After becoming a regular on defense for much of the season, Timothy Liljegren will have to prove himself again after the club loaded up on defenseman who play on the right side.
NEWARK, N.J. — After sitting out for two consecutive games as a healthy scratch, Timothy Liljegren will draw back into the Toronto Maple Leafs’ lineup when the team visits the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.
Liljegren slipped into the boards in the third period and missed a few shifts before returning to the game. But any sort of injury was immediately ruled out by Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe in explaining why the Swedish sophomore defenseman was held out of the lineup.
"Our team is deeper on defense now than it was prior to the deadline. With him and the rest of our defense, the standard is higher and staying in and competing with that," Keefe said following Monday's practice ."He was in a similar situation last season. Whether it’s he or any of the other guys, when they’re in they have to do a really good job because the other guys want to play too."
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In his last game, Liljegren was on the ice for two of Edmonton’s goals while he wasn’t on the ice for any of Toronto’s. He wasn’t the worst defenseman for the club as far as advanced stats go, but he wasn’t the best, either.
"I feel pretty good," Liljegren said about where is game is currently. "I had a bit of a rough game in Edmonton, but I’ve had a pretty good year so I just have to keep it going."
The 23-year-old has five goals and 10 assists in 50 games this season. He missed the start of the season with a hernia but has excelled this season, particularly when he was asked to step up and play more minutes in the wake of injuries to other defensemen on the team.
In February, the Leafs have added defenseman Jake McCabe from the Chicago Blackhawks, Erik Gustafsson from the Washington Capitals and Luke Schenn from the Vancouver Canucks. McCabe is the only sure bet to be an everyday player, currently playing inside Toronto's top four. That leaves Liljegren to battle with Justin Holl, Gustafsson, Schenn and Conor Timmins for spots, particularly on the right side.
"I think with the trades and everything. We got more depth from on D, so you just have to play at your highest level to be in the lineup and that’s what I’m looking to do."
Working the power play
Timothy Liljegren has spent some time on the second power play this season but it hasn't been as the main quarterback on a unit, usually skating on the wall. This time he'll quarterback the second unit and that should be an interesting look for a player who doesn't get a lot of opportunity to show the offensive part of his game.
"I'm happy to get that opportunity there," he said. "I spent time with the Marlies doing it but not here."