The Toronto Maple Leafs re-signed pending restricted free agent Timothy Liljegren to a two-year contract worth $2.8 million, or $1.4 million per season. This contract carries him through the 2023-24 season.
🚨SIGNING UPDATE🚨: Maple Leafs sign D Timothy Liljegren to a two-year, $2.8 million contract extension…
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Timothy Liljegren Re-Signs With the Toronto Maple Leafs
Over his short NHL career thus far, Liljegren has played exclusively for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He has put up 5 goals and 19 assists for 24 career points in 74 career games. He was originally drafted in the first round, 17th overall of the 2017 NHL draft by the Leafs.
Last season he scored 5 goals and 18 assists for 23 points. He also added 14 minutes in penalties. His possession numbers were 55 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of 2.3% at 5v5.
Liljegren finished 11th in Calder Trophy voting this season for best rookie in the league.
What This Means for the Future
The Leafs lock up an excellent young defender for another two seasons. Liljegren really emerged this season, playing with Mark Giordano after he was acquired at the deadline. He was a key player in the regular season, as an excellent rookie defender. He established himself as someone that head coach Sheldon Keefe can trust.
Liljegren has been developed all the way through the Leafs organization and even won the Calder Cup with the Marlies. It’s important for the Leafs to lock up such key, young players when they’re tight against the cap. The Leafs have really strengthened their defence over the last two seasons, and the emergence of Liljegren is a major part of that.
Timothy Liljegren should be a staple of the lineup, and even a staple of the top-4 this coming season. He’s quickly made himself to be one of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ best defencemen. He has shown his ability to play with any partner and on any pair for the Leafs, and locking up such a valuable asset like that is a great move by general manager Kyle Dubas.
