Breaking News - Maple Leafs announce an extension for a restricted free agent
Moments ago, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced that they've extended their rookie RFA defenceman, Timothy Liljegren.
Signed for two years at $1.4M per year, this signing will work as a low-cost bridge deal for the young defenceman, who performed exceptionally well this year, even garnering a few Calder trophy votes despite not playing the full season.
In only 61 games, Liljegren posted decent offensive numbers with 5 goals and 18 assists. On the ice, Liljegren plays with poise, making a great breakout pass, a shooting threat on the secondary power play, and developed great chemistry with veteran Mark Giordano late in the season. Along with a fantastic eye-test, Liljegren has great analytics to boot.
Assuming the Leafs keep one of the league's strongest third defensive pairings in Giordano and Liljegren, both players will be signed for a total of $2.2M for the next two years. The team will need these quality players on cheap deals to compliment their forward group, and this signing solidifies the bottom pairing for the next two seasons at a team-friendly number. It's a tidy bit of work from the Leafs' front office.
Additionally, the Leafs also have pending RFA defenceman Rasmus Sandin to sign, a similar player to Liljegren in their two-way ability. It's been speculated that one of the two players could be moved, so now all attention will be on the prospective deal for Sandin.
| POLL | ||
Will the Leafs sign or trade Sandin? | ||
| Sign | 117 | 48.1 % |
| Trade | 126 | 51.9 % |
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