Confirmed with Link: Leafs sign D Timothy Liljegren to extension (2 years, $3M AAV)

[ToneDog]

This is a good investment. Time will prove this to be a smart move.

He was sat out the last two years in the playoffs. Only hope is Berube helps him take another step.

 

[notbias]

He doesn't seem like a Berube type of player. Hopefully we flip him to Dubas.

Hopefully, Liljegren takes a step forward as our best passing D and likely most skilled.

I don't want another playoff of our D looking for someone to crosscheck instead of trying to move the puck up the ice.

 

[crump]

Is he Ufa at end of this deal?

Yes

 

[BM14]

He was sat out the last two years in the playoffs. Only hope is Berube helps him take another step.

We also had a Jr B coach.

 

[sylejman]

So many NHL GM's in here. Also let me know what the lottery numbers are going to be.

 

[rumman]

Disgusting

3 mil for a guy we keep having to bench in the playoffs

Just poured 4 fingers of whiskey, the day was going so well until this…….

 

[Phion Keneuf]

I don't mind OEL but I wish we got a bigger fish. That D needs another top 4 dman

I totally agree. I’m hoping for the same but that’s how I see it playing out based on what we’re hearing so far

 

[TheMadHatTrick]

He's trending to become a fairly solid 2nd pair defenseman with some offense. Just needs to stay healthy.

Liljegren is a solid bet to eventually become a top 4 d-man even if he isn't now imo. He has the ability and the tools, but he hasn't figured things out yet as soon as we would hope.

But he's the kind of guy where at some point, probably in his late 20s/early 30s, it will just suddenly click for him and he becomes one of those steady veterans that plays in the league into their late 30s. This happens especially with guys who were initially supposed to be offensive defensemen, but had to reinvent themselves as either 2-way or defensive defensemen types. I'm reminded of guys like Ron Haisney and Roman Hamrlik, or closer to home a guy like Stralman in terms of their career trajectories.

The problem is that breakout usually happens with other teams, since the player has not done enough to warrant being extended longterm, and by then they've reached their UFA years.

 

[DarkKnight]

This is a good investment. Time will prove this to be a smart move.

Time has repeatedly shown it isn’t. His best season was two years ago, not exactly encouraging for a 25 year old.

 

[rumman]

gotta factor in the expiring contracts like Brodie, Gio, Klingberg, Murray, etc....

I am almost positive Jarnkrok is going to be dealth thats an addditional 2.1 million (unless Tre for some reason thinks Jarnkrok is the answer to Leafs' abysmal PK).

Marner's cap hit is ruining everything IMO. So we gotta at least wait a year. If was Tre I would be forcing the issue with Marner LOL

My only hope is he’s part of a package moved in the Marner deal……..

 

[Thornbury]

If people are willing to give Marner a flyer to see how he plays under Berube, the same should apply here. It's not a back breaker.

I still hope Mitch is wearing a different jersey next year. Then our salary cap is a non issue.

 

[PromisedLand]

Keefe loved Jarnkrok and he did fill multiple roles. BUT, once again, like his entire career, does nothing come playoffs. I’m fine with trading him. Ditto Kampf.

unfortunately kampf would still be around for now depending on what Dewar is getting.

Our centers so far are:
Matthews
Tavares
Holmberg/Dwwar
Kampf

Jarnkrok has gotta be traded. He wasn't as good on PK and doesn't really do much 5on5 either IMO. We can fill the winger spot with Minten/Cowan to get more offense

Domi-Matthews-XXX
McMann-Tavares-Nylander
Knies-Dewar-Marner(i want marner gone btw)
Holmberg-Kampf-Reaves
Minten

if Bert is signed to a reasonable deal to slide next to Matthews great if not bump up RW and get Cowan

I think rest of the cap (+Jarnkrok) would be used for goalie tandem

 

[BM14]

Time has repeatedly shown it isn’t. His best season was two years ago, not exactly encouraging for a 25 year old.

What was the constant? An inept coach and leadership group.

 

[Burnie97]

I still have some faith in Lilly. 3 million per season seems a bit rich though.

I think Tre is going to sign Tanev but maybe knows he's striking out on some bigger names.

Kind of disappointing.

Leafs really need to make a couple trades to shore up some other areas. Still all summer so all good.

 

[PromisedLand]

My only hope is he’s part of a package moved in the Marner deal……..

I want marner gone. But am still not willing to give up on Liljegren. Its hard to find NHL d-man. If he doesn't pan out he can be moved. 3M AAV is not much IMO for Liljegren

 

[DarkKnight]

unfortunately kampf would still be around for now depending on what Dewar is getting.

Our centers so far are:
Matthews
Tavares
Holmberg/Dwwar
Kampf

Jarnkrok has gotta be traded. He wasn't as good on PK and doesn't really do much 5on5 either IMO. We can fill the winger spot with Minten/Cowan to get more offense

Domi-Matthews-XXX
McMann-Tavares-Nylander
Knies-Dewar-Marner(i want marner gone btw)
Holmberg-Kampf-Reaves
Minten

if Bert is signed to a reasonable deal to slide next to Matthews great if not bump up RW and get Cowan

I think rest of the cap (+Jarnkrok) would be used for goalie tandem

Don’t mind Domi in the two hole, JT the three. He was great on the dot too as the season went on. Holmberg can play center too.

 

[Fogelhund]

Ah man. You had me all the way until the end. Robertson is a dime-a-dozen prospect that every team has.

Ya.... for sure. 34th in the league in points/60. 16th in the league in goals/60 Every team has players who score like that.

This team has problems scoring at the right time, but hey.. let's dump the kid who routinely puts up goals and points... we need more grit right?

 

[DarkKnight]

What was the constant? An inept coach and leadership group.

Yep it’s always someone else’s problem he gets manhandled and can’t win a board battle. Poor kid never stood a chance. Just look at Benoit when he came here and actually stole a job.

 

[PromisedLand]

Don’t mind Domi in the two hole, JT the three. He was great on the dot too as the season went on. Holmberg can play center too.

I'd rather Domi stick with Matthews.

It would be nice to see high AAV drive offense and make lesser AAV players productive instead of having high AAV forwards always play with each other for stat padding. We gotta manufacture depth given the cap constraints we have.

Marner out solves a lot of issues, but until that happens we MUST put the 3 amigos (matthesws, nylander, marner) on 3 different lines to drive their lines

 

[DarkKnight]

I’m still holding out this is for a trade.

 

[rumman]

What was the constant? An inept coach and leadership group.

And a player who can’t put it together, everyone’s had bad bosses, that no reason for giving him a hall pass. If I’m Benoit and I see this stiff making twice as much while mailing it in, well that ain’t good……..

 

[Thornbury]

Yuck.

Cap increase 4.5m

Willie +4.5m
Matty +1.161m
Domi +0.75
Lily +1.675
Woll +3m (next year)

Total $8.541 in raises alone (so $4m fewer dollars for the rest)

Woll's # is irrelevant since it doesn't hit next season. When it does, JT's $11 million is gone.

 

[BM14]

Ya.... for sure. 34th in the league in points/60. 16th in the league in goals/60 Every team has players who score like that.

This team has problems scoring at the right time, but hey.. let's dump the kid who routinely puts up goals and points... we need more grit right?

This is where reading an excel sheet vs watching is shown.

The player can’t stay on his skates, it’s constantly bullied off the puck, can’t shadow his assignments and can’t stay healthy.

 

[rumman]

I’m still holding out this is for a trade.

It’s the only positive to this signing imo…….

 

[HockeyVirus]

He was sat out the last two years in the playoffs. Only hope is Berube helps him take another step.

So which is it, Keefe was an idiot who failed to get the most of the roster or he made the right decisions when it counts?