Liljegren vs. Valimaki

[Wayne Primeau]

Picked back-to-back in 2017. Who do you take going forward?

Click to read more...

 

[MMC]

Liljegren

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Pretty easy pick here. Valimaki.

 

[Skolman]

Liljegren

Yikes

 

[The Moose is Loose]

Valimaki but I don't have a strong opinion on either of them

 

[Albus Dumbledore]

Ones in the show and the others still developing ... Odd choice.

 

[VoluntaryDom]

Floor: Valimaki
Ceiling: Liljegren
Likely: Valimaki

 

[Holymakinaw]

Liljegren will pull ahead during this season.

 

[Narow]

Liljegren will pull ahead during this season.

Excuse my ignorance as i havent checked but is liljegren playing in thr nhl or expected to?

 

[4thline]

Valimaki has obviously been super impressive thus far but the parallels to early Reinhart vs. Nylander comparisons (older more polished player making it to the show earlier than younger more raw one) suggest the same warning against counting Timmy out

 

[Nizdizzle]

Excuse my ignorance as i havent checked but is liljegren playing in thr nhl or expected to?

He is playing in the AHL. Expected NHL debut likely next year, possibly the one after (I personally think next year due to the cap crunch for the Leafs).

 

[Johnny Hoxville]

Honestly this really isn’t close. Valimaki has the same ceiling but his floor is much higher.

 

[Hogan86]

Honestly this really isn’t close. Valimaki has the same ceiling but his floor is much higher.

Why is this not really close? I want actual reasonings, not your opinion. I'm genuinely curious.

 

[Johnny Hoxville]

Why is this not really close? I want actual reasonings, not your opinion. I'm genuinely curious.

As of today, one player has trended much better than the other. It would be foolish to gamble on the other player with the information we currently have. That doesn’t mean the other player might not pan out, but Valimaki is the much more known commodity at this time that has a very high ceiling.

 

[Hogan86]

So because Valimaki has 8 NHL games under his belt as a 3rd pairing defensemen, the sky is he limit and he is the known commodity. Really sound logic...

One could have said the exact opposite after last season. Liljegren was playing pro hockey, at 18, in a top 4 role on the Calder Cup championship team.
Valimaki was playing in the WHL. Don't really see how his floor is so much higher than Lil. If anything, after last season Liljegren's floor was much higher than Valimaki.

 

[DJJones]

I find it weird how much Valimaki is being hyped and Andersson who I think has been better is being ignored.

Don't get me wrong, fantastic start for Valimaki and he's 2 years younger but Andersson has outplayed him.

 

[cowgirlcath]

Even if Valimaki played this whole season in the AHL I take him over Liljegren every time. Way higher offensive potential.

 

[Kamiccolo]

As of today, one player has trended much better than the other. It would be foolish to gamble on the other player with the information we currently have. That doesn’t mean the other player might not pan out, but Valimaki is the much more known commodity at this time that has a very high ceiling.

Based on what exactly? Everyone knew Liljegren was very raw but his skillset was elite. Just because the Leafs are taking their time with him and developing him for a future top 4 role instead of him getting few minutes on the bottom pair or the press box ONE season after their draft means nothing.

Like another poster said, shades of Bennett and Nylander when willy was being brought along slowly. Liljegren looked awesome in pre-season but they would rather him develop as a #1 D for the Marlies than give him 3rd pairing minutes at this stage. He still has stuff to learn in the AHL, like being the #1 PKer and PP D and shutting down top lines. He might still be two years away.

But with D, judging this early is foolish. This poll makes no sense as no one has watched Liljegren this year I guarantee it ( I bet even most Leaf fans haven't) and the other has 8 NHL games.

 

[Johnny Hoxville]

Again anyone with common sense would not take Liljegren over Valimaki at this stage. I don’t know how else to explain it.

 

[tony d]

Liljegren. I think long-term he's going to be a top pairing defenseman for the Leafs.

 

[Flair Hay]

Pretty similar ceiling in different ways. I think this one is pretty even. Valimaki is more NHL ready but that doesnt have a huge bearing on where they end up.

 

[Byron Bitz]

Leafs fan picking Valimaki

 

[super6646]

Based on what exactly? Everyone knew Liljegren was very raw but his skillset was elite. Just because the Leafs are taking their time with him and developing him for a future top 4 role instead of him getting few minutes on the bottom pair or the press box ONE season after their draft means nothing.

Like another poster said, shades of Bennett and Nylander when willy was being brought along slowly. Liljegren looked awesome in pre-season but they would rather him develop as a #1 D for the Marlies than give him 3rd pairing minutes at this stage. He still has stuff to learn in the AHL, like being the #1 PKer and PP D and shutting down top lines. He might still be two years away.

But with D, judging this early is foolish. This poll makes no sense as no one has watched Liljegren this year I guarantee it ( I bet even most Leaf fans haven't) and the other has 8 NHL games.

Valimaki is getting 15 mins a night in the nhl with occassional pk time, so he's being developed just fine.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Lopsided result. Should be shut down soon

 

[Kamiccolo]

Again anyone with common sense would not take Liljegren over Valimaki at this stage. I don’t know how else to explain it.

Like for a game tomorrow? Sure. Long term? I would disagree strongly. I guess we need clarification from OP if they mean now or going forward, but to me given their ages, it is implied going forward, while you seem to be evaluating based on current play.