Prospect Info: Timothy Liljegren - AHL Edition

[DarkKnight]

Good tournament, showed some of his skills that other players simply don't possess. Lots of "junior" plays, long up passes that don't work very often in the NHL, but are quite effective at this level. I wouldn't say he was dominant, and the people with the #freetimmy mentality are in for a long wait. Seasoning and experience, tools are there, his head will determine if he becomes a top pair D man. I feel good projecting him to top 4, hard to say beyond that. Nice to have a high level prospect on D.

 

[Jack Bauer]

Good tournament, showed some of his skills that other players simply don't possess. Lots of "junior" plays, long up passes that don't work very often in the NHL, but are quite effective at this level. I wouldn't say he was dominant, and the people with the #freetimmy mentality are in for a long wait. Seasoning and experience, tools are there, his head will determine if he becomes a top pair D man. I feel good projecting him to top 4, hard to say beyond that. Nice to have a high level prospect on D.

People forget at times that he's still only 18 and eligible to play again for Sweden next year.

So raw and so much skill. How can you not be excited to have a prospect like that in this organization?

Sky is the limit for that kid. I see a lot of a future Jake Gardiner in him which might scare some but the skating and first pass can be similar only Liljegren likely has a few more tools in his toolbox then Jake did at that age.

 

[DarkKnight]

People forget at times that he's still only 18 and eligible to play again for Sweden next year.

So raw and so much skill. How can you not be excited to have a prospect like that in this organization?

Sky is the limit for that kid. I see a lot of a future Jake Gardiner in him which might scare some but the skating and first pass can be similar only Liljegren likely has a few more tools in his toolbox then Jake did at that age.

I don't forget that...also aware he missed a good portion of development time last year.

 

[A1LeafNation]

If Dermott got a call up. You have to think Liljegren will get called up at some point.

They need to see him play, so that they can assess if he can fill in during the playoffs if needed due to injuries.

 

[hotpaws]

If Dermott got a call up. You have to think Liljegren will get called up at some point.

They need to see him play, so that they can assess if he can fill in during the playoffs if needed due to injuries.

They see him play and know he's not ready , it's only some of the fans that are dying to see our shiny new toy up with Leafs

 

[DarkKnight]

If Dermott got a call up. You have to think Liljegren will get called up at some point.

They need to see him play, so that they can assess if he can fill in during the playoffs if needed due to injuries.

Lol, Dermott is 21.

 

[PromisedLand]

If Dermott got a call up. You have to think Liljegren will get called up at some point.

They need to see him play, so that they can assess if he can fill in during the playoffs if needed due to injuries.

Dermott has played about one and a half season in AHL and is 21

 

[A1LeafNation]

Dermott has played about one and a half season in AHL and is 21

Liljegren looks just as good to me; perhaps a McAvoy development curve?

 

[WTFMAN99]

Liljegren looks just as good to me; perhaps a McAvoy development curve?

No way.

Liljegren came up at the end of his D+1 year and played over 20 minutes a night (in spectacular fashion) for the Bruins, including playoffs.

This year he's soaking up massive minutes with the Bruins, having great success.

Rooting for Liljegren but I don't see that development curve happening. He can definitely have success though.

 

[Ziggdiezan]

Dermott has played top pairing minutes for the Marlies for over a year and his coach called him the best young defender in the league at the end of last year.... he deserves his call up and Lilly will stew and mature on the Marlies (just like Dermott did) and may get a call up late next season.

 

[PromisedLand]

Liljegren looks just as good to me; perhaps a McAvoy development curve?

probably not. Lily IMO is still not strong physically and has yet a lot of kinks in his game to be worked out. He also lost almost a year in development when he had mono.

Swedish coach wouldn't play him much during WJC so couldn't tell much plus haven't been watching marlies this year as much so not sure how good Lily is playing against men.

Even Babs didn't give Lily many games during pre-season so hard for me to put my finger on it.

 

[Orfieus]

If Liljegren turns into a top4 Dman then I will be happy

 

[stickty111]

Your kidding me if someone here thinks his long up passes wont work at the NHL level.

 

[DarkKnight]

Your kidding me if someone here thinks his long up passes wont work at the NHL level.

If you think these loose coverage junior passes will work on a routine basis in the NHL, then they joke is on you. Sure they work occasionally, but nothing like we saw at this tourney and that's just reality with WAY WAY better defensive coverage.

 

[stickty111]

If you think these loose coverage junior passes will work on a routine basis in the NHL, then they joke is on you. Sure they work occasionally, but nothing like we saw at this tourney and that's just reality with WAY WAY better defensive coverage.

Yeah its too bad a lot of the d man in the NHL didnt get the memo.

 

[lifelonghockeyfan]

Amazing that a fellow can be deemed not productive when he completes long passes in junior/AHL. Reality is Liljgren NHL success (as does any Dman) on how well he defends his own zone, in the NHL.

 

[DarkKnight]

Yeah its too bad a lot of the d man in the NHL didnt get the memo.

Gardiner and Reilly, both can do that pass all day long, and do when they get the chance, it isn't available very often. You don't see forwards blowing the zone in the NHL like junior hockey, the middle is clogged up. Anyways, it would be nice if we could discuss the kid without people getting defensive.

 

[stickty111]

Gardiner and Reilly, both can do that pass all day long, and do when they get the chance, it isn't available very often. You don't see forwards blowing the zone in the NHL like junior hockey, the middle is clogged up. Anyways, it would be nice if we could discuss the kid without people getting defensive.

Yeah if they can do it, then so can Lilly.
Anyways, it would be nice if we can take an ojective view of the kid without people discrediting every little thing he does.
Yeah no one is getting defensive. Just because someone doesnt agree with your opinion, doesnt mean its defensive. Unless you think no one should disagree with your criticism, and directly tell you its not accurate?

 

[Mr Hockey]

any decent "AAA" player can make a stretch pass, I could do it in peewee! lol I see goalies make a stretch pass. Stucky thinks its a gift, smh

 

[biotk]

Yeah its too bad a lot of the d man in the NHL didnt get the memo.

Liljegren didn't get the memo either:

 

[TeamBester]

If you think these loose coverage junior passes will work on a routine basis in the NHL, then they joke is on you. Sure they work occasionally, but nothing like we saw at this tourney and that's just reality with WAY WAY better defensive coverage.

The kid has a laser of a pass. That's one thing I came away with, is his passing is on the tape and is a bullet, every time.

 

[hd1344]

The one thing I feel with Liljegren is that he might be one of those guys who benefits with a bit of structure into the game. I haven't seen him this play this year with the Marlies (planning to go see in March) but by all accounts here he has acquitted himself well for an 18 y/o rookie in the AHL.

He's also played with a struggling Rogle side, and a Swedish U20 side that seemed to place him into a more role-specific place on the team. With the Marlies he can continue to learn the small-ice game, puck support and defending while developing in a lower pressure situation, all under the watchful eyes of the Leafs brass

Having the opportunity to develop at his own pace with the Marlies, IMO, is far much more of a positive than any other options at this point

 

[darrylsittler27]

I see a top 4 d in 2 years making Gardiner expendable. Who was better Lilj or Brannstrom?

 

[stickty111]

I see a top 4 d in 2 years making Gardiner expendable. Who was better Lilj or Brannstrom?

Bramnstorm was better early on, but I felt Lilly outplayed him in the later games.

 

[darrylsittler27]

And he went 9th overall to Dallas. Liljegren may yet be a top 3 dman. Once Kappanen and Gauthier grad that prospect pool will look a tad thin though