RD Timothy Liljegren - Ex-Rogle BK, SHL (2017, 17th, TOR) III

[Zegs2sendhelp]

This is my favorite thread on the forums.

If liljegren has a good game its a love over hype fest, if he has a bad game its a hate/bust fest.

The back and fourth of this thread is amazing.

 

[X66]

This is my favorite thread on the forums.

If liljegren has a good game its a love over hype fest, if he has a bad game its a hate/bust fest.

The back and fourth of this thread is amazing.

So you like every thread with a big name Leafs prospect.

And in all honesty, this thread isn't even on the Richter scale when it comes to what you described.

In terms of ranking the hype/bust fest for the latest Leafs prospects, it goes:

1. Nylander

• First of the big 3 to be drafted, so he was the only hope at the time.
• Posters loved bashing because he was so hyped(deservedly so).
• People loved when he got concussed at the WJC
• There were posters that used to belittle him every chance they got.
• Go read through TheWinterSoliders posts on Marner and Nylander and have a great laugh

2. Matthews

• Man were people salty when those lottery balls came up for the Leafs. There was a sudden shift to hating Matthews from some posters, even though months prior they labelled him as a can't miss sure fire franchise center.
• Laine/Matthews debate
• Overall though, people were starting not like what the Leafs were potentially becoming(a power house) and getting Matthews made people accept it more.

3. Marner

• Marner got the usual flack from jealous trolls (he's too small, he's too weak, his offence won't translate to the NHL etc) but he was a prospect that so many people were high on that his hate wasn't crazy.
• He also gave no reason for people to hate him, he was putting up some of the best stats in OHL history.
• Only time he caught a lot of flack was at the WJC and his first training camp.
• A lot of dumb claims made by some posters I.E Barzal, Konecny, Ritchie, Strome, Zacha, Connor, Aho etc were all better prospects than him lol

Distant 4th

4. Liljegren

• People may not like the hype but the timeline of where the leafs are helps them where. There is not much people can say, he was a highly ranked prospect that dropped, could be an elite NHLer could be a bust.

 

[bukwas]

Happy to hear him doing well though i'm not surprised. Funny though how after those few pre-season games he was a total bust..
Early success will likely give him the much confidence after last year.

I think we often overlook the importance of self confidence for these kids and how quickly it can take a hit. I'm sure for some it starts on draft day when they slide past their supposed position.

 

[Brock Radunske]

So you like every thread with a big name Leafs prospect.

And in all honesty, this thread isn't even on the Richter scale when it comes to what you described.

In terms of ranking the hype/bust fest for the latest Leafs prospects, it goes:

1. Nylander

• First of the big 3 to be drafted, so he was the only hope at the time.
• Posters loved bashing because he was so hyped(deservedly so).
• People loved when he got concussed at the WJC
• There were posters that used to belittle him every chance they got.
• Go read through TheWinterSoliders posts on Marner and Nylander and have a great laugh

2. Matthews

• Man were people salty when those lottery balls came up for the Leafs. There was a sudden shift to hating Matthews from some posters, even though months prior they labelled him as a can't miss sure fire franchise center.
• Laine/Matthews debate
• Overall though, people were starting not like what the Leafs were potentially becoming(a power house) and getting Matthews made people accept it more.

3. Marner

• Marner got the usual flack from jealous trolls (he's too small, he's too weak, his offence won't translate to the NHL etc) but he was a prospect that so many people were high on that his hate wasn't crazy.
• He also gave no reason for people to hate him, he was putting up some of the best stats in OHL history.
• Only time he caught a lot of flack was at the WJC and his first training camp.
• A lot of dumb claims made by some posters I.E Barzal, Konecny, Ritchie, Strome, Zacha, Connor, Aho etc were all better prospects than him lol

Distant 4th

4. Liljegren

• People may not like the hype but the timeline of where the leafs are helps them where. There is not much people can say, he was a highly ranked prospect that dropped, could be an elite NHLer could be a bust.

Nylander = Gagner
Marner = small Gagner
Matthews = big Gagner
Liljegren = defensive Gagner

 

[Pi]

Nylander = Gagner
Marner = small Gagner
Matthews = big Gagner
Liljegren = defensive Gagner

I wish I could like this post more than once.

 

[Hymanbrah]

Nylander = Gagner
Marner = small Gagner
Matthews = big Gagner
Liljegren = defensive Gagner

All we need is one more and we can build a Super Gagner.

 

[DanM]

I wish I could like this post more than once.

Best post ever!!

 

[rickardr]

Nylander = Gagner
Marner = small Gagner
Matthews = big Gagner
Liljegren = defensive Gagner

 

[therealkoho]

Happy to hear him doing well though i'm not surprised. Funny though how after those few pre-season games he was a total bust..
Early success will likely give him the much confidence after last year.

funny I loved how many Nux fans were calling him a bust before he stepped on NA ice, based on him dropping in the draft, and let's be honest probably hadn't seen him play one shift in Europe, but the truth is he's an 18 yr old kid playing in the AHL has notched 3 points in 4 games takes a middle pairing shift and plays the PP. It doesn't mean he's going to become a first pair D in the NHL, but it does mean he's exceeding as a teenager in a very tough professional league.

Leafs fans have every right to be high on the kid. You've insinuated that Leafs fans have called the kid a bust, I haven't seen that anywhere, not saying it didn't happen, but I'm die hard and I haven't seen it

 

[therealkoho]

Nylander = Gagner
Marner = small Gagner
Matthews = big Gagner
Liljegren = defensive Gagner

you forgot Andy = goalie Gagner

 

[Luddowich]

I think we often overlook the importance of self confidence for these kids and how quickly it can take a hit. I'm sure for some it starts on draft day when they slide past their supposed position.

Yep, especially for guys like Liljegren, who specialize in the offensive side of the game and takes risks in his game instead of playing like Gormley. Someone needs to move the puck from their own zone to the offensive zone, a job thats very crucial on confidence. At least, that's how i see it.

funny I loved how many Nux fans were calling him a bust before he stepped on NA ice, based on him dropping in the draft, and let's be honest probably hadn't seen him play one shift in Europe, but the truth is he's an 18 yr old kid playing in the AHL has notched 3 points in 4 games takes a middle pairing shift and plays the PP. It doesn't mean he's going to become a first pair D in the NHL, but it does mean he's exceeding as a teenager in a very tough professional league.

Leafs fans have every right to be high on the kid. You've insinuated that Leafs fans have called the kid a bust, I haven't seen that anywhere, not saying it didn't happen, but I'm die hard and I haven't seen it

I didn't suggest that leafs fans called him a bust, the majority of this thread during that time period was people hating on Liljegren. Whether it were leafs fans or not, i don't know.
As for the first paragraph though, it works both ways with how people took shots at Petterssons 4 game showing at the WJSS, (Not saying any fanbase specifically.) Now when he's been absolutely brilliant in the SHL with 7 pts in 8 games (2x the sample size of the WJSS) the thread goes all quiet.

Back to Liljegren though. Like with the pre-season though, it's a very impressive start but we'll see if he keeps it up. Has had an impressive start to the season though, 7 pts in 9 games so far in the season excluding the pre-season. (Can't find stats.)

 

[TheDoldrums]

Nice find by Timmy. Kid's looked real good in the AHL so far.

 

[AppsSyl]

Beautiful pass, nice finish by Marchment too.

 

[AppsSyl]

A couple of other GIFs of Liljegren that Jeff Veillette has tweeted from the game so far.

 

[Gamble9]

Seems really good tonight finding his barings

 

[Pi]

Ever since the Leafs hired Shanahan, everything is going to the Leafs way in the rebuild.

I would never have imagined Liljegren falling into our lap.

If he keeps this up, he’s going to have the best season in the AHL for an 18 year old defenseman AINEC.

He looks really poised, makes tape to tape passes, not afraid to jump up in plays. 18 year old D’s don’t belong in the AHL and he’s making it look like he’s a vet.

 

[4thline]

If he keeps this up, he’s going to have the best season in the AHL for an 18 year old defenseman AINEC.

To be fair though, that's a loaded statement in a couple of ways. "If he keeps this up" is a hell of road to go down after 5 games for one. The other is that because of the combination of CHL agreement+US draftees playing a year of NCAA+ most euros staying put/ being barred he will be only the 4th U19 defenseman to play more than 40 games. Not a lot to draw on as a base, and plenty of as good/ better dmen played elsewhere at that age.

That being said.... it's incredibly exciting. 2 of those 3 dmen were lindholm and voynov, and the jury is still out on Kylington. As for "if he keeps it up" , well forget about 18 year old defenseman in the AHL, that would be a performance up there with any by a U21 defenseman. #hefellforareason

 

[Apotheosis]

His offensive tools are just so dumb good. How did he fall to 17?

 

[Eat The Rich]

His offensive tools are just so dumb good. How did he fall to 17?

Because the draft is pre-determined before the season. Leafs weren't supposed to be good, so they should have ended up picking first again and taking Liljegren. Once they made the playoffs, the draft lottery wasn't an option anymore, so the NHL had to pay off Liljegren for negatively affecting his guaranteed first overall status.

 

[TDK67]

Imagine if this kid actually fulfills his potential and becomes an elite #1D. I feel like the Leafs are overdue for a home run prospect that they didn't draft in the Top 10. Feels like so many other teams have one of those 1st line forwards or top pair D they found from non-top picks.

 

[Apotheosis]

Imagine if this kid actually fulfills his potential and becomes an elite #1D. I feel like the Leafs are overdue for a home run prospect that they didn't draft in the Top 10. Feels like so many other teams have one of those 1st line forwards or top pair D they found from non-top picks.

This wouldn't be a home run. This would be a grand slam. His tools are insane. Like, legit, Ottawa got the league's best D in the middle of the first. These kinds of steals are obscene.

 

[Maplebeasts]

His early games are very encouraging. His hands, passing and skating are absolutely beautiful and his shot has a good amount of power to it. If his offensive tools develop and he reaches his offensive potential, the tools are there for a 60+ point dman. Needs to add strength though as he seems to lose board battles more often than he wins them. Very pleased with this pick so far though.

 

[TDK67]

This wouldn't be a home run. This would be a grand slam. His tools are insane. Like, legit, Ottawa got the league's best D in the middle of the first. These kinds of steals are obscene.

He definitely has the potential to be a top player in the league. Never understood the posters who said he looks like a 2nd or 3rd pairing PP specialist at best. Most of his tools are pretty elite and it was always the toolbox that was questionable, but even then that stuff can be coached.

 

[lifelonghockeyfan]

Could be #1 at least offensively. He'll have to work on his body and the defensive play to rise to a true #1. And Leaf fans show some realistic patience. He's not an NHLer yet.

 

[613Leafer]

Imagine if this kid actually fulfills his potential and becomes an elite #1D. I feel like the Leafs are overdue for a home run prospect that they didn't draft in the Top 10. Feels like so many other teams have one of those 1st line forwards or top pair D they found from non-top picks.

Definitely agree with you there. Rask is the only legit elite player we've drafted outside the top 10 in decades, and of course we traded him away before he even played for us.

Even aside from that, the other ones that became top line / top pairing guys, we traded them away before they developed to that level (Boyes, Steen, Stralman, etc). You have to go all the way back to Kaberle drafted in 1996 to find a top line / top pairing guy that we drafted outside the top 10, and actually reaped the benefits of.