NHL News: Anaheim Ducks, Ryan Merkley, and the Florida Panthers

The Anaheim Ducks trade for Ilya Lyubushkin

NHL.com: The Buffalo Sabres have actually traded defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin to the Anaheim Ducks for 2025 fourth-round choice. The choose initially come from the Minnesota Wild and was obtained by the Ducks from the John Klingberg trade.

“We are excited to add Ilya to our blue line as we targeted another defenseman for the right side this offseason,” Ducks basic supervisor Pat Verbeek stated. “He is a big, physical, hard-nosed player that can kill penalties and will make us harder to play against.”

Ryan Merkley check in the KHL

Kunlan Red Star: Defenseman Ryan Merkley signed a one-year handle Kunlun.

“Oakville, ON native, Merkley (2000, 6’0”, 185 pounds) has 39 video games for @SanJoseSharks in NHL Merkley is Hlinka Memorial champ with @HockeyCanada and 21st general choice in 2018 #NHLDraft“

Brandon Montour and Aaron Ekblad appear to be advancing well

David Dwork of The Hockey News: The Florida Panthers will lack defensemen Brandon Montour and Aaron Ekblad for the start of the season after they both had surgical treatment previously this offseason.

GM Bill Zito on the SiriusXM NHL Power Play program stated previously today that both are on schedule.

“The intel I’m getting back is that they’re on time,” Zito stated. “It’ll be a month or two. Is it four (months)? Probably not. Is it one (month)? Probably not. That’s as well as I could get, but every time I check in, I’m told (they’re) on schedule).”

So that seems like they might be prepared at some point in October. They open the season on October 12th and their house opener is on October 19th.