October 30th 2024.
The San Jose Sharks have made a bold move to bring in a talented player who has yet to reach his full potential. They have acquired defenseman Tomas Liljegren from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for defenseman Matt Benning and two draft picks. Liljegren, a 25-year-old from Sweden, was a top-20 draft pick in 2017 but has faced immense pressure to perform under the bright lights of the NHL.
Since joining the Maple Leafs in 2019, Liljegren has recorded 65 points in 197 games, but has struggled to live up to the expectations set for him. However, he has still managed to maintain a plus-38 rating on the ice and played as a top-four defenseman for most of last season. Despite signing him to a two-year, $6 million deal in the off-season, the Leafs only played him in one game under their new head coach Craig Berube, opting instead to add more defensive depth through free agency.
In exchange for Liljegren, the Sharks have sent a 2025 third-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick to Toronto, with the third-round pick being the better of the two that the Sharks possess (either Colorado's or Edmonton's). The Sharks had previously traded away their own third-round pick in the deal that brought Tomas Hertl to San Jose.
Meanwhile, Matt Benning, who signed a four-year, $5 million deal as a free agent in 2022, has been traded to Toronto after missing a significant portion of last season due to a lower-body injury and undergoing hip surgery. In his time with the Sharks, Benning recorded one goal and 25 assists in 98 games, but struggled on a team that faced numerous challenges.
The Sharks have had a tough start to the season, particularly on the defensive end, allowing an average of 4.00 goals per game. Despite this, they were able to break their nine-game losing streak this week with two consecutive wins over Utah and the Kings. This trade for Liljegren is a clear indication that the Sharks are committed to improving their defensive game and are willing to take a chance on a talented player who is hungry for a fresh start.
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