Confirmed Trade: [SJS/TOR] Timothy Liljegren for 2025 SJS 3rd round pick, 2026 SJS 6th round pick, Matt Benning

[Ciao]

He's been okay. Significant improvement for the Sharks, but he's a third pair dman. Given his age I could see extending him next year as he don't have anything at RHD, but he shouldn't be in any team's top 4.

I'm interested to learn how Sharks' fans feel about this deal some nine weeks and 30 games later.

Is a 25 y.o. third-pairing LHD signed at $3-million for this year and next worth a 2025 third- and a 2026 sixth-round pick?

I would still rather thereafter had kept him, but I don't think the head coach had any use for him. Timmins and Myers have taken over his spot anyway at a lower AAV.

 

[TheBeard]

I'm interested to learn how Sharks' fans feel about this deal some nine weeks and 30 games later.

Is a 25 y.o. third-pairing LHD signed at $3-million for this year and next worth a 2025 third- and a 2026 sixth-round pick?

I would still rather thereafter had kept him, but I don't think the head coach had any use for him. Timmins and Myers have taken over his spot anyway at a lower AAV.

Eh. I think what we're getting out of him is better than what you'd normally get from a third rounder. Him and Mario seem like a decent pairing together.

 

[matt trick]

Eh. I think what we're getting out of him is better than what you'd normally get from a third rounder. Him and Mario seem like a decent pairing together.

Especially San Jose’s 3rd round hit rate! A lot of sharks fans (I certainly count myself in this group), don’t value third rounders at all. Aside from Greiss, there’s an argument to be made that Gushchin will be our best or second best skating third rounder in 30 years. It’s honestly shocking. Nabby in the 9th, Douglas Murray in the 8th, Pavs & Braun in the 7th, clowe in the 6th, Kipper in the 5th, and Demers in the 4th, but absolute f*** all in the 3rd.

All that being said, give me a guy like Liljigren for 2 years at $3M for a third all day. Our RHD last year was Burroughs, Benning, Vlasic, and Rutta. Liljigren and Ceci are NHL caliber so it’s quite an improvement even if they are #4 or 5 guys.

I’d guess Liljigren will be our 4th or 5th best dman next year and he’ll probably bring back a 3rd at the deadline or be extended because our RHD depth without Ceci is currently Liljigren, offhand Vlasic, Thompson. If we get two guys good enough to push Liljigren to 3rd pair, I’d be thrilled but don’t see it happening.

More to the player than the situation, I’d argue he’s made Ferraro- who handles the puck like a grenade on fire and covered in tarantulas- much more acceptable. He also not as soft as leafs fans warned us. He’s pretty soft; but it’s not an issue in the regular season. Unfortunately, he sucks on the PP, even if Walman is out, I’d rather play Muk, Thompson, or 5 forwards. That’s a bummer. If he could QB a PP, I think he’s adequate in a top 4.

Toronto was wise to move on- for cap benefits and because they have options- SJ was wise to grab him. Wish we grabbed Fabbro too.

 

[coooldude]

Someone described Lily as "mid" and that's about right. Just like a lot of NHLers, he has flashes of high end play, lots of inconsistent okay to not okay play, and some terrible games. On the Sharks, that means he's in our top 4 and a definite upgrade, but it doesn't mean he's amazing. He's a roster player RD. he should have an NHL job but it should probably be as a 4/5/6.

 

[sxvnert]

He shouldn't have been qualified in the first place.
Honestly haven't missed him one bit.

 

[Michoulicious]

He's an overpaid #6 RD.

 

[Fatass]

When the trade was made knew it was a steal for the Sharka. Top four, right shit D, at that age, with that contract are rare. Still hard to figure what the Leafs were thinking. Nice to see him thriving in SJ though. Always seemed like a good guy who was a great teammate.

 

[TheDoldrums]

When the trade was made knew it was a steal for the Sharka. Top four, right shit D, at that age, with that contract are rare. Still hard to figure what the Leafs were thinking. Nice to see him thriving in SJ though. Always seemed like a good guy who was a great teammate.

I think thriving is overselling it. His ice time was cut in December and he was healthy scratched for a game.

As for what the Leafs were thinking it's not hard to figure out, they think Myers or Timmons can do a comparable job (especially in the playoffs) for 25% of Liljegren's cap hit. And if Liljegren struggled to get into playoff games because of a lack of physicality while playing under Keefe, he damn sure wasn't going to have an easier time under Berube.

 

[Fatass]

I think thriving is overselling it. His ice time was cut in December and he was healthy scratched for a game.

As for what the Leafs were thinking it's not hard to figure out, they think Myers or Timmons can do a comparable job (especially in the playoffs) for 25% of Liljegren's cap hit. And if Liljegren struggled to get into playoff games because of a lack of physicality while playing under Keefe, he damn sure wasn't going to have an easier time under Berube.

Trading away young, top four, right side D is a mistake teams make. Might be a cap pressure thing? Don’t know. It’s just not smart..

 

[Lahey]

When the trade was made knew it was a steal for the Sharka. Top four, right shit D, at that age, with that contract are rare. Still hard to figure what the Leafs were thinking. Nice to see him thriving in SJ though. Always seemed like a good guy who was a great teammate.

Top 4? Sureeee. He’s a #6 dman who makes 3m, leafs did well to dump him for any type of asset. Not sure what you’re thinking.

 

[ToDavid]

He shouldn't have been qualified in the first place.
Honestly haven't missed him one bit.

I mean, signing him and trading him was objectively better than letting him walk.

 

[Fatass]

Top 4? Sureeee. He’s a #6 dman who makes 3m, leafs did well to dump him for any type of asset. Not sure what you’re thinking.

In your opinion. IMO the Sharks got themselves a young, right shot, top four, puck moving right shot D. And that is a huge add for any club. Teams are hunting for these players.

 

[conFABulator]

In your opinion. IMO the Sharks got themselves a young, right shot, top four, puck moving right shot D. And that is a huge add for any club. Teams are hunting for these players.

Maybe this is a classic win-win trade. Liljegren is a relatively young, right-shot defenseman getting decent minutes on a bad team in San Jose—not exactly lighting it up, but holding his own.

As a Leafs fan, I was honestly more excited about getting $3 million back on the cap, which says a lot about the value he brought to at least one pretty good hockey team. We still need a top-four right-shot D, but truthfully, I haven’t really missed him since he left.

Sometimes, it just works out for everyone.

 

[Fatass]

Maybe this is a classic win-win trade. Liljegren is a relatively young, right-shot defenseman getting decent minutes on a bad team in San Jose—not exactly lighting it up, but holding his own.

As a Leafs fan, I was honestly more excited about getting $3 million back on the cap, which says a lot about the value he brought to at least one pretty good hockey team. We still need a top-four right-shot D, but truthfully, I haven’t really missed him since he left.

Sometimes, it just works out for everyone.

Yup. Leafs are in win now mode. They have a short window (Tanev us 35)

 

[Martin Skoula]

In your opinion. IMO the Sharks got themselves a young, right shot, top four, puck moving right shot D. And that is a huge add for any club. Teams are hunting for these players.

Weird that no one else outbid them, I guess Tre only told the sharks he was available and took their first offer.

 

[Ciao]

Trading away young, top four, right side D is a mistake teams make. Might be a cap pressure thing? Don’t know. It’s just not smart..

I agree with you on this.

Liljegren is a good, quiet NHL-caliber defenceman. I think he can play in the top four.

 

[Cas]

I'm interested to learn how Sharks' fans feel about this deal some nine weeks and 30 games later.

Is a 25 y.o. third-pairing LHD signed at $3-million for this year and next worth a 2025 third- and a 2026 sixth-round pick?

I would still rather thereafter had kept him, but I don't think the head coach had any use for him. Timmins and Myers have taken over his spot anyway at a lower AAV.

I'm just happy to have gotten rid of Matt Benning.

Liljegren was a lottery ticket at a position of need. I'm perfectly happy expending two lottery tickets for that, even though he likely does not work out as anything more than temporary filler (and we're probably replacing those lottery tickets anyway with people like Granlund, Kunin, or Sturm).

 

[OrrNumber4]

He moves the puck decently, but in the actual offensive zone, he's been underwhelming.

 

[Namikaze Minato]

He moves the puck decently, but in the actual offensive zone, he's been underwhelming.

Just lacks a certain amount of poise at the right time it has always felt like to me. When he shows his flashes he looks so good though, I still have faith he can become a legit player.

 

[Rschmitz]

This kid was once teased as better than Hedman before sinking in the draft due to his offensive prowess, hoping he figures some of that out in SJ

 

[Arthur Morgan]

When the trade was made knew it was a steal for the Sharka. Top four, right shit D, at that age, with that contract are rare. Still hard to figure what the Leafs were thinking. Nice to see him thriving in SJ though. Always seemed like a good guy who was a great teammate.

honestly his numbers don't look all that great. wish him nothing but luck and always will. but I dont think he has really improved at all compared to what we have seen him do in a Leafs uniform over the years.
pretty good trade for SJ anyways

Trading away young, top four, right side D is a mistake teams make. Might be a cap pressure thing? Don’t know. It’s just not smart..

top 4 is questionable. he for sure wasn't and wasn't going to become top 4 in Toronto anytime soon

 

[FerrisRox]

When the trade was made knew it was a steal for the Sharka. Top four, right shit D, at that age, with that contract are rare. Still hard to figure what the Leafs were thinking. Nice to see him thriving in SJ though. Always seemed like a good guy who was a great teammate.

In what world is he a Top 4 defender? Where are you getting that from?

 

[kevsh]

Trading away young, top four, right side D is a mistake teams make. Might be a cap pressure thing? Don’t know. It’s just not smart..

There's a whole bunch to it, but the Leafs are in "win now" mode and Lily was having trouble cracking the lineup. You can't just wait it out for a guy that's 25 and carrying that cap hit in their circumstance.

It was a necessary move that benefitted everyone. The Sharks took a chance on a guy that at worst is a decent 3rd pairing guy. Lily got a chance to play and the Leafs cleared cap space and got something in return.

 

[indigobuffalo]

We'll see, it depends on what they do with those picks.

The picks are a part, you also have to consider the roster spot, how that’s used.

Seems like they opted for Phillippe Myers instead of Liljegren. And Myers has looked a lot more reliable. He’s already worked his way into a part time role on the top pairing with Rielly.

Not something I think Liljegren ever proved capable of.

And the Leafs got Myers for free.

So essentially you’d have to look at it as a Myers, 3rd rd pick, 6th rd pick for Liljegren.

 

[sxvnert]

Lili looks fine until he's under pressure in the D zone. He was a nightmare in the playoffs over multiple seasons.