Maple Leafs’ Timothy Liljegren Ought to Be Focused By Geese amid NHL Commerce Rumors

The Anaheim Geese’ common season is not set to kick off till Saturday, and the commerce deadline is sort of 5 months away. Nonetheless, it isn’t too early for common supervisor Pat Verbeek to think about including gamers in-season who may assist the franchise long-term.

Normally, the listing of commerce targets is solely hypothetical at this level within the season, however Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren may find yourself on the commerce market earlier than later.

In keeping with Jonas Siegel of The Athletic, Toronto was prepared to entertain commerce provides earlier than the 25-year-old went to arbitration throughout the offseason. He has achieved little to solidify his standing with the staff since.

“The Leafs had been open to buying and selling Timothy Liljegren in the summertime as the specter of arbitration loomed,” Siegel wrote on October 4. “They finally introduced him again on a two-year deal. He has already fallen down the depth chart and possibly even out of the opening night time lineup.”

Certainly, Liljegren was a wholesome scratch for Toronto’s opener towards the Montreal Canadiens, and the hypothesis surrounding him has not dissipated.

“Appears like Toronto is working to discover a touchdown spot for Timothy Liljegren. He is down the depth chart, not a scenario anybody is proud of,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman wrote on Wednesday.

As Friedman famous, neither Liljegren nor the Leafs are possible happy with the best way issues have unfolded. The seventeenth decide within the 2017 draft was anticipated to be, if not a centerpiece participant, not less than a daily contributor.

But after seeing a rise in taking part in time every of the previous 4 seasons—Liljegren averaged just below 20 minutes—the previous AHL All-Star seems to be again in a pure depth position.

That is most likely not the place the Swede anticipated to be at this level in his profession, and Toronto most likely does not love the prospect of paying $3 million yearly to a spare defender over the following two seasons.

Now, as Bleacher Report’s Lyle Richardson lately famous, it is most likely too early within the 12 months to actively store Liljegren as a result of “They’re going to have to maintain him as insurance coverage in case accidents sideline a right-shot defenseman like Chris Tanev and Jani Hakanpää for a prolonged interval.”

Nonetheless, that does not imply Liljegren will not be obtainable effectively forward of the commerce deadline. If he’s, Anaheim needs to be very .

The Geese are clearly in a reloading stage. They gained simply 27 video games final 12 months and have not been to the postseason since 2018. Nonetheless, Verbeek hasn’t restricted his rebuilding efforts to the draft alone.

Although Anaheim did little in free company, it tried to make a splash transfer, in accordance with The Athletic’s Eric Stephens.

“The Athletic realized from league sources that the Geese made huge provides to Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, each of whom finally signed in Nashville. The Geese took their swings. They simply did not join,” he wrote on July 1.

Whereas concentrating on Liljegren would not quantity to a house run effort, it will make a ton of sense. He is been held again by restricted alternatives greater than poor play in Toronto, and he is nonetheless younger sufficient to change into a constructing block for a staff akin to Anaheim.

The Geese have a dependable proper defenseman in Radko Gudas, nevertheless it may present Liljegren with alternatives early and sometimes. With $20.6 million in cap area obtainable, Anaheim can actually afford to take a flier on a former first-round decide getting into his taking part in prime.

The unknown, after all, is what Toronto will need in return. The Geese aren’t precisely loaded with fascinating commerce chips they’re seeking to unload—although David Pagnotta of The Fourth Interval reported in June that Trevor Zegras may very well be obtainable, albeit at “a really excessive worth.”

Anaheim additionally has a first- and two third-round picks in subsequent 12 months’s draft—its second-rounder went to the Philadelphia Flyers within the Cutter Gauthier commerce—although a Spherical 1 choice can be far too steep for Liljegren alone.

Nonetheless, the Geese ought to goal Liljegren if and when he turns into obtainable and make a severe push to land him. Verbeek is attempting to construct a younger staff that has sufficient upside to change into a perennial contender within the not-too-distant future.

Liljegren, who has flashed promise in a restricted position, matches that plan completely.