Leafs Trade Timothy Liljegren to SJ for Matt Benning, 2025 3rd, 2026 6th
- Thread starter herman
- Start date
Well it finally happened. Can't believe people were talking about the Leafs needing to retain or offer a sweetener.
Good luck to Lily, but the cap crunch meant he wasn't making it here anymore. He had his chances. I guess they view Timmins as more specialized and bigger. Can't say I'm too fussed considering he basically can't ever play in the playoffs.
Good luck to Lily, but the cap crunch meant he wasn't making it here anymore. He had his chances. I guess they view Timmins as more specialized and bigger. Can't say I'm too fussed considering he basically can't ever play in the playoffs.
Guilt Trip
Well-known member
Horrible return for me.
bustaheims
Well-known member
Don’t love the return, but I understand it. Frees up a good amount of cap space, especially if/when Benning gets sent to the Marlies.
Considering what Maatta just went for, this is clearly the market value for D who are not quite good enough to play 2nd pairing on a contender.
Considering what Maatta just went for, this is clearly the market value for D who are not quite good enough to play 2nd pairing on a contender.
Guru Tugginmypuddah
Well-known member
Don't like it but clearly wasn't in the Leafs plans moving forward. That cap hit crapped all over the return.
Good luck in San Jose.
Good luck in San Jose.
L K
Well-known member
Leafs put themselves in a bind but I think giving up on a RHD is a mistake. Liljegren has his flaws but we have seen other defensemen given longer leashes of mistakes.
He clearly wasn't in Chief's plans though or Treliving told him he was trading him so no point in giving him a chance. A 3rd/5th and depth AHL defenseman seems like a weak return for a RHD still under contract next year. The cap hit was tough to swallow in Toronto when he clearly wasn't in our top 6 plans but 3 million wasn't an unreasonable number for a relatively young RHD
Hope he proves the Leafs wrong in San Jose
He clearly wasn't in Chief's plans though or Treliving told him he was trading him so no point in giving him a chance. A 3rd/5th and depth AHL defenseman seems like a weak return for a RHD still under contract next year. The cap hit was tough to swallow in Toronto when he clearly wasn't in our top 6 plans but 3 million wasn't an unreasonable number for a relatively young RHD
Hope he proves the Leafs wrong in San Jose
I guess it’s two draft picks and 1.75 cap space. I thought it was Timothy breakout year but with OEL and Tanev I guess they figured they would spend else where. Benoit/Timmins/Myers probably all have lower ceilings but they’re also cheaper.
Highlander
Well-known member
Is Benning related to Jim Benning
herman
Well-known member
Jim Benning is Matt’s uncle.
Benning, 30, is a 7th dman on the worst team in the league with one of the worst NHL defenses. I can't say I'm familiar with him. Not much perceptible asset value there.
The 3rd is the better of the Colorado or Edmonton 3rd rounder (probably the lower end of a 3rd round)
The 6th is San Jose's - close to a 5th.
The circumstances had a hand in devaluing Liljegren. I suspect he'll get some PP ice time and more ice time in San Jose and like Sandin, do better.
San Jose is probably more likely to "win" the trade but Leafs had to make some cap space room and Liljegran was a marked man since the big bonus the Leafs paid to re-sign him this summer. The signing was a way of buying themselves a couple of picks.
As a Leafs fan who cheered Liljegren on for 7 years, it is disappointing. Seemed like a nice guy. I hoped for more. I'll still cheer for him when he isn't playing the Leafs and wish him the best. I think this move will be good for his career.
The 3rd is the better of the Colorado or Edmonton 3rd rounder (probably the lower end of a 3rd round)
The 6th is San Jose's - close to a 5th.
The circumstances had a hand in devaluing Liljegren. I suspect he'll get some PP ice time and more ice time in San Jose and like Sandin, do better.
San Jose is probably more likely to "win" the trade but Leafs had to make some cap space room and Liljegran was a marked man since the big bonus the Leafs paid to re-sign him this summer. The signing was a way of buying themselves a couple of picks.
As a Leafs fan who cheered Liljegren on for 7 years, it is disappointing. Seemed like a nice guy. I hoped for more. I'll still cheer for him when he isn't playing the Leafs and wish him the best. I think this move will be good for his career.
Next up...Nick Robertson?
I understand the move but can't help but feel that the Leafs messed up the development of both Liljegren and Sandin. Or...maybe there never really was much there to begin with. I don't know. Liljegren always made me nervous when he had the puck in the dzone...I always expected one of those flub passes right to an opponent. Anyway, hope he does well with his new team.
I understand the move but can't help but feel that the Leafs messed up the development of both Liljegren and Sandin. Or...maybe there never really was much there to begin with. I don't know. Liljegren always made me nervous when he had the puck in the dzone...I always expected one of those flub passes right to an opponent. Anyway, hope he does well with his new team.
Can he play at all for a contender? Hard to see him as anything but a 7th D. On SJ he'll get some reps at least.
ZBBM
Well-known member
And, similar to the Sandin trade, they needed to be more patient.
The Leafs selected Cowan with that pick.
Redleaf
Active member
Yeah. That turned out to be pretty good
bustaheims
Well-known member
I think he could play 3rd pairing with a veteran partner who can help steady things some or in a really sound defensive system. Obviously, that's asking for a lot, but, it's not out of the question. He could definitely develop into a guy who can, but, he's not there now.