A lot has been said about when Timothy Liljegren will be called up (full-time) to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
He’s ready for the Toronto Maple Leafs — I’m just not sure if they’re ready for him, yet.
Liljegren is having a career season with the Toronto Marlies. He’s 6th in AHL defenseman scoring with 29 points in 37 games, which is three quarters of the way to averaging a point per game.
He’s fourth in Marlies scoring only behind Pontus Aberg, the leading scorer, by six points. This weekend, the 22-year-old added to his point total scoring a goal and adding two assists in two games.
And since being sent down after being up with the Toronto Maple Leafs — Liljegren has five points in his last four games.
He’s playing on a struggling Marlies team, who’ve only had two wins in their last 10 games and are currently on the outside of a playoff spot, looking in.
Even with some mistakes though, Liljegren still looks ready.
His skating, passing, defensive zone coverage and the way he see’s the ice in front of him has improved drastically, which has made him ready for time in the NHL.
The unfortunate part is — the Toronto Maple Leafs don’t have room — this season.
Rumours have been swirling about Kyle Dubas looking for a defenseman who’s capable of playing on the right side. It doesn’t matter which way they shoot, as long as they’re comfortable on the right.
Timothy Liljegren will make the Toronto Maple Leafs out of training camp next season.
Right now, he’s 100% ready to take on that 3rd pair, right-shot defenseman position. The Toronto Maple Leafs want experience though, and Liljegren has it, but in the Calder Cup.
He’s never played in a NHL playoff game, which is a lot tougher. I don’t believe Dubas wants to use this playoffs to give Liljegren that test. He wants to win now, which is why he’s looking for a more experienced defenseman.
But this was never going to be the year for Liljegren. At the start of the season, you could tell his game needed a bit more work. He wasn’t the strongest player at camp, yet now, he’s ready and primed to be an NHL player.
With the right side already loaded up with Tyson Barrie, Justin Holl and hopefully someone other than Cody Ceci by the trade deadline, there’s no chance that Liljegren see’s some NHL games this season.
The only way he would? An injury — which I hope doesn’t happen, yet it could with the way this season has gone so far.
But next season is where Liljegren will take the next step. He’s been waiting to show everyone how good of a defenseman he is. Although he’s already showing it in the AHL, Liljegren is ready to show it in the NHL too.