Rumors are swirling around the Toronto Maple Leafs and defenseman Timothy Liljegren, as speculation heats up about a possible trade to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for veteran forward Vladislav Namestnikov. The PuckPedia PuckGM tool sparked the idea, suggesting that Liljegren and a draft pick could be swapped for Namestnikov, who would bring third-line experience and scoring depth to Toronto’s forward group. Entering the final year of his $4 million deal, Namestnikov tallied 37 points for the Jets last season, making him a potential asset for the Leafs’ bottom-six.
Liljegren’s situation with the Leafs has been tenuous. Selected 17th overall in 2017, the Swede was recently scratched in Toronto’s first two games, fueling rumors of a potential move. After signing a two-year, $6 million extension this summer, he now sits low on the depth chart, with head coach Craig Berube publicly urging him to “simplify his game” and “be heavier in battles.” Berube’s comments and Liljegren’s scratch led to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman’s report that Toronto might be looking for a new home for the defenseman. Fellow insider Darren Dreger, however, countered by stating that while a trade is possible, the Leafs aren’t actively shopping Liljegren and are content with their current defensive depth.
The mixed signals have stirred up frustration among fans, some of whom have voiced disappointment over extending Liljegren if he wasn’t expected to play a significant role. Social media reactions range from calls to trade him for minimal returns to questions about why Toronto agreed to a $3 million annual salary for him if they planned to bench him.
Despite the backlash, the Liljegren-to-Jets proposal isn’t set in stone, and with only a few games played, Toronto may give Liljegren time to find his footing. Still, the possibility of moving him for a reliable forward like Namestnikov remains on fans’ radar as the Leafs look to strengthen their roster in pursuit of a long-awaited Stanley Cup run.
