As the NHL season trudges on, many Stanley Cup contenders are making moves to improve their teams. The Toronto Maple Leafs tried to do just that in a deal with the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday night.

The Maple Leafs and Coyotes announced a deal that sent Ilya Lyubushkin and Ryan Dzingel to Toronto in exchange for Nick Ritchie and a conditional 2nd round draft pick.

Ritchie, a seasoned NHL veteran, has played in 383 career games across eight seasons with the Anaheim Ducks and the Boston Bruins in addition to the Leafs. Ritchie has appeared in 33 games this season, notching 2 goals and 7 assists for 9 points. The 26-year-old has not played since Jan. 12.

Dzingel, despite a stint on injured reserve this season, recorded 4 goals and 3 assists for 7 points while on the Coyote roster.

“Zinger is a great person in the locker room, he has a lot of energy, brings a lot of enthusiasm, he’s a smiley guy,” Coyotes head coach André Tourigny said about Dzingel after his team lost to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night. 

Lyubushkin has played 180 career games with the Coyotes, recording 1 goal and 18 assists for 19 points in addition to 67 penalty minutes.

“Boosh is a heart and soul player, who played hard, and laid it on the line for us,” Tourigny said about Lyubushkin. “He’s a great guy, and I think ‘Leaf Nation’ will like his work ethic and his commitment to his team, no doubt about it.

“It’s tough to see good guys like that leave…but to get something, you need to pay,” Tourigny continued. “You don’t get Nick Ritchie and a conditional pick if you don’t give something good.”

Ritchie’s arrival in the Valley is to be determined, as the Coyotes are working through his immigration process.