Edmonton Oilers Showing Interest in Rival Canadian Team's Defenceman in Trade

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Ryan Hall
October 17, 2024 (8:09)

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Talk continues to circle around the Edmonton Oilers organization that the team is looking to add a new defenseman, and it appears the team is showing interest in Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren.

This talk has intensified as of late as Liljegren has not played in the first three games of the Maple Leafs season. With the additions of Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman Larsson along with the strong play of Connor Timmins and Simon Benoit, Liljegren has been pushed down the depth chart quite significantly.

The 25-year-old defenseman was selected by the Maple Leafs in 2017, first round 17th overall. He possesses the right shot that all teams covet and has this decent frame of 6 foot 1 and 201 pounds. Being that low on the depth chart and holding a cap hit of $3,000,000 per season does not bode well for him and will likely see him find a change of scenery.

A player of his style would certainly help the Oilers defense and would see him play more minutes as he would rise back in the depth chart into the top 5. The team currently holds $5.4 million in cap space and would likely need to send either a prospect or a draft pick to the Maple Leafs to acquire his services.

If a deal were to be made between general managers Stan Bowman and Brad Treliving, Liljegren would find some familiar faces on the team as he has played with Zach Hyman, Travis Dermott and Connor Brown.

The future remains cloudy for Liljegren and if he fails his few games to play which started tonight against the Los Angeles Kings, it's safe to say a trade will be on the horizon and likely Bowman calling Treliving to inquire what will it take.