The Toronto Maple Leafs were recently labeled one of the most poorly managed teams in the NHL by both executives and fans (the Athletic). This reputation stems from their lack of a coherent strategy, as they often make decisions that appear disconnected from any long-term vision, rational planning, or critical analysis.
On Wednesday, the Toronto Maple Leafs concluded a frustrating chapter of their own making, which resulted in the devaluation of a promising top-four right-handed defenseman and left them with a weaker team and little to show for it.
They traded Timothy Liljegren to the San Jose Sharks after benching him for nine of the first ten games of the season, receiving what amounts to a poor return: a third and a sixth-round pick along with an ineffective roster player. This is disappointing for a player picked 17th overall with 200 successful NHL games to his name.
The trade grade for Timothy Liljegren: abysmal.
This mismanagement would at least be somewhat justifiable if the Leafs had a stronger player to fill his spot, but they do not.
The Leafs made the arbitrary decision that only large defensemen hold value, sidelining Liljegren despite having invested a first-round pick, several years, and considerable resources in his development.
While Liljegren isn’t a star, he still has the potential to become one. At just 25 years old with 200 NHL games under his belt, he consistently performs well in his minutes. Although he can be frustrating at times for not hitting or scoring, his overall effectiveness is significant, whether the Maple Leafs recognize it or not.
In contrast, while Oliver Ekman-Larsson started strong with the Leafs, he is now merely a third-pairing defenseman. Liljegren is the superior option for a top-four role, making the Leafs’ decision to favor OEL a short-sighted move.
By not playing Liljegren, the Leafs made themselves worse. He is a better player than Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Benoit, Timmins, Myers, and anyone else they might consider using. At the very least, he was likely their third or fourth best defenseman and their only one with significant upside.
The Leafs showed no interest in that potential, choosing instead to sacrifice their most promising defenseman and one of their best puck-movers for cap space to play lesser players. This decision is poor on all fronts.
While the Leafs received a decent return given how they sabotaged Liljegren’s value, the trade is still a joke. The team is worse now than it was at the start of training camp, and they wouldn’t even need the cap space if they had been smart enough to move on from Kampf, Reaves, Timmins, and Jarnkrok during the summer.
Overall, this trade is baffling and ultimately weakens the Leafs with no real benefit. A third and a sixth-round pick? That’s hardly impressive. They might as well have gotten a sixth just for agreeing to take on Matt Benning’s contract. Essentially, it’s Timothy Liljegren for a third-round pick, and that’s just unacceptable.