Tribute Timothy Liljegren Part 3 - Everyone wants Flowers.

[stickty111]

After the poor game in the Heritage classic and benching, he has stepped it up. Good to see from a youngster.

 

[LilySmoov]

Lily and Gio look excellent together. If Gio's got a couple good years left in him (assuming he sticks around), that's gonna be huge for us.

 

[aingefan]

So good tonight.

 

[meefer]

I remember saying in December he had just had his best game in the NHL.
Then said the same in a game in January, and then February, and now March.

I have a feeling I'm going to be saying the same in April, May, and hopefully June

 

[Mickey Marner]

Looks much better beside Giordano. Mentorship is crucial for young defensemen.

 

[Eternal Leaf]

He's going to be an amazing top-pairing defenseman in a few years.

 

[Frostitute]

Ive always been big on T-Lilly, even before we drafted him and I believe we got an absolute steal @ 17th overall.

Takes him a bit to adjust to new levels but I mean, it does for 99% of players. He was so highly touted at one point people just expected he'd either step in the top 4 in his D2ish season and immediately be a stud OR he'd be a complete bust.

He is here now people. Still learning the ropes but getting better with each game and really showing signs of WHY people believed he may go 2nd overall before he got mono.

Love it. Love him. Keep it UP!
Go Leafs Go!

 

[Ciao]

He's going to be an amazing top-pairing defenseman in a few years.

Maybe.

A really good second-pairing RHD would be pretty good too.

 

[AuraSphere]

He's going to be an amazing top-pairing defenseman in a few years.

Let's lower our expectations for now - but solid top 4 RHD for sure

 

[TopCheese]

He's really stepped it ul lately. Have liked seeing him engage in the rough stuff more. Matthews is playing more physically lately and with the new additions of gio, lyub and blackwell, others are starting to buy in as well

 

[seanlinden]

Personally, I think the biggest thing Liljegren has going for him right now is stability.

This is a guy who was in and out of the lineup for the last 2 years -- on a very crowded "bottom of the lineup". You have Sandin (who's Dubas 1st pick), Dermott (who's a couple of years older and shown flashes of brilliance), both of whom play a similar style, and then guys like Bogosian, Marincin in there to bring some size.

With Giordano in the picture, and the Leafs substantially more stacked on the left than on the right. Their 3rd pair left shot (Giordano) is now a defenceman that Liljegren compliments, instead of Sandin or Dermott who do much of the same.

 

[Eternal Leaf]

Let's lower our expectations for now - but solid top 4 RHD for sure

Of course, a dependable top 4 RHD would be brilliant and nothing to be disappointed about.

But the skillset and the way he's developing have me believing he's going to hit greater heights in his prime.

 

[Apotheosis]

He's on a different level than Sandin currently and I would say he also has a higher ceiling overall as well.

 

[Maplebeasts]

Another day another game where the Liljegren-Gio pairing wrecks their competition. Lilly at 70 xGF% 5 on 5 again. Keefe needs to wake up and start giving him more ice time.

 

[Atomos2]

Aww AHL teammates reunited. I hope Liljegren chirped him afterwards lol.

 

[stickty111]

Another day another game where the Liljegren-Gio pairing wrecks their competition. Lilly at 70 xGF% 5 on 5 again. Keefe needs to wake up and start giving him more ice time.

Yeah they should be getting more mins. I think Keefe is a good coach overall but today that was an awful coaching display. 4th line out multiple times against the 2nd line? Probably the worst coached in his tenure.
Also don't know if he would, but playing Abruzzese against Boston would be something I applaud.

 

[Morgs]

He's so good he's getting Calder attention from some of the smartest hockey people in the public space.

S/o Bunts too, obv.

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

The fact that Holl played 6 more minutes than Liljegren against the Panthers despite Holl taking two stupid penalties in the 1st is concerning.

Again Holl hasn't even been bad lately, but Liljegren is dominating his competition right now 5 on 5 and is clearly our best RHD.

 

[Haatley]

He's so good he's getting Calder attention from some of the smartest hockey people in the public space.

S/o Bunts too, obv.

Smartest hockey people didn't know Liljegren played for the Leafs until 3am hahahah

 

[Morgs]

Smartest hockey people didn't know Liljegren played for the Leafs until 3am hahahah

Solid way to stay unbiased.

 

[Macallan18]

He's on a different level than Sandin currently and I would say he also has a higher ceiling overall as well.

I agree, but this is considered to be heresy for now. I like them both, but it seems to me many Sandin supporters give a pass on every mistake of Sandin, and fault Lily for the bad goaltending behind him.
This sort of reminds me of the fan wars about Kadri/Bozak. I don't know why we do this, Sandin fans should just admit Lily is progressing and it is good for all of us. And if Lily ends up the bigger star, so be it.

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

He reached another level tonight. Probably his best game as a Leaf.

 

[leafsfan5]

He's something special, what a performance tonight

 

[Leafidelity]

He just keeps getting better and better

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]