Jimmy Firecracker
Fire Sheldon.
In just over a week it will have been officially three years since Timothy Liljegren was drafted 17th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs. After being touted as the 2nd best player in the 2017 draft back in 2016, his stock fell until he was projected to go from as high as 7th to as low as 22nd. Many of us considered it extremely lucky to draft him where we did, and were quite ecstatic to add him to a stable of young prospects and players that had just qualified for the 2017 playoffs against all odds.
Since then Liljegren has steadily improved his game, but has not been as flashy as people would've expected, and has been passed by fellow Leafs draftee Rasmus Sandin as the teams best defence prospect. Liljegren however since being drafted helped Sweden to a Silver medal in the 2018 World Juniors, and helped the Marlies win the 2018 Calder Cup. This season he has shown great strides as the Marlies #1 defenseman, and even made his Leafs debut.
Next season on the right side, the Leafs only have Justin Holl as a sure thing, as Barrie and Ceci are both UFA's after this season. And given how cap-strapped the Leafs are there isn't much room to add a defenseman via free agency. Aside from Holl, the Leafs have also signed 26 year old Mikko Lehtonen, a highly sought after defenseman from Europe. And while Lehtonen is left handed, he has played on the right side before, and had great results doing so. With the left side as crowded as it is when healthy, there's also potential for a guy like Dermott to move to the right side as well.
The competition for Liljegren to crack the roster next season will be steep, but not insurmountable. Assuming the Leafs carry 7 defensemen on their roster (Rielly, Muzzin, Dermott, Holl, Lehtonen, Sandin, Liljegren) he could platoon with Sandin and Lehtonen (and hell maybe even Holl) to get games in and ease the burden between the three of them as NHL rookies and newcomers. And hell injuries happen, so while I hope none of our players get injured, that's also an opportunity for him to get playing time.
Next season, Liljegren I believe will be (and I think that he should be) on the team and at least travelling with them and getting games here and there. However I could see people arguing that he should start with the Marlies and come up when the Leafs feel he's ready, which has been their approach in recent history with prospects. Or hell maybe you think he's not close at all and should be with the Marlies all season. Or maybe you're the opposite and think he should be a regular on defense next year and play all 82 (or however many games the NHL goes with) if healthy.
What are your expectations for Liljegren? Has he progressed enough to warrant a roster spot next year? Does he need more seasoning in your opinion? Are you happy with how he's progressed? Liljegren is our most interesting prospect in my opinion given his handedness and his position, so I look forward to this discussion.
Since then Liljegren has steadily improved his game, but has not been as flashy as people would've expected, and has been passed by fellow Leafs draftee Rasmus Sandin as the teams best defence prospect. Liljegren however since being drafted helped Sweden to a Silver medal in the 2018 World Juniors, and helped the Marlies win the 2018 Calder Cup. This season he has shown great strides as the Marlies #1 defenseman, and even made his Leafs debut.
Next season on the right side, the Leafs only have Justin Holl as a sure thing, as Barrie and Ceci are both UFA's after this season. And given how cap-strapped the Leafs are there isn't much room to add a defenseman via free agency. Aside from Holl, the Leafs have also signed 26 year old Mikko Lehtonen, a highly sought after defenseman from Europe. And while Lehtonen is left handed, he has played on the right side before, and had great results doing so. With the left side as crowded as it is when healthy, there's also potential for a guy like Dermott to move to the right side as well.
The competition for Liljegren to crack the roster next season will be steep, but not insurmountable. Assuming the Leafs carry 7 defensemen on their roster (Rielly, Muzzin, Dermott, Holl, Lehtonen, Sandin, Liljegren) he could platoon with Sandin and Lehtonen (and hell maybe even Holl) to get games in and ease the burden between the three of them as NHL rookies and newcomers. And hell injuries happen, so while I hope none of our players get injured, that's also an opportunity for him to get playing time.
Next season, Liljegren I believe will be (and I think that he should be) on the team and at least travelling with them and getting games here and there. However I could see people arguing that he should start with the Marlies and come up when the Leafs feel he's ready, which has been their approach in recent history with prospects. Or hell maybe you think he's not close at all and should be with the Marlies all season. Or maybe you're the opposite and think he should be a regular on defense next year and play all 82 (or however many games the NHL goes with) if healthy.
What are your expectations for Liljegren? Has he progressed enough to warrant a roster spot next year? Does he need more seasoning in your opinion? Are you happy with how he's progressed? Liljegren is our most interesting prospect in my opinion given his handedness and his position, so I look forward to this discussion.
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