The Toronto Maple Leafs made waves on Wednesday with a significant blueline swap, sending promising young defenseman Timothy Liljegren to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for veteran rearguard Matt Benning along with a pair of future draft selections. The deal, announced by Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving, is aimed at bolstering the team’s defensive depth and experience as they navigate a new era under head coach Craig Berube.
Liljegren, 25, was selected 17th overall by the Leafs in the 2017 NHL Draft and showed flashes of potential during his tenure with the organization. He played a key role in helping the Toronto Marlies, the Leafs’ AHL affiliate, capture the Calder Cup championship in 2018 as the league’s youngest defenseman. Liljegren eventually transitioned to a full-time NHL role in the 2021-22 campaign, averaging nearly 18 minutes of ice time per game and showcasing his puck-moving abilities.
However, sources close to the team revealed that Liljegren’s development had plateaued in recent seasons, with concerns emerging about his overall defensive acumen and ability to handle the rigors of playoff hockey. Despite inking a two-year, $6 million contract extension this past summer, Liljegren found himself frequently watching from the press box as a healthy scratch under Berube’s tenure, appearing in just one of the Leafs’ first 10 games this season.
Sharks Acquire Potential Top-Four Defenseman
For the rebuilding Sharks, the acquisition of Liljegren represents a calculated gamble on untapped potential. The smooth-skating Swede will likely step into an expanded role on San Jose’s blueline, with the opportunity to log top-four minutes and contribute on both the power play and penalty kill. Sharks management is banking on a change of scenery and increased responsibility to unlock the high-end potential that made Liljegren a first-round selection just a few short years ago.
“Timothy is a gifted young defenseman with his best hockey still ahead of him,” a Sharks front office source stated. “We believe he has all the tools to develop into an impact player at the NHL level, and we’re excited to give him that opportunity here in San Jose.”
Leafs Prioritize Defensive Stability
While parting with a former first-round pick is never easy, the Maple Leafs are wagering that the additions of Benning and draft capital will better position the team for short-term success. Benning, 30, brings a stabilizing veteran presence to a Toronto defensive corps in flux, having appeared in over 500 NHL regular season and playoff games.
Though not a flashy offensive contributor, Benning is lauded for his defensive reliability, physicality, and leadership qualities – traits that Berube and the Leafs’ brass clearly coveted. Toronto also secures an additional third-round selection in the 2025 NHL Draft and a sixth-rounder in 2026, assets that could prove valuable as the team looks to replenish its prospect pipeline in the years to come.
Implications for Both Clubs
As the dust settles on this early-season swap, both the Maple Leafs and Sharks will now look to integrate their new additions and assess the ripple effects on their respective bluelines. For Toronto, Benning figures to slot into a bottom-pairing role and could see time on the penalty kill, while his leadership and experience should resonate in a dressing room still adapting to a new coaching staff and system.
In San Jose, all eyes will be on Liljegren as he aims to reinvigorate his development and solidify his place as a building block for the Sharks’ future. With expanded opportunity and the motivation of a fresh start, the gifted young rearguard will be out to prove that his best hockey is indeed still to come.
Only time will tell which club truly got the better of this intriguing early-season deal, but for now, both the Maple Leafs and Sharks are betting that a shakeup on the blueline will spur positive results in the months ahead. As the NHL regular season continues to unfold, hockey pundits and fans alike will be keeping a keen eye on how Liljegren and Benning fare in their new surroundings, and whether this trade ultimately tilts the balance of power in either team’s favor.
