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Leafs Trade Timothy Liljegren to SJ for Matt Benning, 2025 3rd, 2026 6th

herman

herman

Well-known member
So long, Liljegren

Welcome-ish, Matt Benning?

Matt Benning: 30-yr old 6'1" 203 lbs defensive RD
2025 3rd (conditional), the earlier one of COL/EDM's
2026 6th SJS's
 
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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.
 
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.
 
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
 
Benning isn't fully buryable...100K I think over the lower limit but if Myers/Benning get demoted and we demote any of the excess forwards I think the Leafs have enough space to fit the LTIR guys
 
Similar to the Sandin trade, the Leafs got an older version of the departing player + draft capital. This is a much lesser return than the late 1st trading Sandin got.
 
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.
 
It’s too bad Liljegren couldn’t skate more Swedishly or tape his stick in the proper direction.
 
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.
 
bustaheims said:
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.
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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.
 
L K said:
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
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This. Berube never gave him a real chance in the new system. I think it's a mistake.

EDIT: Just read the MLHS analysis, and they agree. File this one along the Reaves signing as one of Treliving's duds.
 
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herman said:
Similar to the Sandin trade, the Leafs got an older version of the departing player + draft capital. This is a much lesser return than the late 1st trading Sandin got.
Click to expand...

And, similar to the Sandin trade, they needed to be more patient.
 
Bender said:
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.
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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.
 
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