The Toronto Maple Leafs came out ahead in their trade with the San Jose Sharks for Timothy Liljegren. Believe it or not, that’s the reality of the deal.
Insider Pierre LeBrun reported that the market for the Leafs defenseman was “lukewarm”—a diplomatic way of saying there wasn’t much interest. However, one team did step forward to make a move: the San Jose Sharks.
Under Mike Greer, the Sharks have been smart, clearing out bad contracts, locking up key players, and avoiding the kinds of toxic deals seen with teams like the Arizona Coyotes.
Yet, the Sharks made a mistake here. They overpaid for Liljegren, especially considering there was minimal interest around the league. LeBrun explained that the Leafs had been trying to find a taker for Liljegren for months, but the only team showing real interest was San Jose. LeBrun also noted on TSN’s *Early Trading* that the Sharks had been in search of a right-handed defenseman all summer. After missing out on their targets, they decided to go for Liljegren.
It’s clear the Sharks were really keen on adding him, which begs the question: why else would they overpay?
As for the return, it was underwhelming. Matt Benning is a solid NHL defenseman, but the two draft picks are unlikely to be game-changers. The deal suggests that the Leafs didn’t have other offers on the table—or at least, none that could top what the Sharks offered. Given the Sharks’ offer, it’s safe to assume the competition wasn’t offering much more.
LeBrun also pointed out that Benning’s time in Toronto might be short. He’s a depth defenseman who could fill in if needed, but he’s unlikely to crack the regular lineup. LeBrun speculates that the Leafs may try to trade him soon. With a manageable $1.25 million cap hit, Benning could be moved, especially with Jani Hakanpaa nearing a return. Hakanpaa has begun a conditioning stint with the Toronto Marlies, which suggests he could be back within a couple of weeks. If so, Benning could be sent down, saving the Leafs about $700k in cap space.
In the end, the most valuable piece the Leafs got in the trade was the third-round pick, originally from the Edmonton Oilers. With the Oilers underperforming this season, that pick could end up being more valuable than anyone initially expected.