The Toronto Maple Leafs and defenseman Timothy Liljegren are headed their separate ways.
The team announced it traded Liljegren to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for defenseman Matt Benning, a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL draft and a sixth-round pick in the 2026 draft.
As the Sharks currently possess third-round picks that originally belonged to the Edmonton Oilers and Colorado Avalanche, and Toronto will receive the earliest section of the three.
TRADE: We’ve traded Timothy Liljegren to San Jose in exchange for a third-round draft pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, San Jose’s own sixth-round selection in 2026, and defenceman Matt Benning pic.twitter.com/ZazfyayMyq
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 30, 2024
Liljegren, 25, only played in one of Toronto’s 10 games so far this season, last suiting up two weeks ago against the Los Angeles Kings. He recorded 13:55 of ice time and blocked two shots. Philippe Myers also played one game, while Conor Timmins played in the other eight contests on the third pairing.
Liljegren practised as an extra on Wednesday, according to The Hockey News’ Maple Leafs site editor David Alter.
“We’re competitive and we want to play, obviously,” Liljegren told reporters after practice. “So, it’s a battle mentally to stay positive, but that’s what I’m going to do.”
In 55 games last season, Liljegren recorded three goals and 20 assists for 23 points while averaging 19:40 of ice time, a career high. In 197 career regular-season games for the Maple Leafs, he had 14 goals and 51 assists for 65 points in total. He also signed a two-year contract worth $3 million per year on June 30.
The Maple Leafs drafted Liljegren 17th overall in 2017, two picks before the Sharks selected current Ottawa Senators center Josh Norris at No. 19. But now, Liljegren should get more opportunity and ice time in San Jose. Benning, a fellow right-handed shot, was on the third pair, but the Sharks’ other right defensemen in the lineup are Cody Ceci and Jan Rutta.
Benning, 30, is in the third year of a four-year contract carrying a $1.25-million cap hit. He’s played seven games this season, averaging 13:02 of ice time and logging nine hits and 10 blocks but no points. His career-high 24 points in a campaign came in 2022-23., but he missed most of last season after undergoing hip surgery.
After the Boston Bruins selected Benning 175th overall in the 2012 NHL draft, Benning’s played 464 career regular-season games between the Edmonton Oilers, Nashville Predators and Sharks. He’s got 17 goals, 85 assists and 102 points across nine seasons.
With the third-rounder, the Leafs have five picks for the 2025 draft, with one selection in each of the second, third, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds.
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