Elliotte Friedman reported that the Maple Leafs are shopping Liljegren, the New Jersey Devils should pass on him
According to reports from Elliotte Friedman, the Toronto Maple Leafs are actively shopping defenseman Timothy Liljegren.
The New Jersey Devils should pass on any trade offers they receive from the Maple Leafs.
GM Tom Fitzgerald had one of the best off-seasons in the NHL. He made significant changes to the roster, specifically to the blue line, which is now very solid and doesn't need Liljegren added to it.
With key players like Dougie Hamilton, Brett Pesce, and Brenden Dillon, the Devils have a strong mix of skill, size, and experience on the blue line.
Additionally, the Devils have valuable young prospects on their team, such as Simon Nemec, Luke Hughes, and Seamus Casey. Acquiring Liljegren would only add another NHL-level defender to the depth chart with a cap hit of $3 million.
Fitzgerald and the Devils' front-office has worked hard to make the team deeper and heavier. The pieces he added through trades and free agency are all impact players that will help the club prepare for a deep playoff run.
They don't need another second or third-pairing right-handed shot with a $3 million cap hit, especially one who didn't earn the full trust of Sheldon Keefe during his time with the Maple Leafs.
Regardless of what the asking price is, the Devils should stay focused on the season ahead and avoid making a trade unless they absolutely need to.
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