Ilya Lyubushkin

Lyubushkin's first campaign in Buffalo in 2022-23 was a mixed bag. He did record two goals and 14 points in 68 contests, which makes it the best season of his career from a points-per-game perspective, but the 29-year-old never has never significantly helped fantasy managers from an offensive perspective. Instead, the defenseman's value has traditionally been in terms of hits, but after setting a career high with 187 hits in 77 outings between Arizona and Toronto in 2021-22, Lyubushkin dropped to a personal-low 99 hits in the subsequent campaign. Traded to the Ducks in August, Lyubushkin projects to serve as a bottom-four defender for a poor Anaheim team in 2023-24, further diminishing his already minimal fantasy value.

Lyubushkin split last season between Arizona and Toronto, setting new career-best marks in games played (77), goals (2), assists (13), points (15), shots on goal (54), average time on ice (17:27), hits (187) and blocks (92). He entered unrestricted free agency this summer, ultimately signing a two-year, $5.5 million deal with the Sabres. There's little to be excited about here from a fantasy perspective, but Lyubushkin should again prove to be a cheap source of hits and blocks for those who miss out on them in the early and middle rounds of their drafts.

Lyubushkin drew into 51 NHL games last season, producing four assists. That matches his output from 2018-19, albeit in 10 more games. Lyubushkin has yet to show a scoring touch, but he's racked up 301 hits in 92 career games with the Coyotes. The Russian blueliner will likely compete with Jordan Oesterle and top prospect Victor Soderstrom for a spot in the lineup during training camp. Lyubushkin is a candidate to serve as a healthy scratch frequently, and he's unlikely to produce much offense when he does get into the lineup. Don't expect the 26-year-old to crack 10 points in 2020-21.

Lyubushkin appeared in 41 games for the Coyotes in 2018-19, registering four assists, 150 hits and a minus-9 rating. The Russian defenseman, known for being more of a stay-at-home player, was rewarded with another one-year contract. He'll be in the mix for bottom-pairing minutes again this season, but don't expect the 25-year-old to crack double-digits in points.

Lyubushkin is a 6-foot-2, 201-pound defenseman. He unloads a right-shot cannon from the point, but the Russian needs to prove that he can adjust to the smaller rinks, and in general, a faster game than he's accustomed to at home in the KHL. Last season, with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv, he generated just three goals and nine assists over 50 games, though he did maintain a plus-14 rating over that span. Even if he cracks the Opening Night roster with the Coyotes, fantasy owners aren't likely to pay much regard to a stay-at-home type.