Maple Leafs are playing the slow game with defenseman Timothy Liljegren

The Toronto Maple Leafs have had three players skate on the blueline this season who make less than Timothy Liljegren.

The 25-year-old Swedish defender has an AAV of $3 million until the end of 2026, but his future seems to be in doubt. Liljegren hasn’t played an NHL game during the regular season yet, but is expected to take one of the six spots against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night.

Liljegren’s name has been involved in trade rumors dating back to the summer, with the Leafs beefing up their blueline with the additions of Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Jani Hakanpaa (who remains on long-term injured reserve). With a lack of opportunity for Liljegren to prove himself, something will have to give.

But as Daily Faceoff insider Frank Seravalli said on Daily Faceoff Live on Tuesday morning, the club is in no rush to get a move done. The Leafs used 13 defensemen in the NHL last year, and with both Hakanpaa and depth blueliner Dakota Mermis on the sidelines to start the season, they have a reason to be cautious:

Tyler Yaremchuk: It’s time for a fire or false alarm question: Timothy Liljegren trade rumors. What do we have going on there?

Frank Seravalli: Well, they’re they’re definitely open to the idea of it. They can have their No. 8 defenseman making $3 million a year. That said, they’re not really in a rush, so there’s no fire right now because they’re also not sure what injuries might pop up between now and now and then. And does it really make sense to unload a 25-year-old right-shot defenseman when his value is at his absolute lowest? So I think they’re kind of just slow playing this and seeing if they can get Liljegren back in the lineup and playing again.

You can watch the full episode down below:

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