NHL Trade Talk
Maple Leafs Defenseman Could Be Creative Flyers Trade Target
With Cam York on injured reserve, the Philadelphia Flyers are short a defenseman. York’s injury forced Travis Sanheim to return to his natural left side, where he has been paired with fellow veteran Rasmus Ristolainen.
Update on 10/31/2024: The Maple Leafs have traded Timothy Liljegren to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for D Matt Benning, a 2025 third-round pick, and a 2026 sixth-round pick.
Should York and Sanheim remain apart when the former returns from his injury, the team will need to find another right-shot defenseman. Jamie Drysdale has struggled and is too offensively oriented to allow York or Sanheim to flourish, so a Flyers trade would make some sense.
A Flyers trade does not make sense in certain contexts, such as making a trade for the sake of making one or trying to force the rebuilding team into being competitive. There’s one player available on the NHL trade market who allows the Flyers to toe that line.
Related: Flyers Must Keep Emil Andrae in the Lineup Going Forward
Look no further than Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren, a 25-year-old former first-round pick.
Although he has been in and out of the Maple Leafs lineup at times, Liljegren has established himself as an NHL-caliber defenseman, playing no fewer than 55 games in each of the last three seasons.
The Swedish rearguard is not a major point-producer, though he is capable of providing offense when needed. In the last two seasons, Liljegren has potted nine goals, 32 assists, and 41 points in 122 games for the Maple Leafs.
Timothy Liljegren Scouting Report
So, what does Timothy Liljegren offer to Philadelphia? Why should the Flyers be interested, if they aren’t already?
Liljegren is neither the fastest nor biggest defenseman on the ice; he stands at a solid but unspectacular 6-foot, 200 pounds. Liljegren is, however, a smooth skater and a smooth operator with the puck.
Passing and hockey IQ were two of his biggest strengths coming into the NHL draft in 2017, and those traits have enabled him to have success at the NHL level, albeit in a limited role.
The 25-year-old Maple Leafs defenseman plays with deception in transition and in the offensive zone and frequently uses his speed to kill plays in the defensive zone. That is the caveat, though. Liljegren uses his feet and his stick to kill plays, not his body.
That is why he has fallen out of favor with Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube, which has resulted in Liljegren playing just one game this season and hitting the NHL trade market.
Flyers Trade Cost
At the time of this writing, the Flyers have $1.56 million in cap space, while the Maple Leafs have $1.26 million (with LTIR).
Liljegren is in the first year of a two-year, $6 million contract he signed with the Maple Leafs on June 30.
Considering that Liljegren is effectively the Maple Leafs’ eighth defenseman, Berube and Co. would likely try to add some depth at the forward position, presumably in the bottom-six. Note that Berube, who was fired by the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 12, 2023, spent a lot of time at Wells Fargo Center after being dismissed.
He has seen as many Flyers players in action as any scout out there, so he knows who would and who would not help his Maple Leafs squad.
A Flyers trade for Liljegren makes sense from a team perspective as well as a logistical one, but the Maple Leafs have already reportedly received interest in Liljegren from multiple teams.
They won’t give him away for free, and with multiple teams interested, the Maple Leafs could try to incite a bidding war as well.
If the Flyers are able to successfully execute a Liljegren trade, they could run a top-four defensive unit of York, Liljegren, Sanheim, and Ristolainen.
Stylistically, it fits what the Flyers are trying to do, and Liljegren is still young at 25. Plus, if the Flyers choose not to keep Liljegren after his short-term contract expires, that allows the team at least two years of runway to get top defense prospect Oliver Bonk ready for the NHL in 2026.
Ok two things. Who are you proposing they trade to get him? And are you saying the Drysdale gets bumped down to the third pair if your top four are York, Liljegren, Sanheim, and Ristolainen?
I’m not “proposing” anyone. It’s all in the article.
I “read” the article. I was replying to it with questions about it.
But since I apparently worded it wrong, what do you “propose” they trade in order to aquire him?
“Considering that Liljegren is effectively the Maple Leafs’ eighth defenseman, Berube and Co. would likely try to add some depth at the forward position, presumably in the bottom-six.”
Ok basically we’re going to clickbait this convo and go back and forth with non-answers, considering he was just traded to sj its a moot point now.
I wouldn’t say it’s a non-answer, I’m just saying that if I was Toronto, I’d have asked for a bottom-six forward. I don’t name names because I see these players and they welcome me into their locker room. It’s a thin line that I have to walk.
Ah you know what, that’s fair. I respect that. Mybad for the tit for tat my guy!
It is totally fine! I’m always welcoming a debate on anything hockey, no beef here
Not a well thought out plan. It’s far too early to abandon the Drysdale project. Liljegren is not appealing at all to begin with, Andrae brings more than him to boot.
That’s fair. I definitely don’t think they should give up on Drysdale, and I’ve sung Andrae’s praises probably more than anyone else covering the team. I just liked Liljegren as a cheap option on defense, good player who fits the age group, and not really any strings attached w/ short-term contract. Like I noted at the end, maybe he stays, or maybe Bonk replaces him. It would be a good problem to have.
Agreed. Kid hasn’t even played a half season combined yet.
No !
My bad, y’all
Of course it’s moot since he was traded to the Sharks, but why would the Flyers put someone in their second pair and thus be a top four when he’s currently 8th on the Maple Leafs depth chart. The same Leafs team who won their last cup in 1967 pre-expansion.
Well, they haven’t won since then for a reason
If there is one area the Flyers have depth in…it is at wing. Might not all be talented top-shelf depth right now, but the players have youth on their side with the ability to grow into solid or serviceable NHL players. The three guys who rotate into the coach’s doghouse over the last year are Farabee, Frost and now Brink. Not sure about Cates…may be a numbers game with him when he is a healthy scratch. I do not like to see it, but any of them could be assets that could be moved.
He was already traded. End of story an no interest if he was.