The Toronto Maple Leafs need a lot more from their youngsters, including Timothy Liljegren, Joseph Woll, Matthew Knies and Alex Nylander.

Timothy Liljegren has been pushing around weighted sleds and running on self-propelled treadmills. 

He’s been doing single-leg deadlifts, trap-bar deadlifts and apparently all variations of squats. While others are lazying around this summer, the Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman is putting in the work at a cross-fit facility looking to get better. And the Maple Leafs will need the 25-year-old Liljegren to be better.

This is a make-or-break year for him, as much as it is for the entire Toronto team. 

Yes, the Leafs bolstered their blueline by adding Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and potentially Jani Hakanpaa, although that signing hasn't been made official yet. But the team's success will depend largely on whether youngsters, such as Liljegren, Simon Benoit, winger Matthew Knies and goalie Joesph Woll, can take a large step in their development and become consistent impact players. If so, maybe the Leafs can finally get over the hump and challenge for a Stanley Cup.

The Maple Leafs will still only go as far as their core will take them. But as we’ve seen in past years, getting contributions from Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares is not enough. 

Toronto needs more from its youth. The Leafs need Knies, who had 15 goals and 35 points last season, to increase his production and become a 20- to 25-goal scorer. They need Woll, who now becomes the No. 1 goalie after Ilya Samsonov left as a free agent, to stay healthy and play 50 or more games. They’ll need Benoit to learn from Tanev and be a physical presence. And for Alex Nylander, who signed a deal with the AHL Marlies, they need him to earn an NHL contract and take a cue from his brother William to become more consistent.

They’ll also need Liljegren to become the player who, at one time, was considered a first-round steal. 

For Liljegren, who signed a two-year extension worth $3 million per year, it’s now or never in Toronto. A first-round pick in 2017, Liljegren is technically not a youngster anymore. But with fewer than 200 NHL games of experience, he is also far from a finished product. 

Two years ago, Liljegren put up a career-best six goals in 67 games. But in a year when he was in and out of the lineup, Liljegren finished with just three goals and 23 points in 55 games last season. And that was while he averaged close to 20 minutes in ice time — fourth-most out of Toronto defensemen who appeared in 46 or more games. 

This year, he’ll need to do more. He’ll have to produce more and play more. With Craig Berube installed as the new coach, Liljegren must prove he can handle top-four minutes. At the very least, he must be a regular in the lineup. 

As he’s showing with his off-season workouts, it’s a challenge he seems ready to accept. If he can do it, maybe — just maybe — the Leafs can also finally take a step and start challenging for more than a first-round exit.

Get the latest news and trending stories right to your inbox by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or by visiting our forum.