Prospect Info: Timothy Liljegren

[TheGoldenJet]

His offensive game is fine. Rosen and Sandin have handled the load on the PP this year because they aren't as good 5 on 5. He produced well 5 on 5.

We don't really need him on the PP at the NHL level either with Rielly on the first unit and Mcfarland will hopefully push for that unit to stay out for the majority of the 2 minutes.

He'll be a Leaf next year and is exactly the type of guy we need back there.

Rielly is not an ideal PPQB at all, if a guy from within the system can do better there, he should be given the opportunity. Even if Morgan remains the top PPQB, 2-3 of those are needed on every team, to man the second unit and to play on the top unit when there are injuries etc.

It’s a part of his game that needs to continue to develop, not be stiffled on a bottom pairing next year.

 

[The Iceman]

Rielly is not an ideal PPQB at all, if a guy from within the system can do better there, he should be given the opportunity. Even if Morgan remains the top PPQB, 2-3 of those are needed on every team, to man the second unit and to play on the top unit when there are injuries etc.

It’s a part of his game that needs to continue to develop, not be stiffled on a bottom pairing next year.

How about going 5F PP1 with Nylander taking Reillys spot?

Actually Reilly fired 2 slapshots that i remember against Bost. One rang off the post and the other produced a rebound goal. Just coach Reilly to hit more slapshots. He should be perfectly capable of a plus slapshot.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

How about going 5F PP1 with Nylander taking Reillys spot?

Actually Reilly fired 2 slapshots that i remember against Bost. One rang off the post and the other produced a rebound goal. Just coach Reilly to hit more slapshots. He should be perfectly capable of a plus slapshot.

For sure Reilly can still tweak his game, and I hope he does. He was robbed of a Norris nomination this year (IMO) as is. That being said, his game to date isn’t that of a prototypical PPQB.

 

[supermann_98]

The kings didnt take Durzi over Liljegren.

Some clown (maybe even Makenzie) in the media said "it's rumoured" the Kings chose Durzi over Lilj and all leaf haters and trolls use it as ammunition to critique Lilj ... Absolutely amateur level "reporting" if you ask me

 

[Martin Skoula]

Some clown (maybe even Makenzie) in the media said "it's rumoured" the Kings chose Durzi over Lilj and all leaf haters and trolls use it as ammunition to critique Lilj ... Absolutely amateur level "reporting" if you ask me

Likely not 1 for 1, that was never specified. I imagine it was something like Liljegren + 1st or 2nd vs Grundstrom + Durzi + 1st.

 

[stickty111]

 

[Dayjobdave]

It will be interesting to see how the leafs play when we finally get someone who can break the puck out of the zone on the right side. Teams have been loading up on our left side breakout for what seems like an eternity.

 

[WTFMAN99]

It will be interesting to see how the leafs play when we finally get someone who can break the puck out of the zone on the right side. Teams have been loading up on our left side breakout for what seems like an eternity.

Mind you, in their day, they were ahead of their time but usually the Hawks were fast AF on the left side. Keith and Oduya would break out on LD, Seabrook and Hjalmarsson were at least capable of moving it in their primes.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Playing Liljegren on a bottom pairing in the NHL next season would be a mistake.

Now is the time to nurture his creativity and offensive skills, rather than stifle them for another consecutive year. This is how he reaches his future potential. I say this as a poster who’s followed Liljegren’s career closely since the Rögle days.

 

[RoadWarrior]

Playing Liljegren on a bottom pairing in the NHL next season would be a mistake.

Now is the time to nurture his creativity and offensive skills, rather than stifle them for another consecutive year. This is how he reaches his future potential. I say this as a poster who’s followed Liljegren’s career closely since the Rögle days.

I don't think burying him behind Sandin on the second PP unit is great for his development either.

People should be happy that he's become a right handed Travis Dermott. The leafs desperately need a reliable two way defender on the right side.

 

[Anthrax442]

Playing Liljegren on a bottom pairing in the NHL next season would be a mistake.

Now is the time to nurture his creativity and offensive skills, rather than stifle them for another consecutive year. This is how he reaches his future potential. I say this as a poster who’s followed Liljegren’s career closely since the Rögle days.

He should start in the Marlies and earn his way in like Dermott did

 

[SprDaVE]

Playing Liljegren on a bottom pairing in the NHL next season would be a mistake.

Now is the time to nurture his creativity and offensive skills, rather than stifle them for another consecutive year. This is how he reaches his future potential. I say this as a poster who’s followed Liljegren’s career closely since the Rögle days.

He should start in the Marlies and earn his way in like Dermott did

How about we let training camp decide that?

I think he's earned his chance to grab the spot if he earns it. He's developed quite nicely so far and no reason to expect him not to be able to have a role out with the Leafs to start the season.

Rosen is also expected to be on the Leafs. Him and Liljegren made a heck of a top AHL pairing this season.

 

[Anthrax442]

How about we let training camp decide that?

I think he's earned his chance to grab the spot if he earns it. He's developed quite nicely so far and no reason to expect him not to be able to have a role out with the Leafs to start the season.

Rosen is also expected to be on the Leafs. Him and Liljegren made a heck of a top AHL pairing this season.

Right, plus we don't know how many spots will actually be available. Gards and Hainse might not be back.

 

[BlueForever75]

There is no reason why Rosen-Llijegren cannot be our bottom pairing. They cannot do any worse then Dermott-Oz but at the same time give us a true LD-RD combo that Babcock has been craving for sometime. They both are ready in my eyes, and they both have low contract hits that help us with our cap.

If we can somehow trade Zaitsev, and acquire a true RHD for Reilly my pairings for next season would be as follows with only Dermott playing out of position:

Reilly-NEW RHD
Muzzin-Dermott
Rosen-Llijegren

Dermott his entire OHL career played the right side, he has experience and was drafted with the Leafs knowing this. Not using him on the right side to this point has been plain stupid. Of course this is on Babcock.

 

[Mess]

It will be interesting to see how the leafs play when we finally get someone who can break the puck out of the zone on the right side. Teams have been loading up on our left side breakout for what seems like an eternity.

A left wing lock defensive system plays right into Leafs greatest weakness, and its why Babcock has been pleading for RHD dmen.

Liljegren is really the only hope internally that can address this in time.. But I don't think that time is now.

 

[Fogelhund]

Right, plus we don't know how many spots will actually be available. Gards and Hainse might not be back.

There is no chance that Gardiner is back, that is a foregone conclusion. He's likely to get a $6 mil contract on the open market, and we can't come close to that.

Hainsey.... yes, he could come back, but that only happens, if we fail to address our RD properly...

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Go get Rollie ... he can fill in for a year for sure and it gives us another year to properly develop our young kids as neither is ready for the NHL

 

[Advanced stats]

Lilly has played his last game as a marlie IMO

 

[Fogelhund]

Lilly has played his last game as a marlie IMO

I don't know. I think most of his game is NHL ready, and he played very well, getting stronger as the season went. My only hesitation is his offense. I don't know if moving him to the NHL now caps his future offensive production, or if starting him in the AHL, and give him plenty of opportunity to gain some offensive confidence, will allow him to become the player some saw him as, before being drafted. It's a tough call, because he looks very poised with the puck. I expect him to have a great off season, and like to see where he is come camp and exhibition games. I think there is more potential to him, just how do we maximize that.

 

[ULF_55]

How about we let training camp decide that?

I think he's earned his chance to grab the spot if he earns it. He's developed quite nicely so far and no reason to expect him not to be able to have a role out with the Leafs to start the season.

Rosen is also expected to be on the Leafs. Him and Liljegren made a heck of a top AHL pairing this season.

I hope Liljegren is on the starting line-up.

Even on the 3rd. pairing he will learn about the speed of the NHL game, something he will never do in a decade playing in the AHL.

Either he has it or he doesn't and putting him in the line-up, on the 3rd. pairing isn't going to destroy his career.

Sure he's only 20, but no one is asking him to lead the team.

If the games gets too fast for him once everyone is up to speed send him down with a better idea of what he needs to work on.

Offense when come when / if it comes. Offense is not a weakness on the Leafs.

 

[AppsSyl]

I don't know. I think most of his game is NHL ready, and he played very well, getting stronger as the season went. My only hesitation is his offense. I don't know if moving him to the NHL now caps his future offensive production, or if starting him in the AHL, and give him plenty of opportunity to gain some offensive confidence, will allow him to become the player some saw him as, before being drafted. It's a tough call, because he looks very poised with the puck. I expect him to have a great off season, and like to see where he is come camp and exhibition games. I think there is more potential to him, just how do we maximize that.

I think people will be surprised by his offensive numbers in the NHL given the strength of his transition game and ability to pass up ice really well. He will be feeding the puck to Marner, Matthews, Tavares, Nylander, etc. There are going to be a number of assists with his abilities to move the puck.

 

[SprDaVE]

I hope Liljegren is on the starting line-up.

Even on the 3rd. pairing he will learn about the speed of the NHL game, something he will never do in a decade playing in the AHL.

Either he has it or he doesn't and putting him in the line-up, on the 3rd. pairing isn't going to destroy his career.

Sure he's only 20, but no one is asking him to lead the team.

If the games gets too fast for him once everyone is up to speed send him down with a better idea of what he needs to work on.

Offense when come when / if it comes. Offense is not a weakness on the Leafs.

Those are my hopes as well. He's developed into a 2-way threat for the Marlies. He hasn't been perfect but I've been impressed with how he's handled the high minutes. The only thing is that he's suffered some tough injuries, which may have slowed down his progression to the Leafs. Let's not forget Dubas mentioned he would have been called up if it wasn't for that big injury mid-season.

I would be surprised if he didn't start with the Leafs in 2019. It will all depend on his training camp though I suppose.

 

[AppsSyl]

Those are my hopes as well. He's developed into a 2-way threat for the Marlies. He hasn't been perfect but I've been impressed with how he's handled the high minutes. The only thing is that he's suffered some tough injuries, which may have slowed down his progression to the Leafs. Let's not forget Dubas mentioned he would have been called up if it wasn't for that big injury mid-season.

I would be surprised if he didn't start with the Leafs in 2019. It will all depend on his training camp though I suppose.

I think that the obvious work that he has put in at the gym will be something that helps his case to stick with the Leafs out of camp. It has allowed him to often gain the physical advantage along the boards, in the corners and out front of the net. This is something that Babcock will like.

 

[Mess]

I hope Liljegren is on the starting line-up.

Even on the 3rd. pairing he will learn about the speed of the NHL game, something he will never do in a decade playing in the AHL.

Either he has it or he doesn't and putting him in the line-up, on the 3rd. pairing isn't going to destroy his career.

Sure he's only 20, but no one is asking him to lead the team.

If the games gets too fast for him once everyone is up to speed send him down with a better idea of what he needs to work on.

Offense when come when / if it comes. Offense is not a weakness on the Leafs.

Comes to the development debate as to what is best..

Playing sheltered 3rd pairing minutes at the NHL level for 8-10 minutes a game or 22 minutes a night in the AHL under all situations including special teams.

 

[AppsSyl]

Comes to the development debate as to what is best..

Playing sheltered 3rd pairing minutes at the NHL level for 8-10 minutes a game or 22 minutes a night in the AHL under all situations including special teams.

Who that regularly played on our 3rd pair averged 8-10 minutes? The guys who playerd over 20 games were Oz who averaged over 14 min per game, Marincin 15, and Dermott over 17.