Former Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin criticized the team’s contract offer to keep him, calling it unacceptable. The Maple Leafs brought Lyubushkin back during the 2024 NHL trade deadline, but after their first-round playoff exit, he became a free agent on July 1. Toronto expressed interest in retaining him, but Lyubushkin ultimately signed a three-year, $9.75 million deal with the Dallas Stars.

In an interview with Russian media outlet ICE (translated by The Hockey Writers), Lyubushkin explained, “We couldn’t agree on the terms… they said they wanted to keep me, but the terms weren’t acceptable. Both in duration and money, it was very difficult.” He felt that despite the Maple Leafs’ initial interest, their sincerity in the negotiations was lacking.

Lyubushkin, known for his physical style, is now eager to prove himself to Stars fans and demonstrate he’s worth the contract. He expressed confidence in playing any defensive role for Dallas and is focused on helping the team succeed.

Toronto, meanwhile, focused on upgrading their defense during the offseason, signing Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Jani Hakanpaa, along with goalie Anthony Stolarz. The Maple Leafs open the 2024-25 season on October 9 against the Montreal Canadiens.