I think Liljegren's problems are a few things. One of them is that he plays a risky type of game to begin with. I look at potential comparables as like an OEL, Subban, Carlson, Faulk if he hits his ceiling, so we aren't talking about a very safe player to begin with. I don't think safe stay at home is really in his vocabulary. That type of game can look like a train-wreck when its off. He's definitely off this season in how he plays. When you play that type of game though, being off is going to cause a lot of mistakes. He's not on his game so he's unable to execute the way he wants with his skating, puck handling, passing, shooting, and then he's compounding it with mental mistakes, bad decisions with the puck, bad positioning, bad puck pursuit. When you are struggling, you press, you feel the need to cheat a little more with your pinches, to pursue a puck you shouldn't, to force passes you shouldn't, to try to skate out of trouble instead of throw it up the boards.
I think the kid just needs a clean slate season. Start over, work hard, be able to have a full training camp, and start the season on schedule, not playing catch up. Did anyone mention these decision making and IQ questions a year ago? No, I don't think this is a big part of his game, I think he's just had an off season. Lets also keep in mind he's playing in difficult men's leagues, this isn't junior hockey where even if he's off his game, he can still get away with not playing his best. The whole point of having players like Heiskanen, Liljegren, Dahlin, play in men's leagues is to challenge them against older players who play at a faster pace than junior players and who are better physically. Its a challenge for these kids, lets not think that they can show up not playing well, and get away with it.
