The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Swedish defenseman Timothy Liljegren in the first round of the 2017 NHL draft with the 17th overall pick. His development went slower than some would have liked, but the wait has been worth it.
The Toronto Maple Leafs now have a solid young defenseman who has played regularly in the NHL for two seasons, and who has dominated the sheltered third-pairing minutes he has been assigned.
Liljegren helped Keefe and the Toronto Marlies win the AHL’s Calder Cup in 2018. He’d love to help the Leafs win a championship, too.