Confirmed with Link: Leafs acquire Dzingel, Lyubushkin from ARI for Ritchie, c.2nd... Dzingel on waivers &claimed

[zeke]

Lyubushkin plays against top competition, with weak linemates, and posts great defensive results on an absolutely terrible team. That is undeniably impressive.

He's big, can hit, skates well.

The reason I was so high on trading for him is that:

1) He's low cost (unlike the stupid asks for Chariot)
2) He brings the defensive impacts that the Leafs need
3) He has top-4 upside on a good team

I dont get the top-4 upside part tbh.

This guy is 7th in even strength ice time on one of the worst defenses in hockey - and this year is by far the best of his career.

 

[Leafsfan74]

It's unfortunate but a necessary trade. Leafs had to pay for the cap relief and their hand was essentially forced in more ways than one.

Lyubushkin has decent size, hits and blocks shots. He is -6 on a horrible Arizona team while playing long minutes of late. A physical defense is all I care about for this teams playoff prospects. The Leafs have decent puck movers, they need some movers and hitters back there.

Neither player are under contract past this season.

 

[Zybalto]

Lyubushkin was Chychrun's most common partner this year. Good D numbers and I wonder if he would work well with a puck mover like Sandin.

Not sure what we have here so we gotta see how chemistry is., Still, incredible trade for possible useful pieces to dump Ritchie's salary for only a 3rd or a second over 3 years from now.

 

[Morgs]

Seems like a W for AZ too.

 

[Stephen]

Dzingel comes off of playing for two historically bad teams in the last couple years .. He's no star but he plays the tenacious style of game the Leafs want with their stars(at least when he was effective).

Prior to playing with Arizona and Ottawa, he signed in Carolina. For whatever reason he didn't mesh there but still put up nearly a 0.5 pPG pace. His goals were down in that first season but his shooting percentage nearly half of what his career was.

Before he signed in Carolina he was dealt by Ottawa at the dealdine to Columbus for a playoff run.

His career went sideways after that Carolina stint but he then played on two really bad teams.

All this to say is that while he has some work to do to rebuild his game, there's some potential value here which isn't a bad thing for basically a throw in piece to a trade. IMO it's more of a money thing for the Coyotes.

Seem to remember him being a speedy opportunistic, versatile guy on Ottawa with a shot? Came up with the Pageau, Hoffman, Stone group but obviously their careers all ended up in different places. He was traded for Alex Galchenyuk last season.

 

[LeafChief]

I'd like to get a better read on Dzingel. Does he make on of Engvall/Mikheyev expendable?

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I think Mikheyev is next , not engvall fits good 4th line .
Not a good left winger

Dzingel is not upgrading anyone in this lineup except maybe Simmonds.

Engvall and Mikheyev are significantly better than him, or at least the version of him that has existed since he started in Carolina in 2019.

 

[Mitchy]

Not bad. Defensive specialist that has no offensive impact. Could do very well paired with one of our puckmovers. Still, wouldn't play him over Lilly, but good insurance to have

 

[Stephen]

Not sure he needs to make it a thing with Liljegren, but getting an extra guy for the defensive "bull pen" is definitely a nice insurance policy. Plus we don't have big hitters so it just fills a hole.

 

[BertCorbeau]

I'd like to get a better read on Dzingel. Does he make on of Engvall/Mikheyev expendable?

No he doesn't, but he does provide some competition for them. So it's nice depth. IIRC he can play the right side too.

 

[WTFMAN99]

I'd like to get a better read on Dzingel. Does he make on of Engvall/Mikheyev expendable?

Dzingel can't really PK which is a big thing we need Soup and Engvall to do...he can maybe play 2nd PP as net front presence, he is a better finisher than you'd think.

Not good defensively despite some of the metrics I have seen.

 

[LeafChief]

Would you trade Holl for Braun straight up? Both seem pretty equivalent and we get out of Holl's money for next year where maybe it can be spent on Giordano/Subban?

 

[zeke]

Leafs have missed BOGOs physical play.
.

Have they?

 

[BertCorbeau]

Seem to remember him being a speedy opportunistic, versatile guy on Ottawa with a shot? Came up with the Pageau, Hoffman, Stone group but obviously their careers all ended up in different places. He was traded for Alex Galchenyuk last season.

I recall he always was tenacious and had a great compete level battling to get into position on the ice to make a play and score.

 

[Nylanderthal]

We don't need to send Dzingel down, but I guess if we want to accrue cap, we could risk that he goes through. I doubt the Leafs really care if he gets claimed; he is a decent fill in 4th liner who can take some pressure off of Simmonds, but we have guys on the Marlies (i.e. Robertson and Anderson) who are probably better than him if we give them a chance. However, he gives us an experienced guy who can take a regular NHL shift and if he can regain his magic on a good team, then there is some good upside there.

It would open up some space to gain that pick by being an intermediary at the TDL. Would help us get our 4th round pick back this year.

One of liljegren or Dzingel need to go down unless another trade is made; as it stands they’re $167k over the cap

 

[seanlinden]

I'd like to get a better read on Dzingel. Does he make on of Engvall/Mikheyev expendable?

Call me crazy, but I think he could.

The guy is a 2-time 20 goal scorer, including once in just 57 games.

The great thing about the timing of this deal is that the Leafs will get an opportunity to see what he can do over the next month, and still go out and add at the deadline if they want.

I'd imagine that he knocks Spezza or Simmonds out of the lineup -- just to get these guys some rest.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Would you trade Holl for Braun straight up? Both seem pretty equivalent and we get out of Holl's money for next year where maybe it can be spent on Giordano/Subban?

Yea, if Muzzin kinda gets back to his usual self, I do it.

Bring back either 1 of Braun or Lybushkin that does well.

If they both did well, can always move Liljegren in a bigger deal for a forward.

 

[Voodoo Child]

Lyubushkin has never handled a workload like Holl's actually.

Their TOI numbers without breaking down special teams looks fairly similar, at least on the year, a few minutes off.

But Holl has definitely been used way over his head - it's not like he excels in his role here. Realistically you want him playing 15-17 on the third pair, but he does spend a ton of time with Muzzin out of necessity, even as he's been outshone by Liljegren.

Muzzin has declined steadily in the last two years, and it's not all him.

Holl's biggest issue is he tries stuff he has no business doing and often gets burned.

Some basic counting stats: Holl has 32 giveaways this year after 41 last year, 25 combined takeaways over the time, that's a horrible ratio, almost 3:1.

Lyubushkin has 28 giveaways and 20 takeaways, far better for a Dman.

A D who will try to get the puck to the right guy to do it, or a guy who will try to carry it out himself mistakes be damned.

I've long thought that Justin Holl's biggest enemy was himself, because a lot of the tools are there;

He has size and uses it, but could use it more.
He has a heavy shot but has trouble getting into good lanes.
He can make a good first pass, but isn't too good on the line.
He's decisive, but doesn't know how to pick his spots.

The only thing he lacks, sadly, is the most important thing of all - he has terrible instincts in both zones.

If Lyubushkin can come in and give a responsible, boring, hard checking 15-17 a game, then Holl doesn't need to be put in situations out of his wheelhouse.

I almost want a Rielly-Brodie top pair and two 'revolving' second pairs built around Sandin and Muzzin on the L side with Lyub-Holl-Liljegren rotating in, with Sandin assuming #3 details until Muzzin gets his head out of his ass.

Brodie, Liljegren, Holl and Lyubushkin on the right side? Is it an elite RHD group, of course not, but I remember when it was Hainsey, Polak, Zaitsev on the right side.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

I dont get the top-4 upside part tbh.

This guy is 7th in even strength ice time on one of the worst defenses in hockey - and this year is by far the best of his career.

it's pretty hard for defensive defensemen to look good on shitty teams. I wouldn't go out on a limb and guarantee he'll be a top 4 guy, but it wouldn't be the most shocking thing in the world either. Out of Arizona's 5 best pairings by xGF% over the last few seasons, 3 of them feature Lyubushkin

 

[Leafsfan74]

I'm not sure why Dubas should get credit for having to waste a 2nd to get rid of that terrible Ritchie contract he signed in the first place. Whatever. I hope Dzingel does something useful occasionally.

A sour two year contract at $2.5M per isn't the end of the world. Just don't make any long term high priced errors.

I thought that in theory, Ritchie made sense. Bruins fans said we would see him as lazy, penalty prone and uninspired. Bruins fans are quite knowledgeable and in this case accurate.

Hindsight is always 20/20, I personally thought it was a solid deal. You can't win them all.

 

[Ashdown2]

I think Mikheyev is next , not engvall fits good 4th line .
Not a good left winger

mik is 10000000x better than engvall ....... why in blue blazes would the leafs trade mik ?


as for the lyb , i think its a good pickup considering the cost of the other options at RD (im hearing manson and mayfield arnt available)
besides braun who wouldnt break the bank the other options are just worse defensivly and would cost ALOT more.

 

[Zybalto]

I dont get the top-4 upside part tbh.

This guy is 7th in even strength ice time on one of the worst defenses in hockey - and this year is by far the best of his career.

They run a more balanced ice time there with Lyubushkin's 15:34 being 7th and Chychrun's 19:37 being top so it's not that huge a swing.

Even strength REL defensive numbers are pretty great:

OZone starts: 31.47
SCA/60 REL: -5.3
HDCA/60 REL: -1.88
xGA/60 REL: -.57

(All three of these lead the team)

 

[WTFMAN99]

A sour two year contract at $2.5M per isn't the end of the world. Just don't make any long term high priced errors.

I thought that in theory, Ritchie made sense. Bruins fans said we would see him as lazy, penalty prone and uninspired. Bruins fans are quite knowledgeable and in this case accurate.

Hindsight is always 20/20, I personally thought it was a solid deal. You can't win them all.

No one goes 5/5, it's just unfortunate that his 2 higher priced signings in the summer seem the most suspect.

Kampf, Kase and Bunting all look great.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

One of liljegren or Dzingel need to go down unless another trade is made; as it stands they’re $167k over the cap

I imagine it would be Liljegren. That is the easiest move to make us compliant, and Lyubushkin can take Liljegren's spot.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Their TOI numbers without breaking down special teams looks fairly similar, at least on the year, a few minutes off.

But Holl has definitely been used way over his head - it's not like he excels in his role here. Realistically you want him playing 15-17 on the third pair, but he does spend a ton of time with Muzzin out of necessity, even as he's been outshone by Liljegren.

Muzzin has declined steadily in the last two years, and it's not all him.

Holl's biggest issue is he tries stuff he has no business doing and often gets burned.

Some basic counting stats: Holl has 32 giveaways this year after 41 last year, 25 combined takeaways over the time, that's a horrible ratio, almost 3:1.

Lyubushkin has 28 giveaways and 20 takeaways, far better for a Dman.

A D who will try to get the puck to the right guy to do it, or a guy who will try to carry it out himself mistakes be damned.

I've long thought that Justin Holl's biggest enemy was himself, because a lot of the tools are there;

He has size and uses it, but could use it more.
He has a heavy shot but has trouble getting into good lanes.
He can make a good first pass, but isn't too good on the line.
He's decisive, but doesn't know how to pick his spots.

The only thing he lacks, sadly, is the most important thing of all - he has terrible instincts in both zones.

If Lyubushkin can come in and give a responsible, boring, hard checking 15-17 a game, then Holl doesn't need to be put in situations out of his wheelhouse.

I almost want a Rielly-Brodie top pair and two 'revolving' second pairs built around Sandin and Muzzin on the L side with Lyub-Holl-Liljegren rotating in, with Sandin assuming #3 details until Muzzin gets his head out of his ass.

Brodie, Liljegren, Holl and Lyubushkin on the right side? Is it an elite RHD group, of course not, but I remember when it was Hainsey, Polak, Zaitsev on the right side.

This is an excellent write up, nicely done