Toronto Maple Leafs: Timothy Liljegren Should Play Soon
With the upcoming season inching it’s way closer and closer, Toronto Maple Leafs fans are speculating what the team’s lines will look like come October.
With the addition of John Tavares, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ forward core seems almost set in stone. A 1-2-3 punch of Auston Matthew, John Tavares and Nazem Kadri down the middle will surely bring us into fruition, especially in a game so heavily impacted by great offence.
But let’s not forget about the back-end. Our defensive core has struggled in the past, and many are wondering where we plan on getting help from. Free agency has been thin for defenceman and the trade market is looking rough. In our case, where else should we go than our very own farm system?
The Leafs have a number of hot prospects coming up in the system. As far as blue-liners go, Timothy Liljegren may be the most hyped up one. Can we see him in a Maple Leafs uniform in the future? I think it’s possible we might just see him sooner than later.
An Impressive First Year
Liljegren was the 17th overall pick in last year’s entry draft. A strong offensive defenceman, he definitely has a huge upside and is considered to actually be a draft steal.
Let’s not forget, at one point he was ranked the second best prospect in that draft. Although he fell down in the rankings due to having mono, effecting his play time, he still has the raw talent and potential to develop into a very effective NHL player.
He showed that potential during his first season with the Marlies this season. Accumulating 17 points in 44 games was just the beginning. His playoff performance was excellent and a big factor in the Marlies strong run to the Calder Cup.
Liljegren has flashed signs of being NHL-ready all throughout his season with the Toronto Marlies. Although he may not be ready just yet, I’m sure he’ll get his chance soon.
A Depthful Path
Let’s take a look at someone like Travis Dermott. Much like Liljegren, he started his professional career with the Toronto Marlies. After some strong play, he earned a call up and ran with it. I see Lijegren, who has a greater upside than Dermott and more talent, taking a similar path.
It’s just a matter of time. The Leafs may not have a superstar blueliner, but we are depthful when it comes to defencemen. Liljegren sits right at the forefront of that depth chart, and it’s all a matter of time when he gets that call up.
If an injury happens this season, I think we have a good chance of seeing Liljegren called up to the Toronto Maple Leafs. And I have a very strong feeling that he’ll show up and prove himself to be NHL ready sooner than we estimate.
Can He Make The Team Out Of Training Camp?
I don’t think Liljegren can make the team out of training camp, but I do know he will surely impress the coaching staff to put him ahead of others. Right now its unclear what the Leafs defensive pairings will be since they haven’t yet added any new players and they definitely have to.
The right side of the Toronto Maple Leafs defense is a mess. Hainsey is ancient, Carrick doesn’t seem to be a favorite of Babcock’s despite strong advanced stats, and Zaitsev was terrible last year. With this group, you can definitely expect to see Timothy Liljegren in the NHL sooner than later.