Liljegren joins Nick Robertson, Connor Dewar, and Noah Gregor as the Leafs’ four restricted free agents (RFAs) this summer.

Now just over two weeks away from the NHL Draft and the opening of free agency, the floodgates will begin to open for the Toronto Maple Leafs. With plenty of roster turnover expected in a summer expected to be full of change, one talking point is 25-year-old Timothy Liljegren.

As one of four restricted free agents alongside Nick Robertson, Connor Dewar, and Noah Gregor, general manager Brad Treliving and the Leafs’ management will need to make a decision on the Swede.

In terms of an update on his future, The Athletic’s Joshua Kloke wrote Wednesday “It sounds like there hasn’t been much dialogue between the Leafs and Liljegren’s camp over his next contract. The Leafs are likely waiting to see how free agency unfolds. Once they know what kind of pieces they can add, they’ll be able to decide where Liljegren fits in their lineup.”

Coming off a rocky 2023-24 campaign in which he concluded a two-year contract extension with a cap hit of $1.4 million, Liljegren hasn’t taken the step the club was hoping for. He appeared in six of the seven postseason games in the club’s opening-round series loss to the Boston Bruins, being scratched for T.J. Brodie one game into the matchup. Despite a disappointing season, Liljegren is already back in the gym putting in the work to get back to where he wants to be.

The former first-round (17th overall) pick played in 55 regular season games, scoring three goals paired with 20 assists. He battled through the season physically with a high-ankle sprain in November and mentally in February where he stated “I don’t feel like I’m at the top of my game, I’m struggling with it right now," – the uncertainty of his game has left massive questions about his future in Toronto. 

Still, there is optimism that Liljegren has plenty of upside as a young, right-handed defenseman who has had brief experience in a top-four role with a contending team. However, the club is reportedly in the market of adding a steady piece or two to their blueline in the free agency market – potentially leaving Liljegren on the outside looking in.

With a new head coach, Craig Berube, entering the fold this will also be a tell in terms of a role for Liljegren. Under former head coach Sheldon Keefe, he thrived when given consistent ice time rather than being inserted in and out of the lineup. If seen to be a part of the long-term plan, this factor will certainly be of interest in Liljegren’s camp negotiations in any new contract.

Still withstanding a valuable skill set at just age 25, Liljegren could turn into something significant on the right side in due time, an asset the Leafs need. This time around, the defenseman is eligible for arbitration and the Leafs will have to tender him a qualifying offer to retain his rights. Realistically, it could be a path the team opts to pursue given a one-year deal will be a small investment to an overall bigger decision. 

On the flip side, a longer-term contract that signs Liljegren at his current value could turn out to be a fantastic decision for both sides – the team retains a promising right-handed defenseman for considerable value and the player earns stability and term. According to AFP Analytics, a site used as a projection tool for free agents, they are predicting a four-year $16.40 million contract with a cap hit of $4.1 million a season for his services.

Though the organization may bet on Liljegren once more, a trade seems possible without immediate steps to growth considering the appetite for help on the right side across the NHL. The picture will soon become clearer in how the dominos will fall as the offseason begins to come into full swing.

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