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

[Petes2424]

Think it’s fair to say, Utah let the entire league know what they thought of Liljegren last night, by sending a similar return for a pending LHD in Maatta, instead of Liljegren.

To be fair, he’s a gifted player. I’ve been hard on him for much of his time with the Leafs but he took a pretty big step the last two years. Just to fall off again the last 40 games or so. There is something there though. Unfortunately we just don’t see it enough, and his bad habits keep showing.

He’s gonna get every chance in the world now.

As for the Sharks? They need NHL Dmen just to be placeholders for a couple years. They do need to be careful though, if they’re gonna start moving young Dmen up. They have 3-4 Dmen now, who have some of the worst habits, and you don’t want those dmen mentoring your kids.

 

[kevsh]

If I recall there were more than a few people on this forum suggesting the Leafs couldn't give him away, even laughing at the prospect of them getting as a much as a mid-round pick.

Today, it's a whole lot of "the Leafs got fleeced."

The positives, 25 years old, contract expires next year at a reasonable cap hit. He has some upside but he just hasn't progressed much over the past few years. A low-risk gamble for the Sharks and he'll be in their top 6 from day one.

The Leafs had to shed salary and Liljegren was sitting in the press box, at best #7 playing behind a "meh" RD in Timmins and even Myers got a look instead of dressing him again. He's no loss unless the injuries start to really pile up.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Is my answer to the question wrong ?

Yes. A couple years ago some Leaf fans thought maybe he could become a top pairing defensemen. Probably still not most, but there was hope. Things change over 2-3 years. Hard to believe I know.

 

[Czechboy]

I like Grier as a gm.. a lot ofmjis moves are very good. Think the SJ rebuild is.moving along nicely.

 

[Fatass]

Why would the Sharks pay a 3rd to dump a guy making barely more than the minimum?

If anything, the 3rd for Liljegren, the 6th to "dump", but in reality probably just roster balancing on both ends.

The Sharks take Lilly and Benning gets sent down. He’s not getting claimed on waivers (two years on his contract) and has a one way pay. So they’d be paying him his full salary, and that’s a lot of them, while adding Lilly too. So likely they insisted the Leafs take Benning. The Leafs are rich and can easily afford to pay him his full salary in the minors. The cost for taking two years of Benning was the third. And Lilly returned a sixth. A very tidy piece of work by the Sharks. They dump a salary and add a guy who will play top four minutes on their club. All for a third and sixth.

 

[Hodge]

Think it’s fair to say, Utah let the entire league know what they thought of Liljegren last night, by sending a similar return for a pending LHD in Maatta, instead of Liljegren.

To be fair, he’s a gifted player. I’ve been hard on him for much of his time with the Leafs but he took a pretty big step the last two years. Just to fall off again the last 40 games or so. There is something there though. Unfortunately we just don’t see it enough, and his bad habits keep showing.

He’s gonna get every chance in the world now.

As for the Sharks? They need NHL Dmen just to be placeholders for a couple years. They do need to be careful though, if they’re gonna start moving young Dmen up. They have 3-4 Dmen now, who have some of the worst habits, and you don’t want those dmen mentoring your kids.

Utah didn't want the 2nd year on Liljegren's contract. Durzi and Marino are signed long term and will be back next season along with Kesselring on the right side. Then they would have been in the same position as the Leafs.

 

[WarriorofTime]

I have a feeling this trade is going to be talked about for AWHILE.

Such a decisive player amongst Torontos fan base

Analytics likes him, others think he is soft

It might be, but it really shouldn't. His current contract runs this season and next, then following that (2026) he's a UFA if not otherwise extended on a new contract. Effectively, based on where they are as a team, San Jose bought the right to "skip the line" by evaluating him on their team to determine if he's worth extending on a UFA-type contract at a mutually agreeable number (12 month exclusive negotiating window July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026).

The Sharks take Lilly and Benning gets sent down. He’s not getting claimed on waivers (two years on his contract) and has a one way pay. So they’d be paying him his full salary, and that’s a lot of them, while adding Lilly too. So likely they insisted the Leafs take Benning. The Leafs are rich and can easily afford to pay him his full salary in the minors.

Sure, so you maybe pay the 6th round pick to avoid paying someone $1.2 million to be in the AHL, but that's not worth a 3rd round pick.

 

[LeafGrief]

Two more picks than I thought we’d get for him tbh. He might be a player, but he never put it together here. GL to him, Sharks will be able to give him the minutes he needs to show what he’s got.

 

[mogs]

I can't think of a single memorable thing he did in his entire career with the Leafs. Was just kind of there. And then scratched every playoffs.

 

[Toronto makebeleifs]

Good luck lillypad. Sharks got a great deal here. Less than thrilled at the return.

 

[Edgelord]

Wouldn’t be surprised to see him succeed in a bigger role. He’s shown flashes of it.

IMO he is too inconsistent. Almost reminds me of Gardiner. What I found most frustrating was the up and down effort level and at times horrible decision making.
If SJ can get him giving 100% and get him to keep it simple he will be good to go but if he carries the same tendencies over, I suspect he will draw split opinions for Shark fans

 

[CDJ]

Lilly seems like quite the polarizing player

 

[Zirakzigil]

Pens should of done this. Good trade for the Sharks.

 

[WarriorofTime]

If I recall there were more than a few people on this forum suggesting the Leafs couldn't give him away, even laughing at the prospect of them getting as a much as a mid-round pick.

Today, it's a whole lot of "the Leafs got fleeced."

Man, some Leaf fans have such a weird persecution complex.

 

[A1LeafNation]

2 picks and cap space for our 9th dman.

Who got fleeced lol.

 

[TopG]

Lilly is garbo. Surprised they got a late 2nd for the 8th D

 

[OversKy]

I don't like this at all as a Sharks fan. Leafs should be paying us a pick to take on that contract.

They did pay us, they took on Benning who is unplayable.

 

[TS Quint]

Great trade by Tre and I don't usually have much good to say about him. Timmy is an offensive defenseman with no offense. They got that Dermott value out of him and that is way more than Timmy is worth, never mind $3m.

 

[Hodge]

They did pay us, they took on Benning who is unplayable.

Benning's fine as a #7 and besides his cap hit can just be buried in the minors like Simek and Lindblom last year.

 

[OversKy]

Benning's fine as a #7 and besides his cap hit can just be buried in the minors like Simek and Lindblom last year.

Benning at his best was a #7. Post injury I bet he's out of the league real soon.

 

[Hodge]

Benning at his best was a #7. Post injury I bet he's out of the league real soon.

Still, he could have just been waived and sent to the Cuda. I don't think this trade is about dumping him.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Man, some Leaf fans have such a weird persecution complex.

Yeah about as many as other teams have. I think he was referring to some posters (certainly not all) in this thread: Speculation: - Any interest in Liljegren for a mid round pick?
It just exists for most people and very few people feel persecuted, if any.

 

[GirardSpinorama]

Another Dubas era bust.

 

[BobClarkesfrontteeth]

Think it’s fair to say, Utah let the entire league know what they thought of Liljegren last night, by sending a similar return for a pending LHD in Maatta, instead of Liljegren.

To be fair, he’s a gifted player. I’ve been hard on him for much of his time with the Leafs but he took a pretty big step the last two years. Just to fall off again the last 40 games or so. There is something there though. Unfortunately we just don’t see it enough, and his bad habits keep showing.

He’s gonna get every chance in the world now.

As for the Sharks? They need NHL Dmen just to be placeholders for a couple years. They do need to be careful though, if they’re gonna start moving young Dmen up. They have 3-4 Dmen now, who have some of the worst habits, and you don’t want those dmen mentoring your kids.

I think Utah let everyone know that they didn't want to give up a 3rd plus for a defenceman signed past this year. With Marino out for most of the season and Durzi out for almost the entire season they prefered the option of a veteran Dman who they can move at the deadline or simply let walk at the end of the year.

 

[BobClarkesfrontteeth]

Benning at his best was a #7. Post injury I bet he's out of the league real soon.

LEafs can bury every cent of his salary in the minors. SJS just dumping a salary the Leafs have no problem paying. I would be very surprised if Benning sees a second of ice time in a arena in Toronto not named the Coca-Cola Coliseum.