Carolina Hurricanes Retain Salary in Ilya Lyubushkin Trade with Anaheim and Toronto

In a three-team trade involving the Carolina Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks, and Toronto Maple Leafs, the Hurricanes have acquired a sixth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft from the Maple Leafs. The trade also involves the Hurricanes retaining 25% of defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin's salary for the remainder of the 2023-24 NHL season.

As part of the deal, the Toronto Maple Leafs will acquire the draft rights to forward Kirill Slepets. Slepets, a 24-year-old player from Khabarovsk, Russia, has had an impressive season in the KHL with Amur Khabarovsk, tallying 19 points (8 goals, 11 assists) in 53 games. Throughout his career in the KHL, Slepets has accumulated 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists) in 127 games, playing for Amur Khabarovsk, Dinamo Riga, and Lokomotiv Yaroslavl.

The Carolina Hurricanes had originally drafted Slepets in the fifth round, 152nd overall, of the 2019 NHL Draft. Now, the Maple Leafs have secured his draft rights as part of this multi-team trade.

The acquisition of the sixth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft will provide the Hurricanes with an additional asset to strengthen their roster in the future. By retaining a portion of Lyubushkin's salary, the Hurricanes have made a financial move to accommodate the trade. This transaction highlights their commitment to make strategic moves and build a competitive team.

The full details of the trade involving the Carolina Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks, and Toronto Maple Leafs have not been disclosed. However, this trade signifies another step taken by the Hurricanes organization to strengthen their roster and make strategic moves ahead of the 2024 season.