Maple Leafs still deciding where Timothy Liljegren will play next season
As expected, Toronto Maple Leafs’ prospect Timothy Liljegren will not start this season with the Leafs, but the organization is undecided on whether the top pick will return to Sweden to play in the SHL or remain in Toronto to play with the Marlies.
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello spoke with the media following Wednesday’s developmental camp scrimmage, and according to Lamoriello the team is undecided on where 2017 first-round pick Timothy Liljegren will play next season.
No, it won’t be with the Niagara Ice Dogs, who selected Liljegren in the OHL import draft (sorry junior hockey fans). Instead, the 18-year-old defenceman will either return to Sweden to play in the SHL or will remain in Toronto to play with the Marlies.
Lamoriello says it Liljegren will either be playing pro in Sweden or with the Marlies next season. One or the other.
— David Alter (@dalter) July 12, 2017
When the Maple Leafs drafted Liljegren, many thought he would spend one more season in the SHL and possibly come over during the second half of the AHL season to join the Marlies, much like William Nylander did post-draft a few years ago.
So what’s changed? Well, aside from Liljegren’s impressive showing at camp, and his brand new entry-level contract, nothing. So why the sudden mention of him possibly playing with the Marlies next season?
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It’s a bit of an outside the box theory, but Rögle BK, which is the team Liljegren is under contract with in the SHL, isn’t exactly a powerhouse in Sweden and they actually just avoided relegation last season. I’m not going to sit here and act like I’m an expert on the Swedish league, but I do think the Leafs are perhaps a bit concerned with how Liljegren will develop on a bad team. Of course, Rögle could trade or loan Liljegren and the concern of him playing on a bad team would be eliminated.
As for the Marlies, I don’t think Lamoriello, who rarely reveals anything, would mention the option if it wasn’t a genuine possibility. The team did sign Liljegren to a three-year entry-level deal Wednesday afternoon, so that could be a sign of things to come? However, thanks to his age and draft status, his entry-level deal will slide regardless of whether he plays in the SHL or AHL.
If Liljegren were to join the Marlies, though, he would more than likely have to compete for ice time, but you figure he would get his fair share of shifts considering how left-handed heavy the Marlies’ blue line is. Travis Dermott, Andrew Nielsen, Rinat Valiev, Calle Rosen and Andreas Borgman are all left-handed, while Justin Holl and Vincent LoVerde are the only two right-handed defenceman on the roster.
I would guess Alexey Marchenko, who is right-handed, will also spend some time with the Marlies next season, so perhaps he squeezes Liljegren off the roster? Regardless of where Marchenko ends up, the fact is the Marlies have seven capable defenceman and Liljegren would likely have to battle for ice time.
Next: Observations from Leafs first development camp scrimmage
The Maple Leafs will naturally have a big say in how much Liljegren would play with the Marlies, but I think the organization’s number one priority is still to not only send their prized right-handed defenceman to where they believe he can best develop, but also to where they believe he will get the most ice time.