San Jose Sharks Acquire Defenseman Timothy Liljegren From Toronto Maple Leafs

Your San Jose Sharks have acquired defenseman Timothy Liljegren from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick, a 2026 sixth-round pick, and Matt Benning. The renovation of the defense continues, and San Jose picks up a talented puck mover who was collecting dust in the press box in Toronto, but someone who's escaping a pressure cooker in Toronto to play with far fewer expectations in a new scenario.

Liljegren was a first-round draft pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2017. He was a projected top-five pick that fell to 17 due to an illness in his draft year. He carved out a decent career for himself in Toronto, playing in 197 games, scoring 14 goals and 51 assists for 65 points throughout his career, but he's never been able to hold down a roster post on a porous defense in Toronto. That is a concern, but there's less pressure on him in San Jose.

Considering that he's unlikely to lose his roster spot off of one bad game, considering the alternatives, some freedom and a lengthening of the leash on the Swedish defenseman could get the best out of him. While this is unlikely to happen right away due to rust and Lilegren only playing one game this season, this is a player the Sharks can always flip at the deadline if they do not like how things are developing.

Right-handed defensemen are always a struggle to find, and Mike Grier is trying to acquire a player to solve that issue for the next five years. With the low asset cost, if it doesn't pan out, this will not bite the Sharks. San Jose can do whatever they need to to get the most out of this player. Adding him to this young roster is taking steps in the right direction; Grier's hoping he's got a piece to help the Sharks' defensive woes.

As for what they're losing, if the Leafs hit on a sixth-round pick, you say fair play. You don't want to lose a third, but most third-round picks do not develop into star players. Matt Benning is the final piece of this trade. San Jose knows they needed an upgrade, and Benning was a big body back there, but he could have been more effective. He'll head off to Toronto, where a veteran player is looking for a deep playoff run.

I love this deal for the Sharks. It's such a natural fit, and when you look on a broader scale at the renovations on the back end in the Bay Area, that's now Cody Ceci, Jake Walman, and Timothy Liljegren, and a second-round pick for Ty Emberson, Matt Benning, and a third-round pick. It's hard not to be optimistic about the future of this team. Grier is doing a fantastic job.