The San Jose Sharks acquire some talent on the blue line.
On Tuesday night, the San Jose Sharks acquired the Swedish defenseman from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick, a 2026 sixth-round pick and defenseman Matt Benning. Chris Johnston of TSN and The Athletic was the first to report.Liljegren, the No. 17 overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, has spent his entire career to this point in Toronto. Over his six NHL seasons, the 25-year-old has scored 65 points in 197 games.
That "at his best" part is the key qualifier there, though. Liljegren has made some questionable on-ice decisions throughout his career, and was sometimes the odd man out. Under new head coach Craig Berube, the 6-1, 205-pound defenseman only played once in Toronto's first six games as players such as Philippe Myers and Conor Timmins passing him for playing time.
Liljegren was a restricted free agent this offseason, earning a two-year, $6 million deal before he could reach arbitration. Even with the new contract, though, he still requested a trade from the Maple Leafs, which has now been fulfilled at last. Now, the Sharks have a chance to capitalize on the talent that the Maple Leafs could not. San Jose is in the midst of a very deep rebuild, so adding young talent at an affordable price is a savvy move. If Liljegren can become the player he's capable of, then he could be a leader on the blue line for years to come.
Benning, the other player involved in this deal and nephew of former Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning, scored 26 points in 98 games with the Sharks. He now gets a fresh start on a likely playoff team.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
San Jose Sharks’ top goalie prospect to play this weekendSan Jose Barracuda open regular season with two games against the Ontario Reign at Toyota Arena
Read more »
Does the Sharks’ leading point producer have a long-term future in San Jose?San Jose Sharks have eight pending unrestricted free agents on their NHL roster right now. Not everyone will return
Read more »
San Jose Sharks Rookie Finally Healthy and Set for NHL DebutThe San Jose Sharks should see their recent first-overall pick make his NHL debut right on time.
Read more »
Missed opportunities haunt San Jose Sharks, who remain winlessNHL: San Jose Sharks now start a four-game road trip on Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks
Read more »
San Jose Sharks rally late, earn dramatic win over Utah to finally end skidAlexander Wennberg scored at the 1:26 mark of overtime to give the San Jose Sharks a remarkable, come-from-behind 5-4 win over the Utah Hockey Club
Read more »
San Jose Sharks assign top goalie prospect to AHLSan Jose Sharks assigned goalie Yaroslav Askarov, now healthy, to the Barracuda of the AHL
Read more »