Confirmed with Link: Sharks acquire Timothy Liljegren from Maple Leafs for Matt Benning, conditional 3rd and 6th

[hotcabbagesoup]

Exactly why a players status on one team doesn’t imply how they will perform on their new team. Wasn’t he a waiver claim?

Yup waiver claim I think but I was thinking they were similar more along the lines of Swedish and future top-2 d-men.

 

[gaucholoco3]

I feel for Benning and hope he turns it around. He had a promising career and had it ruined by injury, yet he kept persevering. I'll keep cheering for a guy like that to make it work, even more so now that his mistakes don't hurt my team

Benning was a player Toronto fans have been mocking on their team for multiple offseasons on CapFriendly. Hopefully his “Grit” will be valued since that’s what he is left with after the injuries.

 

[Alaskanice]

I feel for Benning and hope he turns it around. He had a promising career and had it ruined by injury, yet he kept persevering. I'll keep cheering for a guy like that to make it work, even more so now that his mistakes don't hurt my team

That’s nice of you. Benning has had to overcome so much adversity, it would fill volumes. He deserves respect for fighting again and again to do what he was born to do.

 

[DarrylshutzSydor]

Benning was a player Toronto fans have been mocking on their team for multiple offseasons on CapFriendly. Hopefully his “Grit” will be valued since that’s what he is left with after the injuries.

Benning is a pylon, let me know how that works out if he plays a game in the playoffs. You got two great picks and a salary dump, good for TML

 

[Jargon]

Benning is a pylon, let me know how that works out if he plays a game in the playoffs. You got two great picks and a salary dump, good for TML

That 2026 6th rounder is going to be huge for them

 

[CanadienShark]

It's a trade that we all thought made a lot of sense and wanted, just like the Askarov deal. I'm good with this. I don't expect him to turn into Forsling, but even if he can anchor the 3rd pairing long term, we've done alright here. He's definitely got the ability to do even better.

Yo did I call this or what.

Just like... All of us? Or do you mean the specifics?

 

[LadyStanley]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1851805652164972833

 

[STL Shark]

Matt Benning is also RHD so there's clearly more to a defenseman's value than just handedness. Soft bottom pair dmen with no special teams utility aren't that valuable regardless of what hand they shoot with.

Yes, I see you’re describing Matt Benning with the bottom pairing and no special teams utility. Whereas Liljegren will step into being QB on our PP1 almost instantly and be the best puck mover we’ve had on the backend since Karlsson.

 

[coooldude]

Is liljegren Charmin soft and not a good top 4 defenseman on a contending playoff team? Probably yes.

Is he immediately our PP1/2 and makes us better, possibly pushing Rutta to the third pair? Also yes.

Seems like a W for this season and even if it doesn't work, is a wash at worst. No matter what it's not super material for our 2028 playoff push. Nice work Grier.

 

[STL Shark]

Is liljegren Charmin soft and not a good top 4 defenseman on a contending playoff team? Probably yes.

Is he immediately our PP1/2 and makes us better, possibly pushing Rutta to the third pair? Also yes.

Seems like a W for this season and even if it doesn't work, is a wash at worst. No matter what it's not super material for our 2028 playoff push. Nice work Grier.

I mean he was literally a Top 4 D on a playoff team last year. I think he got too much flak in Toronto as most players do and will do exceptionally well without the media circus of that fanbase/market.

Toronto wanted him to be some bruiser that he’s never going to be since they believe that anyone not named Rielly is not allowed to be a puck mover, but instead must be all grit and toughness.

 

[Alaskanice]

I mean he was literally a Top 4 D on a playoff team last year. I think he got too much flak in Toronto as most players do and will do exceptionally well without the media circus of that fanbase/market.

Toronto wanted him to be some bruiser that he’s never going to be since they believe that anyone not named Rielly is not allowed to be a puck mover, but instead must be all grit and toughness.

Touché

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

I mean he was literally a Top 4 D on a playoff team last year. I think he got too much flak in Toronto as most players do and will do exceptionally well without the media circus of that fanbase/market.

Toronto wanted him to be some bruiser that he’s never going to be since they believe that anyone not named Rielly is not allowed to be a puck mover, but instead must be all grit and toughness.

I think you're right.

If I find time I'm gonna watch the Leafs playoff game highlights and see which goals against were the result of Liljegren. I will share my conclusions afterwards.

 

[Hodge]

Yes, I see you’re describing Matt Benning with the bottom pairing and no special teams utility. Whereas Liljegren will step into being QB on our PP1 almost instantly and be the best puck mover we’ve had on the backend since Karlsson.

This time last year Calen Addison stepped into being our PP1 QB and the best puck mover we've had on the back end since Karlsson. That's not a high bar to clear.

Have you ever watched Liljegren play? I think you're going to be seriously disappointed if you're expecting some puck rushing breakout artist. He's slow and not a great passer. He'll make simple plays to advance the puck, which I agree we do need, but he's closer to Tim Heed than Erik Karlsson.

I mean he was literally a Top 4 D on a playoff team last year.

Until the playoffs started and he was immediately dropped to the third pair and even healthy scratched for a game.

 

[Juxtaposer]

This time last year Calen Addison stepped into being our PP1 QB and the best puck mover we've had on the back end since Karlsson. That's not a high bar to clear.

Have you ever watched Liljegren play? I think you're going to be seriously disappointed if you're expecting some puck rushing breakout artist. He's slow and not a great passer. He'll make simple plays to advance the puck, which I agree we do need, but he's closer to Tim Heed than Erik Karlsson.


Until the playoffs started and he was immediately dropped to the third pair and even healthy scratched for a game.

Do you think the Sharks are going to be in the playoffs?

I absolutely agree that Liljegren is not the kind of D who is going to thrive in the playoffs and I even kinda understand Toronto scratching him then. But Liljegren is the perfect kind of undervalued player who will help stabilize this team right now and next year. He will give us solid middle pairing minutes and perform well and provide some much needed puck movement from anyone other than Walman and that is much more than you can hope for from a 90th overall pick.

 

[OrrNumber4]

Liljegren was bullied by Boston's big forwards in the playoffs. However, he is unquestionably a good puck mover and is highly mobile. He's just not a high-IQ player.

The Sharks aren't in a position where they can get picky. Plus, he was a bad fit on a Toronto team loaded with softness; the Sharks have too much grit as it is!

 

[Hodge]

Do you think the Sharks are going to be in the playoffs?

I absolutely agree that Liljegren is not the kind of D who is going to thrive in the playoffs and I even kinda understand Toronto scratching him then. But Liljegren is the perfect kind of undervalued player who will help stabilize this team right now and next year. He will give us solid middle pairing minutes and perform well and provide some much needed puck movement from anyone other than Walman and that is much more than you can hope for from a 90th overall pick.

Of course I don't think we're going to be in the playoffs this season or next but hopefully we get there someday and when we do Liljegren is not a guy I would want on the roster even on the third pair.

That said, if Liljegren is intended to be a stop gap/band-aid to help get the puck up to Celebrini and Smith over the next two seasons that makes sense. Still don't love giving up a 3rd rounder for that but it ultimately doesn't really matter. Feels like we could have just signed Schultz or Barrie.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Of course I don't think we're going to be in the playoffs this season or next but hopefully we get there someday and when we do Liljegren is not a guy I would want on the roster even on the third pair.

That said, if Liljegren is intended to be a stop gap/band-aid to help get the puck up to Celebrini and Smith over the next two seasons that makes sense. Still don't love giving up a 3rd rounder for that but it ultimately doesn't really matter.

Right, I think it's quite unlikely that Liljegren is going to be a meaningful part of our roster when we are back in the playoffs. But I am more than happy to fork over a late 3rd round pick for two years of a guy who will help stabilize the back end, give the young forwards someone to play off in the offensive zone, and has a small chance of breaking out into something better.

 

[DG93]

Good trade. Third rounders are replaceable (I bet we get 1-2 at the deadline for Ceci and/or Blackwood), getting rid of Benning is addition by subtraction, and Liljegren adds a desperately needed puck-mover to allow Warf to break up the Ferraro-Rutta disaster and help out the forwards. He is probably the best option to QB the 2nd PP unit as well. Perhaps most importantly, just like with Ferraro/Ceci/Walman, he likely won't be here when the Sharks reach playoff contention status, so that doesn't matter (and his contract will be off the books). Was a 3rd round pick too much to give up given that Toronto was actively trying to dump him? Probably, but who cares...valuable addition.

 

[smitty10]

Benning was a player Toronto fans have been mocking on their team for multiple offseasons on CapFriendly. Hopefully his “Grit” will be valued since that’s what he is left with after the injuries.

Benning likely won't play for us. This move was to be able to bring Hakanpaa into the lineup. He's our #9 guy.

Rielly-Tanev
OEL-McCabe
Benoit-Hakanpaa
Myers-Timmins
Benning

EDIT: just realized I'm on the wrong board.

 

[Leaf Rocket]

Hello my old friends!

I hope this trade works wonderfully for ya! I have always been a big fan of Lily the Viking.

I really hope he gets it together, has had some rough go and his confidence has been shot because of the juggling, when he is going he is unstoppable but when he stops or gets hindered he is trouble to get that groove back.

His draft potential was through the roof but he never panned out that way, so here's hoping you guys can help figure it out!

Cheers

 

[sampler]

I dont think we know what we have with Lil' Grin. He could be a bottom pairing shlub, or a solid top 4 Dman. His Prod is around 45, so if he plays top 4 mins (like 22 mins/gm) and plays a whole season, that projects to a 40 pt player. Add in some PP time on the 2nd unit, and he might be a legit guy.

Sometimes, guys just aren't given the right opportunity or environment. Lil' Grin will get his shot here and I wouldn't be that surprised if he ends up a 35-40 pt dman.

 

[Jargon]

when I watched our game against LA I kept thinking man, if we just had one more defenseman that could push Rutta down and be able to break out the puck, this team will instantly get better. We’ll see how Liljegren does here but he’s got an army of Swedes to help him and he’ll immediately get big minutes and a long leash. If he finds his game and puts up some points here, maybe he ups his value by next year and is a nice trade deadline deal for us.

Right now though, anyone that can get the puck out of our zone is hugely important.

When Celebrini gets back I actually think we might have a pretty good bad team here!

 

[Star Platinum]

I would like to add that Liljegren could easily be another Walman situation, where he just didn't fit the better team he was traded from but will fit perfectly a low pressure high future team in San Jose.

It isn't hard for a player from somewhere else in the league to be an upgrade for this team.

I figure even if it doesn't work out, he's younger and healthier than what we gave up and we need defensemen that we don't need to wait three years on to see if they're gonna help us or not.

 

[OrrNumber4]

No one has posted the player scorecard yet?

 

[Bizz]

I'd give Grier some credit for finally getting rid of Benning the Pylon, but he shouldn't have signed him to begin with. Benning was never good.

BENNING IS GONE!!!!!

Best day in Sharks history since the Draft.