Editor In Leaf
Fansided

Toronto Maple Leafs: 2017 NHL Draft Recap

By Alex Hobson

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 8
Next
TORONTO, ON – MARCH 25: Timothy Liljegren #7 of the Toronto Marlies skates against the Springfield Thunderbirds during AHL game action on March 25, 2018 at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – MARCH 25: Timothy Liljegren #7 of the Toronto Marlies skates against the Springfield Thunderbirds during AHL game action on March 25, 2018 at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images) /

Timothy Liljegren, D

Wait.. WHO?

Fun fact: About one year ago today, the projected top three picks in the 2017 draft included Nolan Patrick, Maxime Comtois, and Liljegren.

While Nico Hischier and Miro Heiskanen eventually squeezed their way into the top three on draft day, Comtois and Liljegren fell.

The Leafs were sitting at 17th overall, and there were a few players that were possibilities for them to draft. Nic Hague, Juuso Valimaki, Conor Timmins to name a few.

However, as picks went by, Liljegren kept falling. After being stricken with Mononucleosis last season, his draft stock seriously fell. He was expected to be a top-three pick, and he ended up being on the board when the Leafs were on the clock. So, naturally, Mark Hunter had no choice but to take the slick defenseman.

The Kristianstad, Sweden native describes himself as a puck-moving, offensive defenseman. He’s drawn comparisons to Justin Faulk and he compares his playing style to Erik Karlsson. He’s got decent size at 6’0 and on top of all this, he’s right handed.

The Leafs needed a future top pairing right-handed defenseman, and assuming all goes well with his development, they’ve found it in Liljegren.

Based on where they were supposed to go, it looks like the Leafs have arguably the biggest steal of the first round. This, along with the Nashville Predators taking Eeli Tolvanen at 30th overall.

Home/Draft