Player Discussion: Liljegren Is Back

[LeafSteel]

It makes sense to put him with Gio to start, considering how well they worked together in short order last year.

It also helps him with his timing and conditioning, which will most likely be well behind everyone else considering how long he’s been off, with no training camp as well.

Hoping he can pick it up quickly and continue to develop into the top 4 RHD we are desperate for him to become.

 

[Da Cool Rula]

e

Mayfield via trade and it very much can be put him with rielly reunite the Calgary top pair and put the kids together

Wonder what it would take to get a Mayfield.

 

[supermann_98]

The leafs will have to acquire a defenseman this year. Unless Sandin takes a huge step it’s inevitable. I think we’ll see someone from bottom six moved out for a defenseman. Probably Ethan Bear

Don't know about Bear but we need a big banging stay at home D on the bottom pair. Wouldn't mind seeing the human eraser picked up seeing as tho Vancouver is in shambles right now and he was jawing back and forth with JT Miller on the ice a game or two ago.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Overdrive had a Liljegren conversation today without bashing. They must have forgotten the process

Lol when? During the Johnson segment Lilly came up and Jeff acted like it was this great travesty that Liljegren is seen as sort of a missing piece.

 

[stickty111]

Lol when? During the Johnson segment Lilly came up and Jeff acted like it was this great travesty that Liljegren is seen as sort of a missing piece.

Yeah that was the worst of it. A lot of it was just MJ explaining the important of him and where he might fit. I am fine with this if this is the normal. Hayes aside from saying it might hurt him he missed camp which is valid didn't say much which is good

 

[Funk21]

Overdrive had a Liljegren conversation today without bashing. They must have forgotten the process

They are the worse, honestly Liljegren was one of our best D men last year. Ultimately I think he is gonna have a better NHL career than Sandin.

 

[ponder]

The leafs will have to acquire a defenseman this year. Unless Sandin takes a huge step it’s inevitable. I think we’ll see someone from bottom six moved out for a defenseman. Probably Ethan Bear

IMO Sandin is already better than Bear. Watched a decent bit of Bear in Edmonton, he's a borderline NHLer who makes a lot of mistakes. I'd say between Mete and Sandin, but closer to Mete. He's getting consistently healthy scratched in Carolina for mid-20s dmen who themselves are borderline NHLers (Jalen Chatfield and Dylan Coghlan).

We aren't that hard up for a dman once Lily comes back:

Rielly - Brodie
Gio - Lily
Sandin - Holl

Depth: Mete, Benn, Dahlstrom, Kral
IR: Muzzin (zero read on whether he'll be back or not)

I think if we're making a move, it'd be more of a bigger splash than a depth guy like Bear. Think Holl and other assets (like picks/prospects) for a quality top 4 RD, or Sandin and other assets for a quality top 4 LD. But even without Muzzin we're already got 6 pretty decent dmen, and some decent depth beyond that in case of injuries, I don't see Bear adding much.

Personally though, I think D is the least of our concerns, if we're reasonably healthy. I think we stay steady until near the deadline, then assess:
- How is goaltending? Samsonov has been great so far, but will he keep it up? How about Murray? If goaltending is shaky that's target #1
- If goaltending is fine, then the main target is a winger. We've got 4 awesome forwards, then a sharp dropoff, our main achilles heal in the playoffs has been scoring depth, and that's likely to continue

 

[Machinae]

Ethan Bear sought after? If this guy gets more than a mid round pick and future considerations after asking for a trade and being a healthy scratch for two no names.. Holl would fetch a 1st if he were traded in this market LMFAO. Every team wants to add a Dman or two it seems

 

[Pebble live]

Don't know about Bear but we need a big banging stay at home D on the bottom pair. Wouldn't mind seeing the human eraser picked up seeing as tho Vancouver is in shambles right now and he was jawing back and forth with JT Miller on the ice a game or two ago.

Yeah 100% agreed. We absolutely do not need an Ehtan Bear type. We've just lost a ton of physicality with Muzzin out. None of the current D has the size to break down a cycle.

Would like to see Schenn back .

 

[francis246]

They are the worse, honestly Liljegren was one of our best D men last year. Ultimately I think he is gonna have a better NHL career than Sandin.

They’ve been praising him this year and saying he’s gotta play top4 minutes. Which is fair, no one knew what to expect from Liljegren and he had a rough start but he’s settled in and proved a lot of people wrong

 

[ponder]

Edit: oops wrong thread

 

[DopeyFish]

They are the worse, honestly Liljegren was one of our best D men last year. Ultimately I think he is gonna have a better NHL career than Sandin.

can't forget liljegren was one time considered to be the consensus first overall pick

then he got mono

so it was expected he was going to be a potential star player.

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

Welcome back. You were sorely missed.

 

[Hellcat]

They are the worse, honestly Liljegren was one of our best D men last year. Ultimately I think he is gonna have a better NHL career than Sandin.

No he was not, he played better with Gio but was a minor tire fire before Gio. With that said he is better than Sandin.

Hopefully Lilly back means the Sandin human turnover machine is in the press box.

 

[DarkKnight]

Welcome back, but fans should be cautious he immediately makes a big difference.

 

[Hellcat]

Welcome back, but fans should be cautious he immediately makes a big difference.

He'll make a mistake tonight that results in a goal and the pitchforks will come out ...

 

[Maple Leaf]

You gogoggogogogo


Great news

 

[Community]

He'll make a mistake tonight that results in a goal and the pitchforks will come out ...

I know it was said tongue in cheek, but the way Lilly plays doesn't lead to a lot of obvious mistakes that directly lead to goals against.

Having said that, I think we're more likely to see him having an issue with keeping up with the pace and/or making reads quick enough for at least a game or two (hopefully I'm wrong though!)

 

[aingefan]

Today is a good day

 

[saltming]

Can we lock this thread or get rid of the injury report tag on it so I don't hyperventilate every time I see it?

 

[Doublerum1975]

No he was not, he played better with Gio but was a minor tire fire before Gio. With that said he is better than Sandin.

Hopefully Lilly back means the Sandin human turnover machine is in the press box.

No he wasn’t a tire fire before gio came he was playing great hockey with a few bumps in the road

 

[Funk21]

No he was not, he played better with Gio but was a minor tire fire before Gio. With that said he is better than Sandin.

Hopefully Lilly back means the Sandin human turnover machine is in the press box.

His underlying analytics beg to differ.

 

[Darcy Tucker]

Thrown right to the wolves first game back. Or in this case the Bears. Glad he's back , sorely needed.

 

[Burnie97]

They are the worse, honestly Liljegren was one of our best D men last year. Ultimately I think he is gonna have a better NHL career than Sandin.

Lilly last year really stood out for me. Especially near the end of the season. When he didn't play in the playoffs... that sucked.

I have high hopes for this kid. Seems to have the right attitude.

I'm still rooting for Sandin too but right now Lilly seems to bring more of what the Leafs need.

Itll be tough to come into a game like this but really glad he's back. This season could be huge for him to really solidify a top 4 spot for years to come.

 

[Blaylock38]

can't forget liljegren was one time considered to be the consensus first overall pick

then he got mono

so it was expected he was going to be a potential star player.

Yes, his drop at the draft was crazy. Watching it I thought no way he ends up falling to us. And he did, and it didn't seem like it was any big deal considering. So glad he is here now!