The Toronto Maple Leafs seem set to give Timothy Liljegren his first appearance of the season on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings. Despite sitting out the first three games, Liljegren is expected to get a shot to prove that the coaching staff may have made a mistake by leaving him out—assuming he’s still with the team by then.

The Leafs are dealing with cap pressure, with three players currently on LTIR. While it’s manageable for now, the return of Calle Jarnkrok, Connor Dewar, or Jani Hakanpaa would force the Leafs to clear cap space. This has led to growing speculation about a potential Liljegren trade, especially considering his value as a right-handed, puck-moving defenseman with nearly 200 NHL games under his belt. Teams looking for a bargain may see Liljegren as the next Gustav Forsling or Devon Toews.

Conor Timmins and Philippe Myers appear to have jumped ahead of Liljegren in the defensive depth chart, with the Marlies also boasting promising blueliners in Marshall Rifai and Topi Niemelä. Some now question whether signing Liljegren to a two-year extension this summer was a mistake, but the Leafs might still have time to correct it if they wait for the right trade opportunity.

On Saturday night, during the intermission of the Leafs-Penguins game, insider Elliotte Friedman reported that Toronto is being patient with Liljegren, indicating no urgency to trade him. The Leafs believe he could still contribute to the team this season. Friedman also noted that while the Leafs have discussed Liljegren with other teams, no offers have matched their expectations so far. There were also rumors that Liljegren was allowed to speak with other teams, though Toronto denied this.

While a Liljegren trade seems likely, it may be a matter of waiting for the right team to feel enough pressure to overpay. The St. Louis Blues, for example, made an aggressive move after losing Torey Krug, and with the Kings down Drew Doughty, they could be a potential trade partner for Liljegren. Teams like the New Jersey Devils and San Jose Sharks, both dealing with injuries on defense, could also come into play.

As the season progresses, the situation around Liljegren will be one to watch, and the Leafs could pull the trigger on a trade sooner rather than later.