Insider Confirms: Maple Leafs Looking to Trade Timothy Liljegren

Despite signing a two-year, $6 million extension this past summer ($3M AAV), Timothy Liljeren's spot on the Toronto Maple Leafs blueline is anything but secure. And after his healthy scratch for opening night on Wednesday, the trade rumblings are getting louder.

Hockey insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportnet has confirmed in his 32 Thoughts column that the Buds are looking to find a new home for Liljegren.

Sounds like Toronto is working to find a landing spot for Timothy Liljegren. He’s down the depth chart, not a situation anyone is happy with.

The third pairing for the Leafs consisted of Simon Benoit and Conor Timmins in the opener, Philippe Myers seems to be next in line, and we can assume that when Jani Hakanpaa is ready to come off LTIR likely 10 games into the season, Liljegren's spot on the depth chart will fall even further.

In addition to Hakanpaa, Connor Dewar and Calle Jarnkrok will also be ready to return from LTIR at some point in the not too distant future, and some cap relief will be needed. Liljegren's $3 million off the books would certainly come in handy, as a starting point.

“Everything can happen, right? I’m just trying to take it day by day. I know we got to make some changes, so we’ll see where it goes,” Liljegren said last week, per Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun. “Trying to earn my spot. Haven’t really had that much flow in my game. I think it’s been OK, but not my best hockey.”

There was some trade talk as last season came to an end, and it was somewhat surprising when the RFA was signed to a two-year extension on June 30th. But now that $3 million cap hit will come in handy as a salary dump.