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4 Players Who Could Surprisingly Make Toronto Maple Leafs

By Stephen Nixon

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 24: Joshua Ho-Sang #26 of the New York Islanders skates against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on September 24, 2019 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Islanders 3-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 24: Joshua Ho-Sang #26 of the New York Islanders skates against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on September 24, 2019 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Islanders 3-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 18: Timothy Liljegren #37 of the Toronto Maple Leafs  . (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Timothy Liljegren

Every time I look at Liljegren’s age and when he was drafted, it shocks me. The 17th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft is only 22-years-old, despite it feeling like he’s been in the system for a decade.

22-years-old is still incredibly young to make an impact in the NHL. The beloved Zach Hyman didn’t crack an everyday NHL lineup until he was 24-years-old, so we all need to be patient with Liljegren. However, with one year left on his Entry Level Contract, that patience may be wearing thin as the Toronto Maple Leafs would love to have him in the lineup at his cheapest possible cost.

With only 13 NHL games of experience, it’s not like his next contract will be $10M AAV or anything like that, but it’s always nicer to have an Entry Level Contract outperform their worth.

The right-handed shot defenseman has played great with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL, as such, he seems ready to be given a longer opportunity with the Leafs. It’s much harder to make a difference and show that you’re deserving of a long-term commitment when you’re playing once a month, so Toronto should seriously consider him to be the No. 6 or 7 defenseman, playing every night or splitting time with either Rasmus Sandin, Travis Dermott and/or Brennan Menell.

Even if Liljegren doesn’t crack the opening night roster, he shouldn’t be a player that people consider a bust, because he still has a ton of potential to be an everyday NHLer for a long time.

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