The Sharks made a trade on Wednesday, sending
defenseman Matt Benning to the Toronto Maple Leafs, along with a conditional
2025 3rd round draft pick and a 2026 6th round pick in exchange for defenseman
Timothy Liljegren. The Sharks get a younger blueliner who was a former 1st
round pick (17th overall) of the Maple Leafs in 2017.
Liljegren has
only played in one game this season after appearing in 55 games for Toronto
last season. New Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube didn't consider the Swede
a top 6 defenseman and has spent 6 of Toronto's 7 games in the press box.
The 25 year-old is said to be a good puck moving defenseman, something
the Sharks are desperately in need of. He is in the first year of a 2-year $6
million contract.
He has appeared in 197 NHL games, scoring 14 goals
and adding 51 assists and 66 penalty minutes. The defenseman has also appeared
in 13 playoff games, including 6 last spring where he recorded his only point
(as assist).
Benning departs after seeing ice time in 7 of the Sharks
11 games. He was scratched in four straight games from October 20th through the
26th. He has not recorded a point in his 7 games this year.
The
Canadian blueliner is in the third year of a 4-year, $5 million contract. He
missed 66 total games last season after suffering a hip injury. He missed 10
games in November and briefly returned before shutting down for the season in
December. He appeared in 98 games for San Jose, recording 1 goal and 25
assists.
Profile:
Timothy
Liljegren 
