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

With the winds of change blowing through the Scotiabank Arena, who will be their 6th D?


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arso40

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Jun 7, 2022
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What’s Berube seeing that everyone else isn’t like timmins sux the bottom pair isn’t even good wtf
 

arso40

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Jun 7, 2022
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I think he's watching the game on the ice and seeing that Timmins' play is fine rather than just going off your weird obsessive posts.
1st. you can disagree, your entitled to your opinion but try not to be offensive just some advice, 2nd. timmins sux thats not ah weird obsessive post lily is better than him thats a fact i get you probably dont like him which is fine but you dont have to be mouthy about plenty of ppl have opinions on here some of which i dont agree with but i dont go around insulting ppl give it a try my friend i respect your opinion none the less though
 

Cap'n Flavour

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Mar 8, 2004
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1st. you can disagree, your entitled to your opinion but try not to be offensive just some advice, 2nd. timmins sux thats not ah weird obsessive post lily is better than him thats a fact i get you probably dont like him which is fine but you dont have to be mouthy about plenty of ppl have opinions on here some of which i dont agree with but i dont go around insulting ppl give it a try my friend i respect your opinion none the less though
It's weird because you and a few other posters keep going on about how terrible Timmins is even after a game like last night where he did basically nothing visibly wrong, whereas his partner Benoit was obviously worse (took a penalty, got blown by on the zone entry on the PK and then screened Stolarz for a goal against all while Timmins was doing his job on the other side of the ice). And Myers and Liljegren each got a game in and spent most of it hemmed in their own zone so it's hardly a surprise they're not getting more chances.

BTW even though I think Benoit's play has been getting progressively worse his actual on-ice results 5v5 are mostly not problematic either except for xGF% which after last game dropped to 6th worst for D at 44.6%, although it's still early in the season. 5v5 Timmins is well above 50% on every metric, shots, chances and actual goals. In principle it would make sense to scratch Benoit and play Liljegren again so that OEL and McCabe can both play on the left side and even out the D minutes better but evidently Liljegren isn't showing enough in practice to have earned much of a chance so here we are.
 

arso40

Registered User
Jun 7, 2022
2,106
1,351
It's weird because you and a few other posters keep going on about how terrible Timmins is even after a game like last night where he did basically nothing visibly wrong, whereas his partner Benoit was obviously worse (took a penalty, got blown by on the zone entry on the PK and then screened Stolarz for a goal against all while Timmins was doing his job on the other side of the ice). And Myers and Liljegren each got a game in and spent most of it hemmed in their own zone so it's hardly a surprise they're not getting more chances.

BTW even though I think Benoit's play has been getting progressively worse his actual on-ice results 5v5 are mostly not problematic either except for xGF% which after last game dropped to 6th worst for D at 44.6%, although it's still early in the season. 5v5 Timmins is well above 50% on every metric, shots, chances and actual goals. In principle it would make sense to scratch Benoit and play Liljegren again so that OEL and McCabe can both play on the left side and even out the D minutes better but evidently Liljegren isn't showing enough in practice to have earned much of a chance so here we are.
Maybe im just looking at it him real hard which I might be but I see the mistakes he makes he went for a hit in the defensive zone missed the player and jets were attaccing us he’s aggressive in a bad way and a rover but fair he might be playing better than Benoit but I think they’re both playing bad honestly timmins always had those metrics in his favour he’s just never passed the eye test to me
 

arso40

Registered User
Jun 7, 2022
2,106
1,351
It's weird because you and a few other posters keep going on about how terrible Timmins is even after a game like last night where he did basically nothing visibly wrong, whereas his partner Benoit was obviously worse (took a penalty, got blown by on the zone entry on the PK and then screened Stolarz for a goal against all while Timmins was doing his job on the other side of the ice). And Myers and Liljegren each got a game in and spent most of it hemmed in their own zone so it's hardly a surprise they're not getting more chances.

BTW even though I think Benoit's play has been getting progressively worse his actual on-ice results 5v5 are mostly not problematic either except for xGF% which after last game dropped to 6th worst for D at 44.6%, although it's still early in the season. 5v5 Timmins is well above 50% on every metric, shots, chances and actual goals. In principle it would make sense to scratch Benoit and play Liljegren again so that OEL and McCabe can both play on the left side and even out the D minutes better but evidently Liljegren isn't showing enough in practice to have earned much of a chance so here we are.
And I think it’s just deeper than not showing anything in practice he just wiped Willy out in practice and they put in myers like honestly it just doesn’t make sense many analysts dont understand why lily isn’t in he didn’t have a good camp but they all agree he’s not the 7th best Defenceman I’ll argue he’s not even the 5th best on this team
 

hockeywiz542

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May 26, 2008
16,149
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Maple Leafs’ looming decision on Timothy Liljegren: What’s next for the defenceman? - The Athletic

If Liljegren is — somehow — in the Leafs’ plans, how can he beat out Hakanpää and the resurgent Conor Timmins for a place in the Leafs’ top six with limited game time?

“I haven’t reached my potential yet,” Liljegren said. “I’m not at the top of my game so I’m trying to work on a lot of different stuff. Right now it’s just about staying fresh, staying ready.”


So what are the options for Liljegren moving forward?

If there’s a trade to be completed, there’s one less potential fit on Wednesday than days earlier. The Utah Hockey Club was in desperate need of a right-shot defenceman after losing Sean Durzi and John Marino long-term and added Olli Määttä in a trade with the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday. Maatta carried an identical cap hit as Liljegren for this season.

Perhaps the Leafs stick with the status quo and keep Liljegren in the press box. Hakanpää is a player the organization wants to fit into the lineup and see what he’s capable of. Plus, injuries are always a possibility with a blue line that’s increasingly physical. Liljegren said the message he’s received from the coaching staff is consistent with this line of thinking.

“We talked a little bit,” Liljegren said of his conversations with Berube. “The message has just been: stay ready. The team’s been playing well.”


Finally, there could be unexpected demotions to the Marlies across the Leafs lineup. That would change the Leafs’ salary cap picture and Liljegren’s status could come into focus.

Could the Leafs try to sneak someone like Pontus Holmberg through waivers? Or maybe Dewar himself? Or perhaps, in a scenario that seemed far-fetched before the season, Liljegren is placed on waivers at some point himself, if only to get some game action?

The questions over Liljegren’s future do bring into question the Leafs’ original decision to re-sign him to a not-insignificant cap for this season and next. Whatever their plan was for him on June 30 clearly has changed.

Berube appears to be at the centre of that change, sitting Liljegren for every game but one. However, he was hired as Leafs coach before the team re-signed Liljegren.

If you’re Liljegren, you undoubtedly hope a change in your playing time occurs soon as well. He might not have to wait long to find out whether that change will actually happen.
 
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