Maple Leafs' Liljegren Lands On LTIR, Recall 2 Defensemen

Another one of the Toronto Maple Leafs' defensemen suffered an injury in their previous game. This time it was Timothy Liljegren when he went into the boards after a tie-up with Brad Marchand. Liljegren left the game and didn't return. The Maple Leafs have now placed him on the long-term injured reserve and recalled two defensemen in his absence, Simon Benoit and Max Lajoie.

Elliotte Friedman reported that Liljegren has a high ankle sprain. Defensemen missing from the lineup now include Jake McCabe, Jake Muzzin, Conor Timmins, and Liljegren. Benoit should draw into the lineup on the bottom pairing with William Lagesson, another recent callup. He has played 137 career NHL games, getting into 78 for the Anaheim Ducks last season. He has no points through two games in the AHL thus far.

Lajoie is a former fifth round pick of the Ottawa Senators and is more offensive than Benoit, but also less experienced with just 70 career NHL games. His most impressive season came in 2022-23 with the Chicago Wolves when he put up 11 goals and 45 points in 63 games. He should draw into the lineup for at least a game if McCabe doesn't return sooner than later. Liljegren is expected to be out for at least 10 games since he landed on the LTIR.