Confirmed with Link: Leafs Trade: Liljegren to San Jose for Matt Benning, 3rd and 6th

[Stephen]

Is people on a message board being upset a relevant factor for a GM’s decision making?

In all likelihood, Treliving would have been criticized no matter what he did with Liljegren by guys on the message board. Liljegren is a disappointing player and a lot of hope has been projected onto him over the years.

 

[All Mod Cons]

How many times do people have to say it, was either sign him or let him walk for nothing. What sounds smarter to you? Crazy anyone thinks differently, he was going to arbitration.

Dubas used to get mad props for swiftly moving on from guys the coach didn't want to play. Brad, not so much.

 

[Stephen]

Dubas used to get mad props for swiftly moving on from guys the coach didn't want to play. Brad, not so much.

Countless examples of marginal assets and contracts being purged in the past.

 

[LeafEgo]

I think awarding a contract to a guy who you know isn't worth it AND giving him term carries a considerable amount of unnecessary risk. Especially when you knew there was a reasonable chance the new coach wouldn't have much interest in showcasing him.

Tre put himself in a hole, and had to quickly dig himself out. It's worked out, in the end, so water under the bridge for the most part. But I don't think anyone can say this was an ideal situation (with a straight face, at least)

I actually liked Tres free agency this year,l. Having 3 more mil to play around with could have given the third line an extra impact player, or maybe being able to add a 6 mil D man if need be. It's not unreasonable to think that 3 mil in free agency could be more impactful than whatever Tre trades that 3rd rounder for at the tdl next year.

Personally never saw any risk when he was signed or since then, and thought the price and term was to mitigate risk, as he would have been paid the same or more in FA by potential suitors. As it turns out it only took a couple weeks to move him for an expected return.

I don't think Tre predicted Berube to hate him as much as he did. That's a bit of a black eye, but it didn't affect his value much, if at all.

As you said, the other option was walking him and using the money in FA, but FA was a success and we wouldn't have a 3rd and a 6th today.

There was a lot of hub bub on the boards but I'm not sure this was ever actually a problem.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

A fair question to say the least.

One would assume Tre figured he'd be able to get something for him on the market. But it's a puzzling deal to give to a guy with clearly little value around the league

Maybe it was due to the fact that OEL, Tanev, and Hakanpaa were not signed yet.

 

[tmlms13]

Got ammo for TDL

Good enough

 

[DraftSchmaft]

Good riddance.

We win that Bruins series last season if we didn't start this guy

 

[hockeywiz542]

Insider Provides Update on Matt Benning's Future With the Maple Leafs

Matt Benning was a 'throw in' for the San Jose Sharks to complete the Timothy Liljegren trade and his status with the Maple Leafs is now known.

www.mapleleafsdaily.com

Acquired as part of the Liljegren deal last Wednesday, Matt Benning has another season left on his deal after this one that carries a $1.25M cap hit. The 30-year-old is certainly a servicable NHL defenseman, but he is in the same situation that Liljegren was in - at the bottom of the depth chart for the Leafs.

The Leafs still have some time, but will need to decide the right course of action for their roster once the conditioning stints for the injured Jani Hakanpaa and Connor Dewar end.

Sitting with 23 players on their roster currently, the Leafs need to move two players, whether that be through waivers or via trade in order to activate Hakanpaa and Dewar. Given his place on the depth chart of the Leafs, Benning is the most likely defensive candidate to be placed on waivers or be traded.

While he hasn't gotten to play since joining the Leafs, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman revealed during 'Saturday Headlines' that the Leafs are trying to do right by Benning and get him somewhere that will allow him to play.

"They have roster crunches they are going to have to deal with when everyone gets healthy. They have let it be known that they want to do right by Benning. He's a guy who is an NHL player. He's more than capable of playing on a roster. They are trying to do what's best for him. Teams know he's available."

Friedman doubled-down on his comments on his '32 Thoughts' podcast Monday, but noted that when he was added to the Liljegren trade, the Leafs asked the Sharks which teams had shown interest in the former sixth-round pick, demonstrating they intended to help Benning find a spot to play the entire time. As time ticks down on the Leafs' roster decisions, if Benning finds himself getting into a game or two, it may change his position on the depth chart, but as of now, he appears to be the odd man out on the blueline.

 

[supermann_98]

Liljegren is a +2 so far in 1 game played on the Sharks.

Maybe just maybe he's not as terrible as everyone here was saying as they tap-danced on his grave on his way outta town

 

[Cap'n Flavour]

Liljegren is a +2 so far in 1 game played on the Sharks.

Maybe just maybe he's not as terrible as everyone here was saying as they tap-danced on his grave on his way outta town

Wow, I'm glad that he had one good game before dying and being buried. RIP GOAT.

 

[IronHookem]

Good riddance.

We win that Bruins series last season if we didn't start this guy

Of course, it had nothing to do with the fact that our core underperformed yet again, not to mention Samsonovs performance in those first couple of games.

Now that we removed the only thing that held us back last year, the cup will finally be ours!

 

[Namikaze Minato]

Of course, it had nothing to do with the fact that our core underperformed yet again, not to mention Samsonovs performance in those first couple of games.

Now that we removed the only thing that held us back last year, the cup will finally be ours!

It's so upsetting knowing that all we had to do was remove Holl and we would win a cup but somehow they didn't factor this in?!

 

[hockeywiz542]

‘I Just Felt That It Was The Right Time’: Why Brad Treliving and Maple Leafs Decided To Move On From Defenseman Timothy Liljegren - The Hockey News

In a move that seemed bound to happen, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving traded defenseman Timothy Liljegren to the San Jose Sharks on October 30. Almost two weeks later, Treliving addressed the decision following the team’s Monday practice at Ford Performance Centre, shedding light on the circumstances that led to Liljegren’s departure.

“Well, if you look at the numbers, Lily, it was two-fold,” Treliving explained. “We were at eights and nines – the performances of some guys at camp and the start of the season – and then, ultimately, to give him an opportunity. He was sitting out for a while. It was a tough market to find guys; like you saw (Dante) Fabbro on waivers yesterday.”

“But ultimately, like I said, he’d been sitting out for a while and we had some guys that put themselves ahead of him. I just felt that it was the right time and wanted to give Timmy an opportunity.”

In the trade, the Leafs added a conditional 2025 third-round pick, a 2026 sixth-round pick, and right-handed defenseman Matt Benning. This was the latest move for the Leafs as they sought to balance the roster amidst ongoing injury management and tough competition among the defensemen.

Since joining the Sharks, Liljegren has appeared in four games, still in search of recording his first point with the organization. Over those four contests in San Jose, he’s averaged 19:02 of total ice time – the second most of his career.

 

[crump]

I’ve watched highlights of his games with the Sharks. Fairly low event, both ways. He let a player blow by him for an empty net goal but I think he’s been pretty much the same as he was here.

 

[ULF_55]

I've watched a couple Sharks games since, nothing spectacular, 2nd. pairing RD.

 

[arso40]

I've watched a couple Sharks games since, nothing spectacular, 2nd. pairing RD.

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He’s definitely gonna look different in terms of points without our forward group but he’s played more physical

 

[ULF_55]

He’s definitely gonna look different in terms of points without our forward group but he’s played more physical

Berube didn't like him from the open of camp, so likely didn't like him period.

 

[ACC1224]

Hands up anyone who's missing him.

 

[arso40]

Hands up anyone who's missing him.

I do I’m not confident the three right shots we have can stay healthy and even less confident that our bottom four can move up if tanevs injured *knocc on wood

 

[ACC1224]

I do I’m not confident the three right shots we have can stay healthy and even less confident that our bottom four can move up if tanevs injured *knocc on wood

3 million to sit in the press box is a waste.
Injuries are always possible but once Timmins passed him it was inevitable he was leaving.
Team is better off for it, IMO.

 

[arso40]

3 million to sit in the press box is a waste.
Injuries are always possible but once Timmins passed him it was inevitable he was leaving.
Team is better off for it, IMO.

Your right 3 mil is a waste in the press box but Timmins was ahead of him from the beginning of camp he never passed him he was always ahead in Berubes mind

 

[ACC1224]

Your right 3 mil is a waste in the press box but Timmins was ahead of him from the beginning of camp he never passed him he was always ahead in Berubes mind

Yeah, better player for sure and a big bonus that he's cheaper.

 

[arso40]

Yeah, better player for sure and a big bonus that he's cheaper.

Who knows he might be one day I’m pretty sure it isn’t today though but your right he’s definitely cheaper and lily was top 4 or shipped out and he wasn’t beating anyone out of the top 4 I’m pretty sure league wide it’s known which of the two are actually the better player but ones on the leafs one isn’t I’m cheering for the one we have im just not gonna be unrealistic of which of the 2 is the better player currently

 

[Da Mash]

Happy for Lilly

Getting lots of minutes in SJ and is a plus player there it seems.


We saved cap space and have Timmins who has filled in nicely

So it’s a win trade for all and Lilly is happier

 

[arso40]

Happy for Lilly

Getting lots of minutes in SJ and is a plus player there it seems.


We saved cap space and have Timmins who has filled in nicely

So it’s a win trade for all and Lilly is happier

Providing the players we traded him for to incorporate turn out to be players for us