I have always maintained that I do not expect TML to have a reasonable chance at the cup until these two are starting on 4 - 6D duty. With our current streak of injuries, I was wondering where people feel these kids are at? Do we see either of them up this year? Would Babs want to play them? How about next year when Gards is likely off the book?
I haven't watched them play this year (after the pre-season), but had watched Liljegren play in the AHL last year many times. I was impressed with his development but was disappointed with his production. I had said in the summer that while production isn't everything, it is something and if Liljegren's production didn't go up substantially I would have to change my evaluation about him. It hasn't.
On the one hand, the D who were drafted immediately before and after him have played at least some games in the NHL this year (with Valimaki, 16OA playing 22 games and Vaakanainen 18OA playing 2 games) and Jokiharju who was drafted 29th has played 38 games so, based on that alone, he should be getting close.
However he is one of (at least) 8 D from his draft year to play in the AHL this year and Sandin from the following draft year is also playing. If you asked me before the season started where Liljegren would rank among those 9 in points per game, I would have said easily top 3. He is 9th out of 9.
For the 9 playing the AHL their points pace per 82 games: Jokiharju (29OA) would be at 76 points (sure he has only played 13 games, but has managed 50% more points than Liljegren has in 26 games. He has played 38 games in the NHL), Valimaki (16OA) 62 (has only played 12 games, but has more points than Liljegren has despite the latter playing more than twice as many games. He has played 22 games in the NHL), Brannstrom (15OA) 55, Hague (34OA) 36, Sandin (29OA 2018) 35, Vaakanainen (18OA) 32, Foote (14OA) 30, Fleury (87OA) 27, Liljegren (17OA) 25 (worse than last year's 32/82 pace).
As a comparison Dahlin already has 37 points in 64 games in the NHL, and Heiskanen already has 27 in 64. I thought that Heiskanen would be a great all around D, but I expected Liljegren to be the better offensive D. This season Heiskanen has more points in the NHL in fewer games than Liljegren has in the AHL over two seasons (25 points in 70 AHL games).
It may be that Liljegren's game is more suited to the NHL, and, as I have already said, I haven't watched him this year since the pre-season, but I have concerns. It feels to me that at best he will be a third pairing, second pairing injury option, who is strong at controlled exits, but who doesn't have quickness or deceptiveness to put up points.
I have also never thought that Babs would be a fan of Liljegren's game. I know that Dubas has said that before the injury he had hoped that Liljegren would get a try out in the NHL this year. And I think that he deserves a stint to see how his game translastes, but I don't see him as a regular next year. I doubt Sandin will be a regular next year either, but it seems he will be ahead of Liljegren.
