for the 35-year-old Petry as he is a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was the second trade that Petry was involved in, as he was part of the trade that sent former Canadien and three-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Petry will be part of the revitalized Detroit blue line that also acquired Justin Holl and Shayne Gostisbehere in free agency.
The Red Wings previously traded for Alex DeBrincat and signed forwards Daniel Sprong and J.T. Compher to strengthen their offense in their quest to halt their seven-year playoff drought. The Canadiens get a young defenseman in Lindstrom, who played 36 games with Detroit last season and scored eight points and over 14 minutes of ice time.
Jonathan Toews to Step Away from Hockey
Former Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews has stated that he is stepping away from hockey for health reasons. Toews played for 16 years with Chicago, but the Blackhawks opted not to sign him next season. The veteran, however, noted that this does not mean he is fully retiring. He will just take a break to focus on his health. Toews only played 53 games last season and recorded 15 goals and 16 assists. Blackhawks’ general manager Kyle Davidson stated that the team won’t re-sign Toews, who the team selected third overall in the 2006 draft. He scored 372 goals and 511 assists in his career with Chicago. Toews won the 2010 Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, the Selke Trophy in 2013, and the Messier Leadership Award in 2015. He was named in 2018 as one of the 100 greatest players in NHL history.
Bruins Center David Krejci Retires
Ilya Lyubushkin Traded to Anaheim: David Krejci has announced his retirement after 15 seasons in the NHL. The Czech center, who played for the Boston Bruins, thanked the team officials for supporting his decision to step away from the sport. The development comes three weeks after captain Patrice Bergeron shocked Boston and NHL fans when he announced his retirement. Krecji played 1,192 regular-season and playoff games for the Bruins from 2007-2023. He helped the team win the 2011 Stanley Cup. Krejci scored 871 points during that span and made 13 playoff and three finals appearances.
The Bruins won the Presidents’ Trophy as the top team in the 2022-23 regular season. However, they lost in the first round to eventual Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers. The retirements of Bergeron and Krejci leave Boston with 26-year-old Pavel Zacha and 31-year-old Charlie Coyle as the top two centers. The Bruins also signed 2011 Cup-winning winger Milan Lucic, forwards James van Riemsdyk and Morgan Geekie, and defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk to improve the team as they try to move on from the departures of Bergeron and Krejci. The team hopes that the new acquisitions and the new centers will keep the winning tradition intact, as the Bruins have been part of the top NHL choices in online sports picks.
Hilbert Mayer
Sports Writer
Hilbert Mayer is a professional sports writer, betting analyst, and content strategist with over 15 years of experience in the sports industry. Before focusing on sports betting analysis and handicapping, Hilbert worked as a sports writer for various news outlets, covering everything from game recaps to in-depth matchup features. Today, he specializes in MLB, NFL, March Madness, and UFC betting, combining his journalistic background with deep statistical expertise and real-world betting insights. His proven track record, sharp reads, and ability to break down complex matchups make him a trusted voice among both casual bettors and seasoned sharps.
Published on: August 21, 2023
Last updated: April 10, 2025