We are only three games into the season and names are starting to appear in the rumor mill. But the Maple Leafs want things to slow down for now.
Toronto is not trying to rush a Timothy Liljegren trade despite rising tensions between the two sides this season, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday Hockey night in Canada.
“Toronto is preaching patience with this. They just say there's no reason he can't continue playing for us,” Friedman said. “However, he is a 25-year-old player and wants to play. “I think he would like to be in a position where he can play.”
Liljegren, 25, has been mentioned in rumors since being dropped from the team's roster. He has yet to put on the skates for the Leafs this season.
Earlier this week, Friedman reported that the team is testing the waters to see if there is a trade for the defenseman, as his lack of play and spot on the depth chart is not something “anyone is happy with.” .
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“I think at various times they've tried to work toward something and other times they've said, 'Look, we don't like this being out there,' and I think they've told him he could do it. “I can still play for the Maple Leafs,” Friedman said.
Toronto focused heavily on defensemen in free agency over the summer, adding Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Jani Hakanpää to their ranks, pushing Liljegren down the team's ranks. Conor Timmins has also outplayed him in the team's blue line matchups.
The Leafs negotiated a new deal for Liljegren, signing him to a two-year, $6 million contract in the off-season and making him the team's fourth-highest-paid defenseman according to AAV, perhaps adding a hurdle to hopes of dealing him.
“Now, I heard this week that I had some permission to talk to other teams, but the Maple Leafs denied it, they said that's not true,” Friedman clarified. “But there's no doubt they're trying to get him to be patient and he's just trying to say, 'Look, I'd like to play' like any player would.”
However, the Maple Leafs are right on the edge and Liljegren carries a $3 million hit. They also have players like Hakanpää, Connor Dewar, and Calle Järnkrok on the LTIR, but they should eventually return, making the team's cap status even more confusing.
Liljegren was selected by the Maple Leafs, 17th overall, in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft.
He has scored 14 goals and 51 assists in 196 games during five seasons with the club. The native of Kristianstad, Sweden, finished with three goals and 20 assists in 55 regular season games last year.
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