The 25-year-old Swede has experienced an up-and-down career since the Maple Leafs drafted him 17th overall back in 2017, one that saw him fail to establish himself in the NHL until his age-22 season in 2021-22. Since that point, Liljegren has played no more than 67 games and now fewer than 55 games in each of the last three seasons, typically on the third pair with a series of partners. In that time, Liljegren has shown that he can perform exceptionally well in that regular season role, but he has been unable to solidify himself as a true top-four defender, and the playoffs have remained a massive challenge for him.
Instant Analysis: Maple Leafs re-sign Timothy Liljegren to two-year, $3 million AAV contract
