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Lamoriello satisfied with Leafs defense; Liljegren signs entry-level deal |
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The Leafs have signed 2017 top pick Timothy Liljegren to a three-year entry level deal.
Liljegren, 18, was selected by Toronto with the 17th overall pick in last month’s NHL Draft. In 2016-17, the Kristianstad, Sweden native collected five points (one goal, four assists) in 19 games with Rogle BK (SHL), one assist in five games with Timra IK (Allsvenskan) and seven points (five goals, two assists) in 12 games with Rogle BK J20 (SuperElit).
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The Toronto Maple Leafs wrapped up their six-day Rookie Development Camp at the MasterCard Centre in Etobicoke, ON on Wednesday with a second scrimmage between Team Clark (comprised mostly of the club’s draft picks) and Team Sittler.
The free-agent laden Sittler squad earned a 6-5 victory, as camp standout Jake Tortora followed up a hat trick on Tuesday with another goal.
Nolan Vesey, Vladimir Bobylev, JJ Piccinich, Keaton Middleton and Timothy Liljegren scored for Team Clark.
“(The pace of the scrimmage was) a good tempo out there. It was fast players (on a) small rink.” Liljegren said. “I think the tempo is higher than in Sweden.”
The 2017 top pick seemed to adjust well to playing on the smaller North American ice and impressed Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello by keeping his game simple and relatively mistake-free.
“As far as what we saw (out of Liljegren), we saw exactly what we thought we would. An outstanding skater, great poise out there.” Lamoriello said. “I was impressed with him not taking chances or trying to be impressive, because he’s a rushing defenseman and I thought he was very poised and did all the little things.”
The 18-year-old blueliner will be staying in Toronto until later this month, when he will join Team Sweden in Plymouth, MI for the four-team World Junior Summer Showcase, but where he will play next season is still unresolved.
The OHL’s Niagara Ice Dogs in the first round of the CHL Import Draft selected Liljegren, but Lamoriello indicated that the swift skating Swede will be playing professional hockey in the fall.
“(Liljegren) will do one of two things, he’ll either go back to Europe and play or he will play with the Marlies.” Lamoriello said. “He will not go to Junior.”
With continued speculation that the Leafs are still pursuing a trade for a defenseman, Lamoriello indicated that he is currently satisfied with the state of the club’s blueline after adding free agents Ron Hainsey, Calle Rosen and Andreas Borgman.
“We are (satisfied) today, and I'll let you know later on, when training camp's ended."
Frederik Gauthier and Roman Polak have not had any setbacks in their recovery from serious leg injuries suffered in the Calder and Stanley Cup Playoffs. Gauthier is not expected back until well into the regular season and Polak is an unrestricted free agent, but has not signed elsewhere.
Winger Jeremy Bracco missed the last four days of camp with a bout of mononucleosis and goalie Joseph Woll suffered a slight groin strain on Monday and did not take to the ice on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Contract negotiations with winger Connor Brown continue and Lamoriello is confident that the 23-year-old restricted free agent will be signed by training camp.
Toronto was thought to not have enough cap space during the summer to get a new deal with Brown done, but those limitations are not hindering a deal from getting done, as Lamoriello indicated the Leafs have cap relief due to long-term injury.
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