Photo credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

The Maple Leafs have officially completed a trade involving 2017 1st round pick Timothy Liljegren.

When the Leafs signed Liljegren to a two-year extension in June, it was seen as a bit of a puzzling move, given that he didn’t exactly fit the mold of a Brad Treliving or Craig Berube defenseman.

Two weeks ago, it was reported that Liljegren had quietly requested a trade after getting into just one of the Leafs’ first six games and has continued to be a scratch ever since in favour of Philippe Myers and Conor Timmins.

It was expected that the Leafs would make some sort of roster move in the coming days as Connor Dewar and Jani Hakanpaa inch closer to a return, joining the Leafs on their recent road trip. Wednesday evening, the Leafs made that roster move, trading Liljegren to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick, 2026 sixth-round pick and depth defenseman Matt Benning.

 

 

In Benning, the Leafs get a right-shot blueliner that is in year 3 of a 4-year deal that carries a very modest $1.25M cap hit compared to Liljegren’s $3M cap hit. The 6’1, 205-pound defenseman has splayed in 7 games for the Sharks so far this season collecting 0 points, 10 blocks and 9 hits. The 30-year-old was a sixth-round pick of the Boston Bruins in the 2012 entry draft.