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Based on the additions made to by the Toronto Maple Leafs during the summer, how new head coach Craig Berube used his roster during the exhibition schedule, and the club’s cap situation with injured players on the verge of returning, it was only a matter of time before Timothy Liljegren was traded.
On Wednesday, the Leafs announced they had traded Liljegren to the San Jose Sharks for a conditional 2025 third-round pick (the higher of third-rounders from either Edmonton or Colorado), San Jose’s 2026 sixth-round pick, and veteran defenseman Matt Benning.
The 25-year-old former first-rounder has always left observers wanting more. He was one of the top-rated prospects in the 2017 NHL Draft, but injuries, illness, and playing for multiple clubs in Sweden in his draft year damaged his stock and had him fall to Toronto at 17th overall. Liljegren was brought over to North America immediately, but he spent almost four years in the AHL before really getting an opportunity with the Leafs in 2021. In spite of being what many teams were looking for (a good skating, skilled right-handed blueliner), teams were not interested in him.
The LA Kings in reportedly preferred OHL defenseman and Leafs 2018 second-round pick Sean Durzi in the Jake Muzzin over Liljegren, and even this week, after posting 23 points in 55 games last season, according to James Mirtle of the Athletic, the Utah Hockey Club preferred veteran Olli Maatta with one year left on a contract to fill their defensive hole, over the younger Leaf with another year on his contract.
This deal makes sense for both the Sharks and Toronto. San Jose is in the midst of a rebuild and will give Liljegren plenty of opportunity over the next two years, to see if he can stay healthy and become a top-four NHL defenseman. For the Leafs, it clears Liljegren’s $3 million cap hit for this and next year, which would have been an issue with Jani Hakanpaa and Connor Dewar close to returning, and with Jake McCabe extended, having a bottom-pairing blueliner making that kind of money in 2025 would have been an issue.
Liljegren has talent. We’ve never seen him put everything together, and that is why his being dealt is a disappointment. He may not ever put it together and what he is now may be what he will be, but his tenure in Toronto feels like a missed opportunity.
The 30-year-old Benning is signed for another year at $1.25 million and has 464 games of NHL experience, but based on the Leafs cap crunch, he would seem to be a better fit on the Marlies as a stand-by defenseman in case of injury. It would not be surprising to see him placed on waivers.
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The Leafs take on the Seattle Kraken at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday. Head coach Craig Berube indicated after the morning skate that Joseph Woll will get the start in goal.
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