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

[Stephen]

I question if it was the right time to move him, but if we weren't going to use him it doesn't make sense to keep him

Out of all permutations maybe the Leafs should have moved off Liljegren and spent his cap hit on a more premium UFA... but they kept him, rolled into camp, wasn't a fit and they now got cap space back and some depth picks for keeping his rights the extra few months. Nothing amazing happened here but it's a neat and tidy solution.

 

[BraveCanadian]

He had a ton of chances to succced here, his inability to play consistently is why he's gone. This idea he was hard done by here is whack.

I don’t think he or Sandin got nearly the rope others got.

But whatever, gg blowing his development, resigning him, immediately tanking his value and then dumping him, Leafs.

 

[The Iceman]

I think we did have some but dubas traded them away

- Trever Moore
- Verhaeghe
- Grundstrom
- Durzi

from what i recall

then i think 2020 was an absolutely BUST draft; and 2021 and 2023 we just didnt have enough picks thanks again to dubas paying extra for other teams to eat 50% of the cap at TDL because Leafs just didn't have enough cap space

VErhaeghe was a contract dump by LOU

 

[Goose]

Sad end to a chapter with a lot of potential, but someone on this board said that Lil slept with Berube’s dog or something so probably for the best.

 

[stickty111]

Oh man @stickty111 is gonna lose his mind

Incorrect. Team over player even if you are a fan of the player.
Not cool man. You are better than this. Don't resort to the level of other users here

 

[DarkKnight]

I don’t think he or Sandin got nearly the rope others got.

But whatever, gg blowing his development, resigning him, immediately tanking his value and then dumping him, Leafs.

I liked Sandin more, at least he excels at one facet of the game.

 

[Stephen]

As I said in the summer, I liked Liljegren's potential, but even my belief was flagging by the end of last year. I didn't support trading him then, but with the way this season started, it was inevitable.

A bit surprised we got a 3rd round pick given the contract, but it isn't a bad chance for San Jose to take. Liljegren has shown flashes and has had decent underlying numbers, just hasn't been able to do it consistently at a high-level.

I do think it is a bit revisionist to criticize picking him at #17. He was a good prospect who played a position of need. I hope, if he does figure out, we don't hear similar revisionism in the future: Because he had his chances. At this point, it was never going to happen here.

Liljegren was actually a very intriguing draft pick at the time. He was once ranked 2nd behind Nolan Patrick as top prospects in the 2017 draft in the years leading up. And the idea of adding a guy falling on draft day with that kind of pedigree to our young core just added to the optimism that we had assembled something very special and all we needed was some time and maturation.

Didn't think he would really figure it out. The mental scars from those playoff experiences were probably significant and not something he would ever out grow. Kind of like Travis Dermott after the Montreal series. Who knows what the problem was, but there does seem to be a lot of Marlie/Leaf graduates who seem to lack that competitive killer instinct to be assertive in their careers.

 

[Zonk]

Anton Strålman all over again. Oh well, don’t know anything about Benning but hopefully he’s useful for us.

Or Travis Dermott all over again.

 

[stickty111]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1851762561454084275

Absolutely atrocious drafting and development during this time.

Mark Hunter you stunk at your NHL job and now can't find another one

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

Good trade. On the bright side for the stat nerds, he's finally a top 4 defenseman!

 

[DarkKnight]

Incorrect. Team over player even if you are a fan of the player.
Not cool man. You are better than this. Don't resort to the level of other users here

Like still having a guy who left the team 7 years ago as an avatar, that high brow stuff.

 

[Evilhomer]

it's a neat and tidy solution.

I guess, but I'd wager it was never Treliving's intention.

 

[stickty111]

How do we know didn’t try to move him at the draft too? There was plenty of talk prior that the Leafs had soured on him, maybe there wasn’t much interest at the time?

They did try to move him but they wanted a competent return. I think they did okay here considering the circumstances

 

[horner]

I read that Benning was signed for next season too.

They will probably waive him.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Sometimes elite things can happen if you see past your face, listen to experienced hockey fans, and trust the eye test/trust the process.

 

[stickty111]

Like still having a guy who left the team 7 years ago as an avatar, that high brow stuff.

Judging someone by a profile pic? Are we really resorting to that stuff.
Anyway buddy. Move on already. No need to get personal. Clearly I was wrong about this player and I admit that. It's usually the D men I'm wrong about. Maybe my problem is d men

 

[DarkKnight]

Judging someone by a profile pic? Are we really resorting to that stuff.
Anyway buddy. Move on already. No need to get personal. Clearly I was wrong about this player and I admit that. It's usually the D men I'm wrong about. Maybe my problem is d men

"Move on already"

Irony.

I'll give you credit for acknowledging Lil, for years he was your guy. I contend his best hockey was 21-22, actually looked like a comer.

 

[Gallagbi]

He really won't be a loss. It will be no different than Sandin. No one will give him much thought again. The return for him will be equally unmemorable. Just a wash all around.

Time will tell, he was a mid 20s third pairing D on a team with two struggling third pair guys. He may become more, maybe not, we'll see. Dumping him after his 1-2 games without more rope seems unnecessarily risky

 

[BertCorbeau]

I think he still carves out a solid career personally .. this wasn't the right spot for him. A shame, I still really like the guy but if he can't earn it from a new coach it is what it is.

Trev and Berube have a certain type of d-man and Liljegren isn't it.

A lower pressure market will do good.

 

[Rare Jewel]

So, a cap dump and a 3rd that likely won't ever play...

Well done, Treliving.

smh.

 

[Evilhomer]

Time will tell, he was a mid 20s third pairing D on a team with two struggling third pair guys. He may become more, maybe not, we'll see. Dumping him after his 1-2 games without more rope seems unnecessarily risky

He's going to San Jose. It won't matter. He will become literally nothing there, even more of a nothing than he was here.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Incorrect. Team over player even if you are a fan of the player.
Not cool man. You are better than this. Don't resort to the level of other users here

To be fair, you routinely blame the fanbase for everything bad that happens.

 

[stickty111]

"Move on already"

Irony.

I'll give you credit for acknowledging Lil, for years he was your guy. I contend his best hockey was 21-22, actually looked like a comer.

Yeah it's too bad. Seems like everytime he gained traction, he got hurt.
I was and am still a Kadri fan, but as soon as he was gone, that was the end in terms of favoritism.

 

[Evilhomer]

They will probably waive him.

I imagine he was included for cap purposes and so the Leafs have an 8th or 9th defenseman that they can have in their pocket in case of emergency. He's a nothing.

 

[stickty111]

He's going to San Jose. It won't matter. He will become literally nothing there, even more of a nothing than he was here.

This is a wierd way of looking at things. So basically any player that goes to a bad team becomes useless? It would be surprising if any team trades with San Jose for 3 years based on your logic.
If Leafs trade for Cellebreni, it won't matter because he's nothing.