The Maple Leafs have traded Timothy Liljegren!

The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded defenseman Timothy Liljegren to the San Jose Sharks in return for a 2025 third-rounder, 2026 sixth-rounder and Matt Benning.

The move was confirmed moments later by the Maple Leafs. 

It had been some time since Toronto had been trying to move Liljegren as he was making his way down the depth chart on the blue line. He only played one game this season, and failed to record a point. He has slid down the team’s depth chart becoming the 7th or even best 8th defenseman. Morgan Rielly, Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jake McCabe, Simon Benoit, Conor Timmins and Jani Hakanpaa all hold down spots above him in the Leafs’ defensive rankings.

Drafted 17th overall by the Maple Leafs in 2017, Liljegren is still looking to find his footing in the NHL. He managed to earn a mostly full-time roster spot in 2021-22, recording five goals and 23 points in 61 games for Toronto. He followed that up with 18 points in 67 games in 2022-23 and put up 23 points in 55 contests last year.

He gets a fresh start in San Jose and puts an end to all the trade chatter.

In Benning, the Maple Leafs are acquiring a veteran defenseman, who signed a four-year, $5 million contract in 2022. He can definitely contribute as a depth piece for what Toronto hopes is a long playoff run.