Timothy Liljegren said goodbye to the City of Toronto, and the Maple Leafs organization after he was traded to the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday night.
Liljegren spent seven years with the Maple Leafs organization, after being selected 17th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft. He played in 197 games with the Maple Leafs, and the Sharks represent a pathway to further playing time.
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“Thank you Toronto for making my dream of playing in the NHL true,” Liljegren wrote. “I’ll always hold Toronto close to my heart and loved every minute of my 7 years in the organization! Have met amazing people and have made friends that’ll last a lifetime. 💙”
“With that said: I’m excited to join the Sharks organization.”
Liljegren was one of the few Maple Leafs’ first-round picks that made a meaningful impact from Kyle Dubas’ regime and he was one of the first prospects in his age cohort that was scouted. There was the belief that Liljegren could potentially develop into a bonafide star and at times, he displayed flashes of a higher ceiling, but ultimately, the Maple Leafs didn’t trust his high-variance game in the playoffs.
The 25-year-old signed a two-year extension with the Maple Leafs worth $3 million annually in the summer, but he quickly fell out of favour under Craig Berube’s supervision. Conor Timmins won the No. 6 defenceman job out of training camp and Liljegren played in one game this season, during a 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on October 16.
Toronto received veteran defender Matt Benning, a 2025 3rd-round pick — the more favourable of Edmonton or Colorado’s selections — and a 2026 sixth-round pick in exchange for Liljegren.
Looking back at Liljegren’s draft day photos, it naturally invites reflection on Liljegren’s tenure with the Maple Leafs. Here’s to further success with the Sharks organization, where Liljegren could grow into a key part of the Sharks’ rebuild, aiding the development of several promising prospects.
