The Coyotes have announced that they have re-signed defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin to a one year contract extension.
The right handed, 25 year old Russian was signed as a UFA last May, and will play at least one more season for the Coyotes.
Lyubushkin is hard to say and even harder to write, so I am ambivalent about this move. On one hand, he was OK and bringing him back is fine, but is he good enough to warrant the annoyance that spelling his name brings me?
Maybe, maybe not.
He played 40 games and he had 4 assists. That's not so hot.
He averaged 13:22 minutes per game, on the Coyotes third pairing, and did not receive usual special teams action.
His two most common partners were Jordan Oesterle and Jakob Chychrun.
With Oesterle they were a brutal 45% pairing, and Oesterle did slightly better with anyone else.
With Chychrun, they were an acceptable 49.4% pairing, and Chychrun did slightly worse with anyone else.
Relative to his team, Lyubushkin was negative in shot-attempts, shots, scoring chances and goals.
He was a positive in shots prevented, but was a net loss in shots overall because he has no offense to speak of.
Lyubushkin had a 925K cap hit last year and though no details are available yet for his new contract, I imagine it includes the minimum allowable raise and is not significantly more.
So, overall, I'd have to say this is a decent move to retain a depth defenseman. Lyubushkin was basically a replacement player and I suppose there is enough upside in the idea that he might get better after adjusting to the NHL for one year to make bringing him back worthwhile.
That said, he wasn't a particularly good player and he provides absolutely no offense. In a pinch I guess he makes a good depth player, but if I am the Coyotes i definitely want six better options for my blue line.
In my opinion, you need to be insanely good defensively to make up for never scoring, and hardly anyone is. Even if he's above average, how many points does it take to equal that? 10? 20? I personally have no use for anyone who can't score, Nik Hjalmarsson excepted, and even he gives you ten to 20 points per year.
Verdict: Low risk contract to perhaps see improvement, and otherwise fill a depth role. Unlikely to be an impact NHL player, and so far provided negative value.
stats from naturalstattrick.com and , capfriendly.com
Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»