The Toronto Maple Leafs may make additional roster adjustments before or during the regular season, depending on how new coach Craig Berube organizes the lineup and finalizes the roster. Recent reports indicate that the Leafs are considering trading defenseman Timothy Liljegren as they face salary cap issues just days ahead of their season opener on October 9.
Although he signed a two-year, $6 million contract on June 30, Liljegren has seen his role diminish and has been practicing with extra players and those who did not make the final cut in recent weeks. His $3 million cap hit may be a key reason for the team to contemplate parting ways with him to gain immediate roster flexibility.
Jonas Siegel from The Athletic reports that the Toronto Maple Leafs are considering trading Liljegren, which casts uncertainty on his future with the team, even if a trade doesn’t occur in the immediate future.
“The Leafs were open to trading Timothy Liljegren in the summer as the threat of arbitration loomed,” Siegel reported on Friday. “They eventually brought him back on a two-year deal.
“He has already fallen down the depth chart and maybe even out of the opening night lineup.” Siegel noticed how Friday’s practice featured Conor Timmins on a right-side role on a potential third defensive pair, while Liljegren was left skating with extras.
With cap issues and a need for roster flexibility to make room for the signing of Max Pacioretty and potentially one more player, Liljegren makes sense as a potential trade asset.
Coach Berube added to Liljegren’s challenges by criticizing his performance during the preseason, which certainly didn’t help his situation.
“(Liljegren) has to do things quicker. He has to be a little bit heavier in his battles, move the pucks quicker, and simplify the game,” Berube said on Friday. “He is battling. He wants to be a guy in the lineup every night.
That is great, but sometimes, you put too much on your plate, right? “If I had to say anything, it would be to simplify his game a little bit more and do your job as a defenseman killing plays and being heavy.” These comments suggest that Liljegren may not be fitting into the style Berube envisions for the team this season, making him a clear-cut candidate to be traded.
