Editor In Leaf
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Toronto Maple Leafs: Where I Think Timothy Liljegren Fits In

By Andrew Boehmer

June 23, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Timothy Liljegren (right) speaks with head coach Mike Babcock after being selected as the number seventeen overall pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
June 23, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Timothy Liljegren (right) speaks with head coach Mike Babcock after being selected as the number seventeen overall pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /
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Timothy Liljegren is now a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

No matter how many times I hear that the Toronto Maple Leafs were able to draft Liljegren at 17, I’ll never get tired of it.

How did this happen?

Seriously.

I understand the first few teams not taking him, but what about the next, I don’t know, 11 teams?

It’s just baffling my mind.

Anyways, without further ado, let’s do a quick recap of the first 17 draft picks and then I’ll get into some other stuff.

Picks 1-17

More from Editor In Leaf

Short listicle coming your way, enjoy.

  1. Nico Hischier C – to the New Jersey Devils (wow)
  2. Nolan Patrick C – to the Philadelphia Flyers (buddy)
  3. Miro Heiskanen D – to the Dallas Stars (this kid)
  4. Cale Maker D – to the Colorado Avalanche (shocker)
  5. Elias Pettersson C – to the Vancouver Canucks
  6. Cody Glass C – to the Vegas Golden Knights (good)
  7. Lias Andersson C – to the New York Rangers
  8. Casey Mittelstadt C – to the Buffalo Sabres
  9. Michael Rasmussen C – to the Detroit Red Wings
  10. Owen Tippett RW – to the Florida Panthers (wicked shot)
  11. Gabriel Vilardi C – to the Los Angeles Kings (aliens must’ve abducted him)
  12. Martin Necas RW – to the Carolina Hurricanes
  13. Nick Suzuki C – to the Golden Knights (nice)
  14. Callan Foote D – to the Tampa Bay Lightning (second favorite choice for the Leafs)
  15. Erik Brannstrom D – to the Golden Knights (solid)
  16. Juuso Valimaki D – to the Calgary Flames (third favorite choice for the Leafs)
  17. Liljegren D – to the Leafs (my number one favorite choice for the Leafs)

Okay, now that you’re all caught up, let’s talk about things a little more.

As Per Usual

As per usual, Lou Lamoriello handed things off to Mark Hunter to make the official call.

Both these guys are short and to the point, true professionals, so it didn’t take long for the Leafs group to waltz up on stage and select their pick.

I actually love how the Leafs handle their business.

Quiet and no monkey business.

Onto Hunter.

Mark Hunter

Here’s what Hunter had to say after drafting Liljegren.

I’m just going to jot down one snippet from the video above that’s important for the questions pertaining to Liljegren’s playing whereabouts next season.

"What would you expect for his trajectory to the NHL? He said he figured he’d need another year at least in the Swedish League. – ReporterYa, that’s something we’ll talk about, I mean, I’m sure that he’ll come to our mini camp and he’ll come there, we’ll look at him and see where he’s at and we’ll go from there, but to make any decisions, it’s hard to tell right now and where he’s gonna play. I mean, he’s gotta get ice time, he’s gotta play and he’s gotta move ahead with his career here and show his stuff. – Hunter"

Basically, Hunter was surprised that he Liljegren was available at 17 but thrilled nonetheless.

Because of his mononucleosis throughout part of this past season, Liljegren’s draft value was hurt, which turned out to be great luck for the Leafs.

At least, we think so now but we won’t know for certain until a couple of years have passed by.

However, Hunter and the rest of the Leafs brass weren’t concerned by that, noting that he was one of and if not the best defenseman in this year’s draft.

Bob McKenzie

I found this rather interesting.

Bob McKenzie’s job isn’t easy because he has to guess where players will go sometimes and with a draft class like this, projecting that months in advance is all sorts of challenging.

Like a lot of people, he thought Liljegren would go high, possibly even as high as second overall.

Clearly, that wasn’t the case.

Pardon my spelling mistake as it should read, tough and not touch.

Anyways, there you have it.

Timothy Liljegren

Just a quick note from the man himself.

https://twitter.com/Timmeliljegren/status/878436697767383040

Guys, we’re the best fans in the league.

Mike Babcock

Mike Babcock was on with NHL Network the day after Liljegren was drafted, discussing the new kid.

"We’re going to get to see him, ourselves, at our development camp and then kind of set out a path for him over the next few years. Obviously, the quicker we can get him to an NHL player level, that doesn’t mean he plays in the NHL, the quicker we can develop him and so he’s over ready when he arrives, the better off we are."

The general consensus is to wait until they get a look at him one on one.

Just wanted to make that clear.

My Thoughts

Well, now that I’ve gathered my composure (and what’s left of my dignity), I’ll weigh in on what’s going to happen with him.

I’d like to see Liljegren go back to Sweden next year and continue to develop, possibly coming over at some point to play for the Toronto Marlies in the AHL.

Now, I don’t all the rules on that.

Maybe one of you can tell me if I’m wrong in a loving way?

I’m pretty sure it is, but with all the stipulations for this kind of thing, I’m at a loss.

If it’s deemed by the men in suits that Liljegren’s fit to play for the Leafs next season (I doubt it), then I’m excited to see him donning the blue and white.

For fun, let’s see where he could slot in with the Leafs current defensive lineup.

Morgan Rielly – Connor Carrick

Jake Gardiner – Nikita Zaitsev

Matt Hunwick/a Swede/Travis Dermott – Liljegren

Whoah, Andrew.

They just drafted the coveted defenseman the Leafs have needed, why slot him on the third pairing?

Simple.

Auston Matthews started as the third line center at the beginning of the 2016-17 season and moved up to be the first center by year’s end.

Maybe Liljegren will do the same on the defensive corps?

I can’t see Gardiner and Liljegren ever playing together, so let’s just scratch that.

Next: Liljegren Drafted at 17

In the end, the safe guess is he will be in development for the 2017-18 season, which is fine.

Take the time with him.

As for now, the Leafs may still make a move for a top four pairing defenseman.

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