Speculation: *Rifai vs. Liljegren. Rifai Clears. Liljegren healthy scratch.

[ULF_55]

I don't think Rifai is the answer either. Better defensively but doesn't move the needle.

I was just alluding to lily being done here. 3 million for a guy that is marginally better then some of the D lower in the lineup is too much. He's had chances, he's gotten some pay raises, when are we going to see the results to match from him?

He hasn't ever played under this size of a Cap.

I think it would be a mistake, but that's only because it usually is from the Leafs.

 

[robertmac43]

He hasn't ever played under this size of a Cap.

I think it would be a mistake, but that's only because it usually is from the Leafs.

I can see that side for sure.

Lily is just a such a tough player to pin down for me. I've been incredibly high on him over the years and equally as low.... I guess that partly shows his inconsistency. Feels like this year is the final chance for him to put it all together in the blue and white.

 

[BobClarkesfrontteeth]

[QUE="notbias, post: 196924642, member: 282459"]
I mean anyone who thought he was good liked his effort and must have missed his play.

There is nothing to support him being good.

Its a depht D who played ask to play like a top 3 D in NHL and playing like tanev will do this season. You just can't expect he will play like Tanev, its unrealistic
[/QUOTE]
So basically he played bad but you have an excuse for him so he played good. He played very poorly in the playoffs. But then McCabe played poorly in his 1st playoffs.

 

[ULF_55]

I can see that side for sure.

Lily is just a such a tough player to pin down for me. I've been incredibly high on him over the years and equally as low.... I guess that partly shows his inconsistency. Feels like this year is the final chance for him to put it all together in the blue and white.

My thoughts as well.

If they let him go, and he starts to play with his 200 games experience, and Leafs are back at square one with an older defender with less experience ... we get some laughs out of it.

If he doesn't take that step, Leafs can still move him and will have those older guys hanging around.

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

That above average guy already got away. He's Sean Durzi. Liljegren, like others say, is just a guy.

In fairness to Duby....he tried to give them Lilly in that deal from what was reported...but the shine was coming off too fast for the Kings to bite.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

sorry. not bias says

Ha

I didn't watch very much of Dallas last season to comment on Hakanpaa. I had to do research to see what writers/scouts were saying about him.

I just can't stand it when people prop up their favorite players by putting down others with lies ("crossing checking").

 

[DarkKnight]

If the numbers tell you Timmins was good defensively, I'd check my numbers.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Thing about Liljegren is that he needed to come into camp with his hair on fire like Robertson has. I don't know if he assumes he's guaranteed a spot because of his contract but he is not viewed in the same tier as Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares, Rielly, Tanev, McCabe, etc. He's already got a lot going against him being a bit undersized and having been healthy scratched the past couple postseasons (egregiously imo but the fact still remains Keefe scratched him). He should've been playing balls to the wall and trying to take over games and he just hasn't.

 

[rumman]

You won't get much for a $3 mil 6th dman.The Leafs routinely overspend in the wrong places. We need another C but Jarnkrok. Kampf and Liljegren eat up all that cap. Politics says Liljegren and pray Berube can salvage him.

It was idiotic to sign him tobthat contract…..

 

[diceman934]

We are moving one D man who will not clear waivers and Lilly looks like the answer.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Didn't any of the Liljegren Apologists get nervous when Toronto put him with the B Squad? The way people talk about him it's as though he's a lock. I don't think so.

 

[tmlfan98]

Didn't any of the Liljegren Apologists get nervous when Toronto put him with the B Squad? The way people talk about him it's as though he's a lock. I don't think so.

Not a Liljegren apologist, but I think they only put the Rifai-Liljegren pair with the B squad so they could give them top pair deployment that night aka trial by fire for the possible 3rd pair.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Not a Liljegren apologist, but I think they only put the Rifai-Liljegren pair with the B squad so they could give them top pair deployment that night aka trial by fire for the possible 3rd pair.

Well yeah. Why is someone who is considered "a top 4D", or a "depth piece", be on trial?

 

[tmlfan98]

Well yeah. Why is someone who is considered "a top 4D", or a "depth piece", be on trial?

"Trial by fire" is an expression, I didn't mean it literally. And I said trial by fire because the Rifai-Liljegren pair would never be expected to see top pair minutes in a regular season game.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

"Trial by fire" is an expression, I didn't mean it literally. And I said trial by fire because the Rifai-Liljegren pair would never be expected to see top pair minutes in a regular season game.

Yes I know. Lil should not be having to prove he can pass tests.

 

[Martin Skoula]

Thing about Liljegren is that he needed to come into camp with his hair on fire like Robertson has. I don't know if he assumes he's guaranteed a spot because of his contract but he is not viewed in the same tier as Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares, Rielly, Tanev, McCabe, etc. He's already got a lot going against him being a bit undersized and having been healthy scratched the past couple postseasons (egregiously imo but the fact still remains Keefe scratched him). He should've been playing balls to the wall and trying to take over games and he just hasn't.

He’s basically the same size as Rielly and Tanev, his entire problem is mental.

 

[hockeywiz542]

Maple Leafs Camp Notes: Liljegren on bubble as roster takes shape

Timothy Liljegren didn't dress for the Maple Leafs' pre-season finale on Saturday. It's not a great sign for the defenceman, who still is trying to establish himself as a regular.

www.sportsnet.ca

Berube on Timothy Liljegren: "Lily's gotta do things quicker. He's got to be a little bit heavier in his battles, moving pucks quicker and simplify his game. He's obviously battling. He wants to be a guy in the lineup every night, and that's great. But sometimes you put too much on your plate. Simplify the game a little bit more. And do your job as a defenceman killing plays and being heavy."

Liljegren is a 2017 first-round pick who has still yet to establish himself as an every-day Leaf, as evidenced by Berube dressing the more cap-friendly Timmins (and Jake McCabe placeholder Philippe Myers) in Toronto's 3-2 pre-season win over the Grand Rapids Griffins-like Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.

This was as near to an Opening Night lineup as we've seen, and Liljegren wasn't part of it.

Trade whispers are bubbling. Toronto must find a way to get cap compliant by Monday at 5 p.m. ET. Liljegren's $3-million cap hit is too high for a sixth or seventh D-man.

Liljegren admits that his game has lacked "flow" and that he's still adjusting to Berube's more physical and direct system. Confidence is low.

"I'm working. Trying to earn my spot," Liljegren said.

"Not my best hockey, but it's been OK."

Liljegren is only 25 and he has shown flashes of strong play and an ability to chip in on a man-advantage.

Can the Leafs find a buyer?

Or can Berube find some patience while Liljegren adjusts and improves?

 

[tmlfan98]

Maple Leafs Camp Notes: Liljegren on bubble as roster takes shape

Timothy Liljegren didn't dress for the Maple Leafs' pre-season finale on Saturday. It's not a great sign for the defenceman, who still is trying to establish himself as a regular.

www.sportsnet.ca

Berube on Timothy Liljegren: "Lily's gotta do things quicker. He's got to be a little bit heavier in his battles, moving pucks quicker and simplify his game. He's obviously battling. He wants to be a guy in the lineup every night, and that's great. But sometimes you put too much on your plate. Simplify the game a little bit more. And do your job as a defenceman killing plays and being heavy."

Liljegren is a 2017 first-round pick who has still yet to establish himself as an every-day Leaf, as evidenced by Berube dressing the more cap-friendly Timmins (and Jake McCabe placeholder Philippe Myers) in Toronto's 3-2 pre-season win over the Grand Rapids Griffins-like Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.

This was as near to an Opening Night lineup as we've seen, and Liljegren wasn't part of it.

Trade whispers are bubbling. Toronto must find a way to get cap compliant by Monday at 5 p.m. ET. Liljegren's $3-million cap hit is too high for a sixth or seventh D-man.

Liljegren admits that his game has lacked "flow" and that he's still adjusting to Berube's more physical and direct system. Confidence is low.

"I'm working. Trying to earn my spot," Liljegren said.

"Not my best hockey, but it's been OK."

Liljegren is only 25 and he has shown flashes of strong play and an ability to chip in on a man-advantage.

Can the Leafs find a buyer?

Or can Berube find some patience while Liljegren adjusts and improves?

Also an interesting note on Timmins in here. Berube seems to like how he's played:

Berube on Conor Timmins: "He's played well. I think he's been highly competitive. First and foremost, playing defence, you gotta defend and be competitive and do all the things there that we need. But I like the puck movement. He moves the puck well. Sees the ice well."

 

[ACC1224]

Also an interesting note on Timmins in here. Berube seems to like how he's played:

I didn’t think he was as good last night as he’s been the rest of the preseason.

 

[darrylsittler27]

It was idiotic to sign him tobthat contract…..

They need to stop going to arbitration. Tre got hosed by Samsonov and now Liljegren. I didn't think you got $3 million just for a season like he had. He won't crack the top 4.

 

[DarkKnight]

Not surprised Lil has fallen out of favour with a Berube, but I'm also not ready to pencil Timmins into any regular spot back there. Can move the puck, good awareness, quick ups, but still really concerned he can take a physical pounding on the backend, he still hasn't shown me the strength that he can get the job done back there.

 

[Roo]

Rifai on waivers

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Rifai on waivers

Guess it wasn’t much of “a thing” after all.

 

[Roo]

Rifai has had a good showing though, hopefully he clears and we get the free call up later. Honestly, we have more depth on D than we have in a long time, these problems are good to have.

 

[ULF_55]

Guess it wasn’t much of “a thing” after all.

At least this poll didn't use BOTS to skew the results for their own agenda.