Toronto Maple Leafs Reveal Offseason Plans for Free Agent Defensemen

One player that could find his way back with the Leafs is Ilya Lyubushkin. After all this is Lyubushkin's second stint with the team, as they also acquired him at the trade deadline in Lyubushkin's second stint with the team, as they also acquired him at the trade deadline in Lyubushkin has been in and out of the lineup as he's dealt with an ongoing illness and minor injuries this season.

In his short stint with the Leafs this season, Lybushkin has shown that he can handle the physical side of the NHL that becomes to prevalent in the playoffs. Despite his depth role on the team, that kind of physical presence could be invaluable to a team that has lacked it in the past. That being said, Lybushkin was just part of a common theme Brad Treliving has employed since taking over the Leafs. He has clearly made the team more physical and harder to play against, thanks to the additions of players like Max Domi, Tyler Bertuzzi, Connor Dewar, and Ryan Reaves. Adding Joel Edmundson at the trade deadline was another move that made the team tougher.

Brad Treliving has already locked up one of his new comers to the team as the Leafs just announced a three-year contract extension for defenseman Simon Benoit. Yet another player that has brought more physicality to the team.

If Benoit's extension is any indication, Treliving is certainly looking to tie up Lybushkin and Edmundson as well.

Source TheHockeyWriters: Maple Leafs' 2024 Offseason Plans for Their Free Agents