Elliotte Friedman Provides Key Update on the Toronto Maple Leafs and Timothy Liljegren's Situation

The rumblings are getting louder that Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren could be moved at any juncture in time. These rumors have only gotten louder with the role of Liljegren further in question with each passing day. Once touted as one of the key prospects in the Leafs' blueline, recent activity is hinting that the team is prepared to move on from the 24-year-old rearguard. The $3-million salary cap hit he carries, combined with the inconsistent ice time, has only added to speculation of a looming trade.

The trade rumors aren't new for Timothy Liljegren, either. According to Jonas Siegel of The Athletic, the Maple Leafs have considered moving him for quite some time. As a matter of fact, talks of a possible trade were already present during the offseason, although nothing came to fruition. There were rumblings that he might be moved, but the Leafs extended Liljegren for two years, a deal that many thought would cement his roster spot. As this season has worn on, however, he's been slipping down the lineup order behind the likes of Conor Timmins and Phillippe Myers. It appears more a matter of management preference than any performance-based reason on Liljegren's part.

What makes Timothy Liljegren's situation puzzling is the fact that the Leafs need a young, right-handed, puck-moving defenseman, a job description he fits to a T. He can skate, move the puck, and has held his own in various different defensive pairings, which should make him a valued member. Yet, management in Toronto seems to covet bigger, more physically imposing players, and that's left Liljegren out in the cold despite strong underlying metrics across the board. The career numbers paint him as highly effective when given the opportunity, consistently winning his minutes over his 200 NHL games.

Despite seeming to have obvious potential, per reports from Elliotte Friedman, "no one is happy" with Timothy Liljegren's current standing in Toronto. Yet, even considering a trade as perhaps being inevitable, the Leafs can't expect a large return. Considering he has been a healthy scratch of late, his trade value is probably lower than it should be. The absolute best case the Leafs could hope for would be a mid-tier prospect or some late-round draft picks in return; given Liljegren's caliber, this hardly seems like a fair deal.

Trading Timothy Liljegren could be incredibly pricey for the Maple Leafs. The fact that he has always produced when inserted into the lineup, combined with the existing need on the team for a defenseman of his stature, would suggest that letting him go may ultimately come back to haunt them. Poor asset management would be losing a player of value for minimal return, for the sake of freeing up cap space. If it goes through, the Leafs might shortly find themselves regretting another short-sighted decision when it comes to young talent.