Ilya Lyubushkin's wife Diana Lyubushkina and their relationship history

Ilya Lyubushkin, a defenseman from Moscow, Russia, gained attention for his decision not to join the Buffalo Sabres' pregame warmup during the team's Pride night. The team asked players to wear rainbow-colored jerseys to show support for the LGBTQIA+ community.

But Lyubushkin chose not to participate due to concerns about the anti-gay law in Russia and potential backlash against him and his family. He frequently visits his loved ones in Moscow during the offseason and prioritized their safety.

Ilya Lyubushkin's dedication to his family is a crucial part of his character, according to former teammate Jason Demers. Even while playing professionally, Lyubushkin made sure to spend as much time as possible with his wife Diana Lyubushkina and two sons.

Diana is a photographer and consistently posts photographed images of herself on her Instagram account. Mostly family portraits are featured in her photographed images, although sometimes she posts scenic images as well.

Lyubushkin became a father for the first time just before his 22nd birthday while playing in the KHL. Two years later, his second son was born. Lyubushkin's commitment to his family did not waver even as he transitioned to the NHL.

After signing a one-year deal with the Arizona Coyotes, his coach at the time, Rick Tocchet, observed how Lyubushkin prioritized both his NHL career and his family life.

More about Ilya Lyubushkin, rare facts.

Lyubushkin's positive attitude and willingness to go out of his way to make his teammates feel welcome and comfortable have earned him a reputation as one of the most popular players on his team. His infectious personality has even been known to inspire his teammates to become better people.

Despite the language barrier he faced when he first arrived in Arizona, Ilya Lyubushkin was determined to learn English so he could better communicate with his teammates. Lyubushkin's commitment to his team extends beyond the ice, as he is always willing to do whatever it takes to support his teammates and create a positive team dynamic.

Lyubushkin surprised his Coyotes teammates with a message in their group chat, offering them wine before heading back to Russia for the offseason. When teammate Jason Demers arrived at his home, he discovered hundreds of bottles of fine wine, including some from the Châteauneuf-du-Pape region in France.

Ilya Lyubushkin developed a taste for wine throughout the season, but his eyes were bigger than his packing space when it came time to return to Russia. He was forced to sell most of his collection for a fraction of the price, a mistake that Demers said was a valuable lesson for the rookie defenseman.