Tribute Timothy Liljegren Part 3 - Everyone wants Flowers.

[AuraSphere]

Not saying it was wrong to sit out Liljegren over Holl last game - but to sit him out 2 games in a row is just cringe. Holl/Liljegren/Lybush should be alternating on who sits.

So unfair for Liljegren - especially with how he's played and considering he was on for no goals against during that shit show of a matchup against florida

 

[Clyde Brewer]

Not saying it was wrong to sit out Liljegren over Holl last game - but to sit him out 2 games in a row is just cringe. Holl/Liljegren/Lybush should be alternating on who sits.

So unfair for Liljegren - especially with how he's played and considering he was on for no goals against during that shit show of a matchup against florida

I don't see how this is helping his development or confidence.

 

[Teeder Keon]

Holl stinks again

 

[Teeder Keon]

Where the GDT ?
Not showing up for me ?

 

[Northernguy10]

This team has not been good at developing defensemen for a long time now. You finally get a home grown one who is gaining confidence by the game and becoming a very good regular and you sit him 2 games in a row?.. It's not just a confidence reason because he still has to be one of the top 6 to play but he has clearly done that. I hope he carries on where he was when he gets back in. There's no guarantee that he will however.

 

[mapleleaf979]

Not saying it was wrong to sit out Liljegren over Holl last game - but to sit him out 2 games in a row is just cringe. Holl/Liljegren/Lybush should be alternating on who sits.

So unfair for Liljegren - especially with how he's played and considering he was on for no goals against during that shit show of a matchup against florida

You are right, Liljegren should not have sat 2 games. Holl is proving to be an anchor for his d partners. Liljegren was playing well with Giordano.

 

[francis246]

You are right, Liljegren should not have sat 2 games. Holl is proving to be an anchor for his d partners. Liljegren was playing well with Giordano.

This is pro sports, rookies are going to sit. It’s just the way it is. I don’t mind it because we are winning. I still think Liljegren is going to be a big part of our future but I understand why he’s sitting. It’s probably going to be a veteran line up in the playoffs.

Muzzin, Holl, Boosh have all looked pretty good in recent games

 

[francis246]

I don't see how this is helping his development or confidence.

If his confidence is crushed after sitting 2 games as a rookie, then we have bigger issues with him than I anticipated.

However Liljegren is a pro, he’s also a rookie, I’m sure he understands this was bound to happen. Especially considering we upgraded at the deadline and got Muzzin back. The fact of the matter is unless you are a Cale Makar or Quinn Hughes and impacting special teams drastically, you’re likely sitting for a veteran guy. It’s apart of breaking into the league, it is what it is. I don’t think Liljegren is taking it with salt and I’m sure they’ve already explained that to him multiple times this season. It’s not uncommon and they aren’t ruining his development by doing so.

 

[ACC1224]

If his confidence is crushed after sitting 2 games as a rookie, then we have bigger issues with him than I anticipated.

However Liljegren is a pro, he’s also a rookie, I’m sure he understands this was bound to happen. Especially considering we upgraded at the deadline and got Muzzin back. The fact of the matter is unless you are a Cale Makar or Quinn Hughes and impacting special teams drastically, you’re likely sitting for a veteran guy. It’s apart of breaking into the league, it is what it is. I don’t think Liljegren is taking it with salt and I’m sure they’ve already explained that to him multiple times this season. It’s not uncommon and they aren’t ruining his development by doing so.

It doesn’t make the team better which is what most have the issue with.

 

[francis246]

It doesn’t make the team better which is what most have the issue with.

The team has won the two games without him in the line up. Liljegren is a very good player but let’s not act like he’s the difference between the leafs winning and losing games. If he was he wouldn’t be sitting. His numbers are very good, he impacts the game in a positive way. But Keefe and the leafs staff has to also figure out which line up they believe is going to help us win a series.

People are acting like Liljegren sitting 2 games is gonna set him back when it’s not. Many rookies sit throughout a season. He’s going to get back in before the end of the season.

 

[Dreakmur]

If his confidence is crushed after sitting 2 games as a rookie, then we have bigger issues with him than I anticipated.

However Liljegren is a pro, he’s also a rookie, I’m sure he understands this was bound to happen. Especially considering we upgraded at the deadline and got Muzzin back. The fact of the matter is unless you are a Cale Makar or Quinn Hughes and impacting special teams drastically, you’re likely sitting for a veteran guy. It’s apart of breaking into the league, it is what it is. I don’t think Liljegren is taking it with salt and I’m sure they’ve already explained that to him multiple times this season. It’s not uncommon and they aren’t ruining his development by doing so.

I’m less worried about his development and more worried about us playing worse players.

 

[Future]

Biggest difference I see between Holl and Liljegren is their transition play.

To put it simply, Gio and Liljegren rarely got into trouble because of how effective Liljegren is in both transition offense and defense. The puck doesn’t spend much time in our own zone since he defends the rush well with excellent gap control facilitating takeaways and uses his body to separate players from the puck along the boards and quickly move the biscuit to our forwards up the ice. Offensively, he’s been very purposeful and is comfortable making those accurate stretch passes and flipping the ice. His two best games were against Boston and Tampa against tough competition.

Best way I can describe Holl is slow and indecisive. Mentally and physically. This causes us to be pinned in our own zone where teams can wear us down and tire us out. No surprise he has such high hits/blocks numbers even if he isn’t overly physical because he’s often chasing the play. Makes life a lot tougher on Gio compared to when he plays with Liljegren and we are going to run into trouble against faster teams.

 

[francis246]

I’m less worried about his development and more worried about us playing worse players.

its the regular season though, guys are going to rotate in. And if we win, what does it matter is the point. Keefe and the Leafs said they were going to experiment with the pairings now that everyone is back. I expect him and sandin to both get games in down the stretch now that we've clinched. But him sitting two games isn't really that big of a deal tbh

 

[DarkKnight]

its the regular season though, guys are going to rotate in. And if we win, what does it matter is the point. Keefe and the Leafs said they were going to experiment with the pairings now that everyone is back. I expect him and sandin to both get games in down the stretch now that we've clinched. But him sitting two games isn't really that big of a deal tbh

He deserves to play, no question. I see it as a testament to the best depth we’ve had on defence. For the first time we can make legitimate arguments about who should play and that bodes well, because guess what, if we’re going far in the playoffs we’re going to need all of them.

 

[ACC1224]

its the regular season though, guys are going to rotate in. And if we win, what does it matter is the point. Keefe and the Leafs said they were going to experiment with the pairings now that everyone is back. I expect him and sandin to both get games in down the stretch now that we've clinched. But him sitting two games isn't really that big of a deal tbh

What does any of it matter then?
Perhaps some see Lilligren and Giordano as a preferred pair going into the playoffs and would like them to have as many games together as possible.
I guess they could just pick 20 names out of a hat for the rest of the season and then figure out the best roster come playoff time.

 

[francis246]

What does any of it matter then?
Perhaps some see Lilligren and Giordano as a preferred pair going into the playoffs and would like them to have as many games together as possible.
I guess they could just pick 20 names out of a hat for the rest of the season and then figure out the best roster come playoff time.

that's the whole point of Liljegren sitting. They know that Liljegren and Gio pairing works. They need to figure out the other pairs. all 8 dmen are going to have to play in the playoffs especially if we are going to have a deep run. So they have to play Holl and Boosh

 

[justloveleafs]

Holl is going to get Gio killed out there. That was a bomb of a hit that Gio took from Josh Andersen. Why did he take it, because he knew he had to make the perfect play to get the puck out of the dzone. Why the perfect play, because he is playing with an oversized slow donkey.

I don't care what analytics say in Holl's case. Some people smell fire, some peop[e see fire. In Holl's case I perceive both.

A team is only as good as your weakest link. In our case that is goaltending and Holl.

That is a bad combo, going into the playoffs.

We all know the defence has to play above themselves every night, to win with the current version of Campbell and Kjalgren.

Lets put in the better, faster, stronger dman, Liljegren before going down fast in the first round.

 

[2 Slick]

I didn't like Liljegren's play earlier in the season, but he's definitely improved over the last little while. It really does help out depending on who he is paired up with. With Gio, it's been working out tremendously.

Keefe keeps claiming he's giving different looks on defense in preparation for the playoffs. If that's the case, why has Holl been in the lineup for three games in a row that Muzzin has been back in? Changing it up would mean scratching the player who has been playing the worst this season and giving other players a look who have been performing up to snuff.

If Muzzin and Holl plays together in the playoffs, it will do nothing but up the amount of goals against that Toronto receives just based on that fact alone. They don't work well together this season.

Holl should only play in the playoffs if another D is playing that piss poorly or due to injuries. Under any circumstances should he be playing above Lybushkin, Liljegren or even Sandin when he comes back.

 

[Clyde Brewer]

He's played 50 games, and we've been watching him continuously improve all season, especially lately. To start sitting him with 10 games left is a mistake- that's 20% more games than he's played this year for him to keep building on.

Sitting him out now makes no sense, if anything, they should be giving him more minutes and testing him more.

 

[ACC1224]

that's the whole point of Liljegren sitting. They know that Liljegren and Gio pairing works. They need to figure out the other pairs. all 8 dmen are going to have to play in the playoffs especially if we are going to have a deep run. So they have to play Holl and Boosh

How many games has that pair played together?
Doesn’t seem like many maybe half a dozen.

 

[francis246]

How many games has that pair played together?
Doesn’t seem like many maybe half a dozen.

either way only in Toronto, could a rookie sitting out for 2 games be a big deal. It literally means nothing.

Keefe obviously believes in him, so does management. They just want a look at other guys/pairings which they are well within their right to do. Liljegren has proved that he can play and I'm sure he'll be ready when and if his name is called in the playoffs. Him sitting a few games down the stretch isn't going to negatively affect the team or Liljegren's future performances.

 

[francis246]

I didn't like Liljegren's play earlier in the season, but he's definitely improved over the last little while. It really does help out depending on who he is paired up with. With Gio, it's been working out tremendously.

Keefe keeps claiming he's giving different looks on defense in preparation for the playoffs. If that's the case, why has Holl been in the lineup for three games in a row that Muzzin has been back in? Changing it up would mean scratching the player who has been playing the worst this season and giving other players a look who have been performing up to snuff.

If Muzzin and Holl plays together in the playoffs, it will do nothing but up the amount of goals against that Toronto receives just based on that fact alone. They don't work well together this season.

Holl should only play in the playoffs if another D is playing that piss poorly or due to injuries. Under any circumstances should he be playing above Lybushkin, Liljegren or even Sandin when he comes back.

They probably want a larger sample size to test these pairings out.

 

[ACC1224]

either way only in Toronto, could a rookie sitting out for 2 games be a big deal. It literally means nothing.

Keefe obviously believes in him, so does management. They just want a look at other guys/pairings which they are well within their right to do. Liljegren has proved that he can play and I'm sure he'll be ready when and if his name is called in the playoffs. Him sitting a few games down the stretch isn't going to negatively affect the team or Liljegren's future performances.

….. and fans are well within their right to question what they do. Now what?

 

[Macallan18]

well, lets see the pairings in the playoffs.
If Lilly sits over Holl, Keefe deserves to be chastised.
But every coach apparently has to do at least one really boneheaded thing.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]