Changes are coming to the roster of the Toronto Maple Leafs this summer, there is no doubt about it. The club is probably looking to name its new head coach first, but then, general manager Brad Treliving will have tough decisions to make. While rumours have surrounded forwards Mitch Marner, John Tavares and defenseman Morgan Rielly, Matt Larkin of Daily Face-Off believes two other young players could be used as trade baits this offseason.
According to Larkin, the Maple Leafs and GM Treliving could look to move both Nick Robertson and Timothy Liljegren for the right returns.
“Robertson and Liljegren are both RFAs and both will seek raises. They’ve graduated from top prospect status to full-time NHLers, but the moment has overwhelmed them in high-stakes games at times, and Keefe seemed reluctant to trust either of them in crucial moments. Robertson is 22 and Liljegren is 25. They both have shown enough flashes of skill that they still have some trade value if worked into a larger package. One could argue Toronto needs Robertson’s scoring as a depth winger and Liljegren’s mobility as a right-shot blueliner, but if both have not proven reliable when it comes to winning wars of attrition in the playoffs, could it be time to move on?”
Robertson’s 2023-24 season was quite an emotional one with stunning quotes from the young forward, multiple healthy scratches, 14 goals, and a ton of trade rumours. The 22-year-old believes in himself and could be tempted by a change of scenery if GM Treliving indeeds uses him as bait.
As for Liljegren, the truth is simple. He is a younger right shot defenseman in the prime of his career, and is only a $1.7M cap hit. On top of that, he likely wouldn’t cost Toronto too much on his next deal. But those are all great arguments to push him on the trade block and get a great return, like a more experienced talented blue liner, one the Leafs desperately need.
We will see if one or both land on the trade block during the offseason - or even both? I told you, changes are coming to Toronto and we might see a considerable overhaul by the end of the summer.
Recommended articles:
- Chris Gosselin
Amount of money Johnny Gaudreau’s wife will receive from the NHL after his passing revealed
- NHL News
- 3 minutes read
- Chris Gosselin
New details confirm how Gaudreau brothers found themselves at the collision site
- NHL News
- 3 minutes read
- Trevor Connors
A sickening update on Johnny Gaudreau's alleged killer
- NHL News
- 1 minute read