RD Timothy Liljegren (2017, 17th, TOR) Part 5

[ponder]

Now playing in Toronto’s top four.
Always knew he would be a very good defenseman in the NHL.

Yeah, I underestimated him - figured he was another year or so away from being a full time NHLer, but he’s legit already. Strong defensively, skating very well, more than holding his own in physical battles, nice puck mover, gaining confidence offensively. Doesn’t have any one thing that stands out like crazy, but just plays a mature, well rounded game, with good overall skill.

Our 2nd best RD IMO - behind Brodie, but ahead of Holl and Dermott-playing-the-right-side. Unless Holl really gets his game back, I hope Lily stays with Muzzin.

 

[Cap'n Flavour]

To be honest, I haven't really seen outstanding skills (or glaring deficiencies) at the NHL level from Liljegren. Not much in the way of offensive dynamism like in the AHL. Hopefully he tops out like prime Stralman or something.

 

[chamchibap]

To be honest, I haven't really seen outstanding skills (or glaring deficiencies) at the NHL level from Liljegren. Not much in the way of offensive dynamism like in the AHL. Hopefully he tops out like prime Stralman or something.

Agreed. But the progression from looking like a deer in the headlights in his last two years of callups to better than treading water now is great! So far, I think he’s showing his quality in making quick decisions with the puck and when to pinch. His passing is translating decently. Think he’s heads and shoulders above Holl this year when retrieving the puck on dump-ins and getting the puck out.

Would like to see him be even more cerebral rather than reactive when playing in the D zone though. That being said, I think he’s almost always in good positions which is fantastic. With some experience I think he’ll really settle in and start to show his quality

 

[Coaches Coroner]

A lot of Leaf fans hated when Button compared him to a Trevor Daley type, but that would actually be a very solid player. He's not as good as Daley at his peak, but so far he seems like a solid 2-way defender, with enough room to grow that he could realistically get there.

 

[Hockeyfrilla]

1st nhl goal

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

For second there, I thought that was Josh Norris with facial hair.

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[Namikaze Minato]

1st nhl goal

Goal went straight to his legs too, kid played unreal after playing a bad bounce wrong on the Orielly goal.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Two point night for Liljegren. Looking solid in all three zones, and doing it all with zero PP time.

 

[TheDoldrums]

I think he has 8 points in his last 14 games. Definitely been an encouraging season so far, showing signs he might be a top 4 guy long term.

Feels like he's been around forever but he's still 22.

 

[Fogelhund]

No matter what level Liljegren has played at, it's taken him time to adjust to that next step up. I've pointed that out a number of times in the Leafs forum, that his adjustment to the NHL would take time... and now he's just starting to settle in. I'm not suggesting this will be a star player, just a good useful one, who is only now coming into his own.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

A top 4 defenceman already at age 22. It turns out he was a steal for the Leafs at 17th overall, well done Mark Hunter/Lou Lam.

 

[ponder]

I wasn’t very high on him before this year, but I dramatically underestimated him. He’s been really good. Not flashy, but just solid all over the ice. Good defensive positioning, making the right play on breakouts and in transition, strong and decently physical, good skating/hands/shot, starting to be more aggressive offensively.

It’s a small sample size, but he’s absolutely been playing like a quality top 4 dman this year - in terms of the eye test, and also his outstanding advanced stats, though he isn’t consistently getting top 4 minutes. I think he’s got legit top pair upside.

 

[Peasy]

Yeah if he continues his development, him and rielly could make a solid pair for a few years.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

He's going to be a "prospect" until he's 28.

 

[Captain Clutch]

I think this will go down as the year where Lily really established himself as a full-time NHLer, for sure. It remains to be seen whether that;s as a top 4 regular or not remains to be seen but the Leas have to be encouraged at his play down the stretch this season. It's frankly a little puzzling that he keeps getting healthy scratched from time to time given how well he has played recently but I'm guessing the Leafs are just trying to keep their various guys sharp as they head into the play-offs, especially now that they all seem to be getting healthy at the same time. He's taken a little while to develop but he's still improving so a steady offensive contributing #3/#4 defenseman is certainly starting to look more realistic which is a big change since last year. Good on him, by all accounts he's finally being trusted by the coaching staff and as someone else mentioned, his advanced stats are quite respectable.