As the Utah Hockey Club rides high on an impressive 4-1-1 start to their inaugural NHL season, injuries to key defensemen John Marino and Sean Durzi have left them scrambling for reinforcements. With both players sidelined for significant stretches—Marino for months and Durzi for several weeks—Utah’s early-season success could quickly come undone without bolstering their blue line.
Enter Timothy Liljegren, the Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman who has fallen out of favor in Toronto and now finds himself at the center of trade rumors. According to Elliotte Friedman on his latest 32 Thoughts podcast, Utah may look to Liljegren as a potential solution to their defensive woes. With two right-handed defensemen injured, the Maple Leafs’ former first-round pick fits the profile of what Utah desperately needs.
Liljegren, 24, has struggled to live up to the high expectations set when Toronto drafted him in 2017, tallying just 65 points in 198 NHL games. While he’s shown some improvements, he’s far from the elite defenseman Toronto once hoped for. Despite these challenges, a change of scenery in Utah could offer Liljegren the opportunity to unlock his potential and mesh with the young talent leading Utah’s charge this season, such as captain Clayton Keller.
Utah, armed with $7 million in cap space, has the financial flexibility to absorb Liljegren’s $3 million contract. Speculation has already surfaced about a possible trade package, which could include Utah’s 2nd-round pick, New York’s 2nd-round pick, and perhaps even the expiring contract of Nick Bjugstad, a piece that might tempt Toronto given their need for a true second-line center.
With Utah eager to maintain their momentum and Toronto potentially looking to offload Liljegren, a deal could be in the works. The clock is ticking for Utah to stop the bleeding on their blue line, and Liljegren might just be the solution they need.
