San Jose Sharks
BREAKING: Sharks Acquire Liljegren for Benning, Picks
The San Jose Sharks have traded for a puck-moving defenseman.
The Sharks have acquired Timothy Liljegren from the Toronto Maple Leafs for Matt Benning, a 2025 third-round pick, and a 2026 sixth-round pick. Toronto will get the better of the two third-round selections, Edmonton Oilers or Colorado Avalanche, that San Jose currently owns.
Liljegren, 25, was a 2017 first-round pick, who’s developed into a capable puck-mover. The 6-foot-1 right-hander had a career-high 23 points in just 55 games last year and averaged a career-high 19:40 a night for the playoff-bound Leafs.
Liljegren, however, couldn’t break into Toronto’s line-up this year, playing just one game. He’s been, otherwise, a healthy scratch for new head coach Craig Berube.
Liljegren, in the first year of a two-year extension ($3 million AAV) signed over the summer, looks like he needed a change of scenery.
He should get that in San Jose, where there’s been a need for an additional NHL-caliber puck-mover all season.
Matt Benning, 30, is in the third season of a four-year contract ($1.25 million AAV), signed in the summer of 2022.
He’s a solid two-way bottom-pairing defenseman when healthy, but he’s had an up-and-down comeback this year from major hip surgery. Benning is also a popular, well-liked locker room presence.
At his best, Benning should be able to help the Leafs in their playoff drive, and at worst, Toronto gets some cap relief. Benning’s AAV can be buried almost entirely in the AHL.
Scouts Talk Liljegren’s Fit With Sharks
BREAKING: Sharks Acquire Liljegren for Benning, Picks
GOTTA SEE IT: Cardwell Gets ‘Hilarious’ Surprise From Cuda Teammates Before NHL Debut
Sharks Locker Room: Changing the Narrative?
Sharks Going Streaking! Back-to-Back Wins, 4-2 Over Kings
Sharks Waive Two Vets, Send Another to Barracuda in Roster Cuts
Celebrini Injury: ‘Nothing serious at all’
Askarov Has No Problem Being in AHL
Sharks Locker Room: Good, Bad, Ugly About Celebrini Injury?
Sharks Locker Room: Why Gushchin Should Make Opening Night Roster…And Why He Might Not
Sharks Locker Room: Changing the Narrative?
Sharks Locker Room: Faith Rewarded
Sharks Locker Room: What’s Next for ‘Embarrassing’ Team?
Sharks Locker Room: Warsofsky Calls Out Top Line, Kostin
Not a fan at first glance. Seeing as we got Walman to come with a second. Giving up a third + seems a bit much.
Not sure I agree. Lillegren has a much bigger upside than Benning who btw was a healthy scratch the other day.
Not a great assessment. Walman deal was a dumb deal for Yzerman widely panned. No way should he have given up an asset to move Walman who played top pair minutes a ton with Detroit.
as far as this deal? The guys 25 years old with less than 200 games and played 20 min a night last season for a great regular season team. He could easily develop into a very good top 4 RD which the Sharks lack. Sharks gave up a bunch of spare parts for a 1st round talent. Great deal IMO.
Don’t get me wrong I get the argument. But as someone said below Toronto had to move on from someone, and who they were playing over him speaks volumes to his value to their team. I actually like GMMG going against the character/grit type he has and searching to replace a need we have as a team (puck moving D). But I do worry he may fit in more like Duclair did last year, would love it if I’m wrong. And definitely not saying we gave up a haul, just pointing to the recent trade for an established D in… Read more »
The defense just got a little better 😀
I’m thinking the pairing for he next little bit may be:
(Walman – Ruta)
(Ferraro – Liljegren)
(Thrun – Ceci)
(Thompson)
Not sure Rutta should be in the top 6. I’d much rather see:
Walman – Liljegren
Mukh – Ceci
Ferraro – Thompson
Rutta
Thrun hasn’t shown enough with ample opportunity this year or last, so I’d send him the cuda to work on his puck moving, or trade him due 4th/5th rounder.
GMMG essentially traded emberson, Benning and a 6th rounder for Liljegren and Ceci. Ceci probably gets dealt for something like a 2nd rounder at the deadline. Love what he’s doing for the defense, especially with Cagnoni lighting up the AHL.
I would keep Walman & Ceci together. Closest they have to a real top pair. Also too much pressure for the new guy. Let him earn top pair minutes.
no way would I trade Thrun yet. Maybe once Dickinson makes the NHL but he’s a good stop gap at the worst. AHL time isn’t a terrible idea though. He’s a lefty though and the new guy is a RD. Ceci, Rutta, Thompson are the remaining RDs. Ideally Rutta gets traded soon too.
Walman and Ceci together is fine – I like Ceci as a stay at home mentor for Mukh, but just a difference of opinion. I’m aware of the handedness of all the sharks defenseman, which is why I suggested left-right pairs. Once Mukh is healthy/ready, I don’t know how Thrun cracks the lineup with Walman and Ferraro ahead of him on the depth chart as well. I know some appreciate Thrun more, but I simply don’t see any areas of his game that are above average (foot speed, puck moving, decision making are below average, and physicality, shot, and positioning… Read more »
I apologize. Didn’t even notice you put Shakir in your lineup. I love your pairs.
As far as THrun, you’re writing him off too soon. He’s going to play a long time as a 3rd pair IMO. His value won’t be zero at the end of this season. That’s simply premature.
Maybe sit Rutta?
Seems fine, although it sounds like he’s a slightly better addison?
Addisons in the AHL. This guy played big minutes last season for a high end playoff team.
This guy is also not playing for a team that is thin on defense.
huh? Which team are you saying is thin on D? TO has 3 or 4 guys ahead of him even last season. Liljen is the best offensive RD on the roster immediately. Had 23 points in only 55 games last season. That’s 34 points in 82 without PP1 time which he’ll see in SJ. You comparing him to Addison shows a real lack of appreciation for how much better this guy is.
He was not playing on toronto. They have injuries and are currently starting ahl guys over him.
I like the move but do feel bad for Benning. He’s not likely to play much once their blue line is healthy and it sounds like he was a great locker room guy, calling and welcoming all the new players etc… Hopefully this doesn’t hit the team chemistry that’s developing too hard.
MGGM is thieving again. A right shot, puck moving 6’1” 24 year old. Sounds exciting!
At face value, this seems like a strong move for a 24 year old with upside. His 21 points last season would have tied Ferraro for tops among Sharks d-men. Yes, it was on a much better Leafs team. But it was also in only 55 games. Benning was a solid player two seasons ago but, post injury, wasn’t looking like an everyday player. A good roll of the dice by Grier.
23 🙂
Love this move. When I saw the recent news that the Leafs might trade him (32 Thoughts a couple weeks ago) I started pining for him but didn’t think the Sharks would be able to swing it. Getting him for Benning, who frankly doesn’t seem to be the same player he was prior to his hip injury (at least not yet) and a couple of low round picks is a
steal. As Sheng always says, you can replace your 3rd round picks fairly easily.
Don’t have a strong opinion on this move. It is low risk with, hopefully, sufficient upside. Wish the Sharks were the team getting a pick in return, given they solved a meaningful cap problem the Leafs have. I’ll note Benning was one of the first signings Grier made. Some wondered at the time why he’d give out a 4 year deal to a lower end d-man. I thought it made a lot of sense because it was a very tradable contract. Benning outplayed his contract prior to injury. At this point, I can’t say i which is the better player.… Read more »
Link to a very recent article, just hours before the trade https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/its-a-battle-mentally-to-stay-positive-with-trade-reports-swirling-timothy-liljegren-focuses-on-trying-to-get-back-into-the-lineup The d-men Toronto didn’t move were Simon Benoit and Connor Timmins, both paid just bit over $1mil. Article mentions Jani Hakanpaa about to leave LTIR. Toronto NEEDED to move a d-man and clearly he was the guy. GMMG just solved two Leafs problems, gave them cap space AND avoided having too many healthy d-men whose salaries can’t be buried in the AHL. Woulda been nice if he got something in return … like a draft pick. Also, fwiw, agree Benning has not been the guy prior to the… Read more »