The Sharks made a trade yesterday afternoon, acquiring puck-moving defenseman Timothy Liljegren from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for defenseman Matt Benning, a conditional 2025 third-rounder, and a 2026 sixth-rounder.
This trade came as the Sharks are searching for more offense from their blue line. Liljegren is a former first-round selection (17th overall) by the Maple Leafs in 2017 and has appeared in only one game for Toronto this season. The 25-year-old puck-moving defenseman often found himself as a healthy scratch for the Leafs this season and needed a change of scenery. Last season for the Leafs, Liljegren registered three goals and 20 assists for 23 points in 55 games along with one assist in six Stanley Cup Playoff games. In total, Liljegren has 14 goals and 51 assists for 65 points in 197 regular-season games plus one assist in 13 playoff games for the Leafs. He will join the Sharks in time for their next game at home against the Blackhawks but won't be making his Sharks debut just yet.
As for Matt Benning, in large part due to missing a majority of last season due to a hip injury, he has fallen down the Sharks blue line depth chart and has practically become expendable on this Sharks roster, recording no points in seven games this season. In terms of the conditional third-round pick in 2025, Toronto will receive the earlier selection of the Sharks' two third-round picks in 2025 previously held by the Edmonton Oilers and Colorado Avalanche.
Overall, this is definitely an upgrade for the Sharks blue line that should be able to generate more production on offense. In addition, Timothy Liljegren is younger than Matt Benning and should earn more opportunities to contribute on this Sharks team than if he had stayed with the Leafs.
Sources: NHL App, San Jose Hockey Now
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