Toronto Maple Leafs basic supervisor Brad Treliving made a transfer final night time by transferring right-handed defenseman Timothy Liljegren to the San Jose Sharks in trade for a 2025 conditional third-round choose, the Sharks’ sixth-round choose in 2026 and defenseman Matt Benning.
The transfer brings an finish to Liljegren’s period in Toronto after he simply signed a two-year extension, a median annual worth of $3 million per season. The Maple Leafs save $1.75 million within the deal by taking up Benning’s $1.25 million contract. After having a disappointing preseason and barely getting any minutes to begin the season, it was turning into clear that transferring Liljegren could be useful for either side.
Lilegren Fell Out of Maple Leafs Plans
There was quite a lot of promise when the Maple Leafs drafted Liljegren 17th total again in 2017 to be a gentle, puck-moving defender. Nevertheless, he has but to solidify his spot inside the lineup as an impactful top-four defender, spending nearly all of his time as a 3rd pairing defenseman. This season alone, he wasn’t becoming into head coach Craig Berube’s plans, as he has solely performed in a single sport the place he performed 13:55 after placing up 23 factors in 55 video games final season.
Liljegren had loads of alternatives earlier than to take the subsequent step however hasn’t actually pushed the needle to maneuver up within the lineup. His finest alternative got here when defenseman Justin Holl left in 2023. Since then, he has been stapled as a 3rd pairing defender and the Maple Leafs made strikes to usher in established top-four defenders, like Jake McCabe and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. After an unimpressive camp and barely getting any play time this season, it was solely a matter of time earlier than Liljegren was dealt with the intention to give him a recent begin. Even he was upset with how issues went.
Whereas he had an opportunity to solidify a roster spot, he was surpassed by different gamers on the depth chart, notably Connor Timmins and Philippe Myers who each stood out and introduced much more to the desk. It’s disappointing that that is how Liljegren’s tenure as a Maple Leaf got here to an finish given his potential, however different gamers had higher camps and performances which made it troublesome for him to crack the roster.
First rate Return Contemplating State of affairs
Contemplating that Liljegren barely had any play time in the course of the season, it is a respectable return for the Maple Leafs. There’s additionally the pending return of Connor Dewar and Jani Hakanpää because the Maple Leafs wanted the cap area to make their return from harm work.
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There was the potential that the return wouldn’t be as sturdy due to his lack of video games performed. To get a third-round choose, a sixth-round choice and a depth defenseman at a less expensive worth and worth is a superb transfer by Treliving, particularly after the Olli Matta commerce earlier.
Buying draft picks is rarely a foul factor, particularly now that Mark Leach is the director of beginner scouting for the Maple Leafs. The 2025 NHL Draft is shaping as much as be one other sturdy one. Like several draft there’s the potential of discovering later spherical expertise with these picks and the Maple Leafs have that likelihood as they didn’t have a choose in that spherical.
Benning is one other right-shot defenseman, however he matches the invoice as a depth choice and participant that may come out and in of the lineup. He has zero factors in seven video games this season, however his finest one got here again in 2022-23 the place he had 23 assists and 24 factors in 77 video games. Whereas he isn’t an offensive powerhouse on the backend, he’s very regular along with his defensive play and he has been identified to be an enormous hitter and shot blocker previously.
Liljegren Has Likelihood To Transfer Ahead
Given how this a great deal for the Maple Leafs, it’s additionally a great one for Liljegren as he has an opportunity to take an enormous step ahead on a Sharks workforce that’s in a rebuild section. He has a greater alternative to earn extra video games and minutes be a top-four defender there and will become one thing for them. Strain on him could also be even much less given the place he’s going as that would assist along with his confidence and total play.
