Fantasy Summary
Strong-skating defenseman with top-pairing two-way upside.
Attributes | |
|---|---|
| Fantasy Upside | 7.0 |
| NHL Certainty | 8.5 |
| Country | SWE |
| Position | D |
| Roster Type | Minors |
| Shoot/Glove | Right |
| Date of Birth | April 30, 1999 |
| Height | 6‘0” |
| Weight | 192 lbs |
| Drafted | 2017 Round 1; Overall: 17 |
Observations
October 2019 – As noted in the previous update, his initial roster listing was indeed a paper move. Liljegren has now been loaned to the Marlies where he projects to be their top minute-muncher. It appears he may be moved up and down regularly for cap reasons.
September 2019 – Despite the ups and downs of the last calendar year, and his D-1 season possibly raising the bar higher than appropriate in the eyes of many fans, Liljegren has earned himself an NHL spot on the Leafs out of training camp and pre-season. Realistically this is likely due to his low salary and waiver-exemption and he won’t see consistent ice, but he has beaten out depth names such as Harpur and Gravel for this position of extra defenseman and that’s a victory for the youngster. Let’s see if he can withstand the speed and IQ required in the NHL – this is more or less a sneak preview for fantasy owners who are expecting him to become a full-time NHLer in 2020-21. Hayden Soboleski
December 2018 – Liljegren has suffered a high ankle sprain and is week-to-week for the time being. This means he will likely miss the WJCs – bad news for everyone involved. Hayden Soboleski
December 2018 – The Leafs will be loaning Liljegren to Team Sweden for the upcoming WJC. As he quietly progresses in the AHL, this will be a good chance to stack up against some top competition, possibly even with the same partner (Sandin) he plays with on the Marlies. Hayden Soboleski
November 2018 – It would be wrong to say Liljegren has done nothing noteworthy in his second year with the Marlies so far, but he hasn’t done anything dramatic enough to change his fantasy outlook. He is slowly learning the defensive side of the game to compliment his strong offensive movement, and playing with a smart partner like Sandin could really bring him along. Expect another season of quiet development for the high-upside d-man, he will make it to the big leagues eventually but rushing helps nobody. Hayden Soboleski
Feb 2018 – Liljegren is developing well after he had a successful but not outstanding run with Sweden at the World Junior Championship. In 21 games with the Marlies, Lilegren has one goal and nine assists for ten points. Lilegren’s skating is being displayed regularly as not many can match his ability. He plays well especially in the offensive end, and his defense is steady but needs some more development time. It is likely that Lilegren will play at least another year with the Marlies before he will be ready for the NHL. Brian Harling
February 2017 – Liljegren was the early second overall ranked prospect for the 2017 draft. He missed time due to Mono and injuries which cost him a shot at the World Junior and subsequently he has slipped down some rankings. He is a mobile two-way puck moving defender that moves the puck up ice either by crisp, smart passes or carrying the puck with his long powerfuil skating stride. He hakes good reads and reacts smart and quickly processing the game at a high level. Liljegren has shown well playing against men at the pro level in Sweden as well as in international tournaments such as the U18 in North Dakota and the Five Nations most recently. Don’t let Liljegren fall down your draft rankings as he should be the first defenceman selected in any draft. Peter Harling