Timothy Liljegren and Rasmus Sandin remain good friends but will put that aside in their first NHL game against each other.
Timothy Liljegren and Rasmus Sandin remain good friends but will put that aside in their first NHL game against each other.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren came up in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization together. As Swedish defensemen, there was a natural bond and that turned into a friendship that continues to this day.
But on Tuesday night, Sandin — now a member of the Washington Capitals — will go up against Liljegren for the first time when the two teams meet at Capital One Arena on Tuesday.
Liljegren said he's not much of a trash-talker, but he may have to make an exception when he sees Sandin on the ice in a red jersey.
"Maybe I’ll say some words in Swedish, we’ll see," Liljegren said before Toronto's morning skate. "It should be pretty easy to get under his skin, I think."
Liljegren was selected by the Maple Leafs in the first round (17th overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft. Sandin joined the organization a year later when the Leafs picked him with the 29th overall selection.
Differing in styles, the two defensemen had always been looked at in a similar light within the club's prospects pool. Both players signed identical two-year, $2.8 million deals in 2022.
On Feb. 28, the Maple Leafs traded Sandin to the Capitals in exchange for defenseman Erik Gustafsson (now with the New York Rangers) and the Boston Bruins' first-round selection in 2023 NHL Draft (Easton Cowan).
And while Sandin has found an increased role with a Capitals team that is still trying to find his groove. Liljegren is also being utilized in different spots.
Having started the season with veteran defenseman Mark Giordano, Liljegren is now skating on the second pair with Jake McCabe.
The 24-year-old Liljegren joined Nylander among other Leafs who got together with Sandin for lunch on Sunday.
But on the ice, they'll be enemies.
"I'm excited for the game," Liljegren said with a smile. "It should be fun."
Related
Report: Maple Leafs’ Morgan Rielly Supportive of Travis Dermott’s Move to Use Pride Tape
Former Maple Leafs Defenseman Justin Holl Leading the NHL in Surprising Stat While With Red Wings
News from THN.com
Dad Strength: Jacob Markstrom Focuses on Rebound Year for Flames
NHL Three Stars: Stellar Standouts in Colorado, Detroit and Florida
In the NHL's Atlantic Division, the Battle for Playoff Position Has Already Begun