This off-season saw the Toronto Maple Leafs make changes to their forward group and goaltending. The one position they did not make any changes to is their defense.
The group of defensemen used by the Toronto Maple Leafs last season are all still a part of the team, minus Zach Bogosian. He went back to the Tampa Bay Lightning where he won a Stanley Cup in 2020.
The team’s top two defensive pairings of Morgan Rielly with T.J. Brodie, and Jake Muzzin with Justin Holl are still fully intact.
The Leafs most likely third pairing is Travis Dermott and Rasmus Sandin. It is possible, though unlikely, that Liljegren can beat out Sandin in training camp. Liljegren should start the season as the 7th man on the depth chart, but may start in the AHL in order to play every day, with the Leafs healthy-scratching a veteran and recalling Liljegren when there is an injury.
Is Timothy Liljegren Ready For The Toronto Maple Leafs?
Liljegren did not play much last season as he spent most of his time on the Leafs taxi squad. He only ended up playing two games for the Maple Leafs, but did not register a point, though he did put up solid on-ice results. With the Toronto Marlies, he registered two goals and nine assists for 11 points in 21 games.
Toronto Marlies head coach Greg Moore noted that Liljegren’s confidence had drastically improved over the previous season. Moore also noted that Liljegren’s offensive play and defensive play had both improved as well.
When NHL training camps start on September 28th, Liljegren will be looking to prove that he is ready to become an NHL regular.
If Liljegren can not make the Toronto Maple Leafs opening day roster, which is the likely scenario, he will benefit from a lot of playing time with the Marlies. He will be on the Marlies top defensive unit and should see plenty of time on the team’s powerplay.
He will have to play well and must be ready for whenever the Maple Leafs come knocking. At some point this season, an injury to one of the Toronto’s defensemen will open the door for Liljegren to make his mark at the NHL level.
I would really like to see Liljegren take that next step and play in the NHL. However, if he is not ready then I would like for him to get lots of playing time in the AHL with the Marlies. It would be better for him than to sit in the press box awaiting his turn. Hopefully Liljegren will turn out to be the Toronto Maple Leafs right shooting defenseman of the future, and hopefully that future starts this season.