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

[sxvnert]

Benning becomes a #7/#8 D in Toronto which is exactly what they want.

Rielly Tanev
OEL McCabe
Benoit Timmins/Hakanpää
Myers/Benning/Mermis

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

What happened to his value?

Benning becomes a #7/#8 D in Toronto which is exactly what they want.

Rielly Tanev
OEL McCabe
Benoit Timmins/Hakanpää
Myers/Benning/Mermis

That is a scary NHL defense for a playoff roster.

 

[mattihp]

What?



What? He played like 3 or 4 years with the Marlies with our development staff. Not like we brought him and through him on the Leafs.

Exactly, he should have gotten much more confident in his skill at home first.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Is he worth more than a 3rd? Yes
Did Toronto need to move cap? Yes

Win win trade.

 

[Fatass]

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

1.2 million in the minors is a lot to the Sharks bottom line. To the Leafs it’s a drop in the bucket. Benning isn’t a cap dump. He is certainly a cash dump though. And that cost likely was the third rounder.

 

[Hodge]

1.2 million in the minors is a lot to the Sharks bottom line. To the Leafs it’s a drop in the bucket. Benning isn’t a cap dump. He is certainly a cash dump though. And that cost likely was the third rounder.

Sharks paid Radim Simek and Oskar Lindblom a combined $4.75M to play in the minors last year.

 

[Fatass]

Sharks paid Radim Simek and Oskar Lindblom a combined $4.75M to play in the minors last year.

And that’s last year. Bottom lines for rebuilding clubs don’t go up, especially in that market.

 

[Hodge]

And that’s last year. Bottom lines for rebuilding clubs don’t go up, especially in that market.

Sharks have one of the richest owners in the league and spending money has never been an issue. Besides, Benning was on the NHL roster and not in danger of being waived anytime soon. I'll bet he plays for the Leafs too.

 

[Fatass]

Sharks have one of the richest owners in the league and spending money has never been an issue. Besides, Benning was on the NHL roster and not in danger of being waived anytime soon. I'll bet he plays for the Leafs too.

The Leafs took Benning back because his contract can almost be totally buried in the minors. Is it 1.1 mil now that can be buried? The rest counts on the cap.

 

[Hodge]

The Leafs took Benning back because his contract can almost be totally buried in the minors. Is it 1.1 mil now that can be buried? The rest counts on the cap.

We'll see. I think they took him back to balance contract/roster numbers and for RD depth. Benning was a serviceable bottom pair defenseman his entire career until a season-ending hip injury last year. If he returns to his previous form he can be useful depth for you guys.

 

[Pete Taylor]

In a 4.5 month span, GMMG has acquired:

2nd Round Pick 2024
Jake Walman
Cody Ceci
Timothy Liljegren

For:

Matt Benning
Ty Emberson
6th Round Pick 2026

Not bad, not bad at all.

 

[AvroArrow]

Liljegren always looked like one of those "this guy looks pretty good when I see him, but doesn't seem to ever stick" players.

I think he'll be a fine NHLer, peak is a good 2nd pair puck moving D, his biggest flaw was his size in the playoffs. He got bullied around but also Keefe wasn't the greatest with him, he'd play Lily then scratch him, there was no consistency and I don't think we gave him a fair shot.

I think he was traded because he didn't fit Berube's coaching style + cap relief, I don't think he was traded because the organization thinks he sucks.

 

[themelkman]

The biggest benefit is we will never have to see him in trade proposals with a 3rd anymore.

 

[Stewie Griffin]

In a 4.5 month span, GMMG has acquired:

2nd Round Pick 2024
Jake Walman
Cody Ceci
Timothy Liljegren

For:

Matt Benning
Ty Emberson
6th Round Pick 2026

Not bad, not bad at all.

That 2024 2nd was also used to move up and secure Dickinson, who's having a great season.

 

[WTFMAN99]

I thought Liljegren had a chance to pull a 2nd but coming out of camp, Berube was scratching him etc so to get a 3rd, 6th and maybe someone they can flip down the line depending on how Hakanpaa's return from injjury goes....I feel good about this trade.

 

[dmcccdmn]

In a 4.5 month span, GMMG has acquired:

2nd Round Pick 2024
Jake Walman
Cody Ceci
Timothy Liljegren

For:

Matt Benning
Ty Emberson
6th Round Pick 2026

Not bad, not bad at all.

Yeah, but he also picked Sam Dickinson instead of Zeev Buium. That one potential blunder itself might end up the biggest of his career.

 

[The Management]

I've been a fan of Liljegren, but I was also a big booster of Anton Stralman and Carl Gunnarsson, who went on to have solid though unspectacular careers. I have a bit of a bias for smooth skating Swedish defensemen. Battle scars from having grown up watching Nik Lidstrom and his Red Wings dominate the era.

I think Liljegren still has second pairing potential, and I personally think he's better than some of the guys Berube has been playing. But for better or worse, he's been in the dog house and you can't have that kind of dead cap sitting in the press box. The way the Leafs went about this, confounds me, giving that contract, but not giving him an opportunity to live up to it.

Anyway, the Sharks should be an exciting young team over the next couple of years. I was super happy for them at the draft. Hope he works out for San Jose as well.

 

[Dog]

Not terrible for the leafs as Benning probably end up in AHL. Leafs saved some money and Liljegren gets his chance in San Jose.