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

[Roo]

Well Timmins has only played 50 games with the leafs the past two yrs and has 24 pts and a plus 10

Maybe we shouldn’t write him off so quick as a suitable 5th/6th D

Lilly has been given more opportunities here. Even tho he filled in nicely when Rielly was hurt he just hasn’t taken the next step.

They’re not writing him off, but his injury history is concerning. At some point, you’re deemed too injury prone and not trustworthy in that regard.

Liljegren is just one perfect examples of a player that has the tools but hasn’t put it together. To me, he needs to up the pace and urgency in his game. He won’t be a physical defenseman. Buy the opposition target him as a weak link in the chain in the playoffs. Anticipate faster, get to pucks faster, use your skating to get pucks out more. He can do all those things. The puck needs to be moving the other way before the forecheckers start laying the body on him.

 

[DarkKnight]

Don’t forget too Berube was an analyst during the playoffs, he saw Lil get manhandled. I suspect camp reinforced his concerns.

 

[ULF_55]

They’re not writing him off, but his injury history is concerning. At some point, you’re deemed too injury prone and not trustworthy in that regard.

Liljegren is just one perfect examples of a player that has the tools but hasn’t put it together. To me, he needs to up the pace and urgency in his game. He won’t be a physical defenseman. Buy the opposition target him as a weak link in the chain in the playoffs. Anticipate faster, get to pucks faster, use your skating to get pucks out more. He can do all those things. The puck needs to be moving the other way before the forecheckers start laying the body on him.

I'd be fine if they traded him for draft capital.

He'll probably take the next steps at his new location, but what would be so strange about that?

 

[Roo]

I'd be fine if they traded him for draft capital.

He'll probably take the next steps at his new location, but what would be so strange about that?

Nothing would be strange about it. We don’t have to look outside our own division to see examples of similar defensemen at his age, who were expendable, only to thrive somewhere else. We just want it to be here. And its very likely the reason why he's with us as opposed to depth D who showed well in the preseason.

 

[hamzarocks]

Don’t forget too Berube was an analyst during the playoffs, he saw Lil get manhandled. I suspect camp reinforced his concerns.

Berube should have let Treliving know in that case it will be tough for lilijgren to break the squad with his style being not tuned with Berube system/approach

We should have dealt him as an RFA at the draft vs giving him 3M x 2 which makes him a cap dump if berube doesnt play him consistently

 

[DarkKnight]

Berube should have let Treliving know in that case it will be tough for lilijgren to break the squad with his style being not tuned with Berube system/approach

We should have dealt him as an RFA at the draft vs giving him 3M x 2 which makes him a cap dump if berube doesnt play him consistently

I could see some GM wanting him, he's still intriguing.

 

[hamzarocks]

I could see some GM wanting him, he's still intriguing.

HOpefully

I feel we could have gotten a 2nd + 4th at the draft for liligren without his current deal

Feel we missed a chance to add picks this draft

Jarnkrok for a 3rd or 4th and 5th

Kampf for a 3rd or 4th and 5th

Lilijgrem for a 2nd amd 4th or 2 3rds

Would have given us more capspace (~7.5M capspace that group takes up) while giving 3-4 solid picks to use at this deadline or to draft for high ceiling longshot prospects

Guess we will see if the three can stick to the team and be useful

 

[Kurtz]

HOpefully

I feel we could have gotten a 2nd + 4th at the draft for liligren without his current deal

Feel we missed a chance to add picks this draft

Jarnkrok for a 3rd or 4th and 5th

Kampf for a 3rd or 4th and 5th

Lilijgrem for a 2nd amd 4th or 2 3rds

Would have given us more capspace (~7.5M capspace that group takes up) while giving 3-4 solid picks to use at this deadline or to draft for high ceiling longshot prospects

Guess we will see if the three can stick to the team and be useful

His deal is pretty reasonable though. I don't think it diminishes his trade value compared to what it'd be if he was still RFA.

 

[hamzarocks]

His deal is pretty reasonable though. I don't think it diminishes his trade value compared to what it'd be if he was still RFA.

His deal would he reasonable if we play him and give him 19-20 mins and time to shows hes a good #4D with #3 potential

At 3M if hes our 6-8D I dont know if another team will have interest giving solid assets (2nd or good B prospect with potential based deal)

We won't be able to get a Sandin type return sadly, as we held to long and committed seemingly to him but withdrew committment potentially right after.

Lilijgren should have been moved at the 2024 draft if we didnt see a top4 RHD under Berubes system or have told Berube to give him a leesh and a long look as we want to see him become a 5-6M player for us in 2 years.