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Toronto Maple Leafs Top Ten Prospects 2019 (Part 2)

By Alex Hobson

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 24: Toronto Maple Leafs Defenceman Rasmus Sandin (78) shoots the puck during the NHL preseason game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs on September 24, 2018, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 24: Toronto Maple Leafs Defenceman Rasmus Sandin (78) shoots the puck during the NHL preseason game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs on September 24, 2018, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – MARCH 25: Timothy Liljegren #7 of the Toronto Marlies turns up ice 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) /

2. Timothy Liljegren

The Toronto Maple Leafs lucked into Timothy Liljegren when the former top five ranked player fell down the draft board all the way into their lap at 17th overall.

Leafs fans were incredibly excited when the team managed to pick up Liljegren in the 2017 NHL Draft. He was originally projected to be the second overall pick of the draft, but after coming down with a case of mono and missing a good chunk of his draft year, he struggled to find his game and as a result, slipped down to 17th overall.

The hype train may have gotten a bit out of control with Liljegren, and it does not appear that he’ll ever be a #1 superstar defenseman, but very few players are.  He projects as a solid top four with a very high ceiling. He is highly skilled and if he ever puts everything together it is not impossible that he becomes a top pairing player.

He is currently in his second season with the Toronto Marlies and has put up eight points in 19 games so far. He’s an elite skater and plays a solid offensive game from the back end, so it’s likely he will get an extended look at training camp next year.

Whether or not he makes the team next year, he will without a doubt end up as a top four defenseman for the Maple Leafs if his development goes smoothly.

He was #1 on our list last year, but this year he is making room for a newly drafted defenseman.

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