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Leafs selects Liljegren with 17th overall pick

June 23, 2017, 12:29 PM ET [1235 Comments]
Mike Augello
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
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UPDATE - 7:12pm - If the intention of the Leafs is to select a defenseman at #17, the draft is going Toronto's way so far. Nine of the top 11 picks have been forwards.

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UPDATE - 11:55am - Darren Dreger reporting that Toronto is among the teams with strong interest and an offer in on Travis Hamonic.

Reports indicate that Isles GM Garth Snow is looking for a pair of first round picks for the 26-year-old Hamonic, who has three years remaining at less than $4 Million AAV.

My feel is that the Leafs will not give up their 2017 and 2018 top picks for the right-handed shooting blueliner, who could fit in nicely as a top pairing partner for Morgan Rielly, but do have an extra second in 2018.

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After a number of reports that the Toronto Maple Leafs were pursuing defenseman Colin Miller, but TSN’s Bob McKenzie indicated on Thursday that interest in the Golden Knights blueliner may be more media driven and has not been on their radar recently.

The right-handed shooting Miller is a native of Sault Ste. Marie, ON, played three seasons for Leafs Asst. GM Kyle Dubas and Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe with the OHL Greyhounds and has a $1 Million cap hit for 2017-18.

Interest in veteran defenseman Marc Methot may have a hit roadblock, as Darren Dreger reports that the 31-year-old has the Leafs and all other Canadian teams on his no-trade list.

The no-trade clause does not preclude the possibility of Methot being acquired. Milan Michalek waived his NTC to agree to be moved to the Leafs as part of the Dion Phaneuf deal in February 2016, but that situation might not help Toronto’s case, as they ended up sending the veteran forward to the minors for most of the 2016-17 season.

Another possible option is former Washington defenseman Nate Schmidt. TVA’s Louis Jean indicates that the Leafs have inquired about the swift skating 25-year-old, but Vegas GM George McPhee is saying that he plans on keeping all of his young defenseman.

The moves on Draft Day have already started, as Chicago has moved defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson to Arizona and reported swapped Artemi Panarin to Columbus for former Hawk Brandon Saad.

The question is will the Leafs get into the trade market in the next 48 hours.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs revealed their 2017-18 schedule on Thursday. The club will open the regular season on Wednesday, October 4 against the Winnipeg Jets hold their home opener at Air Canada Centre against the New York Rangers on Saturday, October 7.

The home schedule is heavily concentrated on Monday(10), Wednesday(10) and Saturday(11) nights, with the club playing only one home game on Friday and Sunday nights. On the road, the Leafs play 10 games on Thursday and a dozen games on Saturday nights.

Notable games on the schedule include a 2 PM start on Tuesday, December 19 versus the Carolina Hurricanes to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first NHL game played in Toronto, the Leafs visit to Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve and the outdoor game against the Washington Capitals at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. on March 3, 2018.

Here is the full 2017-18 Toronto Maple Leafs Schedule:

Pre-Season

Sept. 18 - Toronto @ Ottawa, 7:30 PM
Sept. 19 - Ottawa @ Toronto, 7:30 PM (Air Canada Centre)
Sept. 22 - Buffalo @ Toronto, 7:30 PM (at Ricoh Coliseum)
Sept. 23 - Toronto @ Buffalo, 7:00 PM
Sept. 25 - Montreal @ Toronto, 7:00 PM (at Ricoh Coliseum)
Sept. 27 - Toronto @ Montreal, 7:00 PM (Videotron Centre)
Sept. 29 - Toronto @ Detroit, 7:30 PM
Sept 30 - Detroit @ Toronto, 7:00 PM (at Ricoh Coliseum)

Regular season

October

Oct. 4 - Toronto @ Winnipeg, 7:00 PM
Oct. 7 - N.Y. Rangers @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
Oct. 9 - Chicago @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
Oct. 11 - New Jersey @ Toronto, 7:30 PM
Oct. 14 - Toronto @ Montreal, 7:00 PM
Oct. 17 - Toronto @ Washington, 7:00 PM
Oct. 18 - Detroit @ Toronto, 7:30 PM
Oct. 21 - Toronto @ Ottawa, 7:00 PM
Oct. 23 - Los Angeles @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
Oct. 26 - Carolina @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
Oct. 28 - Philadelphia @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
Oct. 30 - Toronto @ San Jose, 10:30 PM

November

Nov. 1 - Toronto @ Anaheim, 10:00 PM
Nov. 2 - Toronto @ Los Angeles, 10:30 PM
Nov. 4 - Toronto @ St. Louis, 7:00 PM
Nov. 6 - Las Vegas @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
Nov. 8 - Minnesota @ Toronto, 7:30 PM
Nov. 10 - Boston @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
Nov. 11 - Toronto @ Boston, 7:00 PM
Nov. 16 - New Jersey @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
Nov. 18 - Toronto @ Montreal, 7:00 PM
Nov. 20 - Arizona @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
Nov. 22 - Toronto @ Florida, 7:00 PM
Nov. 24 - Toronto @ Carolina, 7:30 PM
Nov. 25 - Washington @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
Nov. 28 - Toronto @ Calgary, 9:00 PM
Nov. 30 - Toronto @ Edmonton, 9:00 PM

December

Dec. 2 - Toronto @ Vancouver, 7:00 PM
Dec. 6 - Calgary @ Toronto, 7:30 PM
Dec. 9 - Toronto @ Pittsburgh,7:00 PM
Dec. 10 - Edmonton @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
Dec. 12 - Toronto @ Philadelphia, 7:00 PM
Dec. 14 - Toronto @ Minnesota, 8:00 PM
Dec. 15 - Toronto @ Detroit, 7:30 PM
Dec. 19 - Carolina @ Toronto, 2:00 PM
Dec. 20 - Toronto @ Columbus, 7:30 PM
Dec. 23 - Toronto @ N.Y. Rangers, 7:00 PM
Dec. 28 - Toronto @ Arizona, 9:00 PM
Dec. 29 - Toronto @ Colorado, 9:00 PM
Dec. 31 - Toronto @ Las Vegas, 3:30 PM

January

Jan. 2 - Tampa Bay @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
Jan. 4 - San Jose @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
Jan. 6 - Vancouver @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
Jan. 8 - Columbus @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
Jan. 10 - Ottawa @ Toronto, 7:30 PM
Jan. 16 - St. Louis @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
Jan. 18 - Toronto @ Philadelphia, 7:00 PM
Jan. 20 - Toronto @ Ottawa, 7:00 PM
Jan. 22 - Colorado @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
Jan. 24 - Toronto @ Chicago, 8:00 PM
Jan. 25 - Toronto @ Dallas, 8:30 PM
Jan. 31 - N.Y. Islanders @ Toronto, 7:30 PM

February

Feb. 1 - Toronto @ N.Y. Rangers, 7:00 PM
Feb. 3 - Toronto @ Boston, 7:00 PM
Feb. 5 - Anaheim @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
Feb. 7 - Nashville @ Toronto, 7:30 PM
Feb. 10 - Ottawa @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
Feb. 12 - Tampa Bay @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
Feb. 14 - Columbus @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
Feb. 17 - Toronto @ Pittsburgh, 7:00 PM
Feb. 18 - Toronto @ Detroit, 7:00 PM
Feb. 20 - Florida @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
Feb. 22 - N.Y. Islanders @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
Feb. 24 - Boston @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
Feb. 26 - Toronto @ Tampa Bay, 7:30 PM
Feb. 27 - Toronto @ Florida, 7:30 PM

March

March 3 - Toronto @ Washington, 8:00 PM
March 5 - Toronto @ Buffalo, 7:00 PM
March 10 - Pittsburgh @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
March 14 - Dallas @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
March 15 - Toronto @ Buffalo, 7:00 PM
March 17 - Montreal @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
March 20 - Toronto @ Tampa Bay, 7:30 PM
March 22 - Toronto @ Nashville, 8:00 PM
March 24 - Detroit @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
March 26 - Buffalo @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
March 28 - Florida @ Toronto, 7:30 PM
March 30 - Toronto @ N.Y. Islanders, 7:00 PM
March 31 - Winnipeg @ Toronto, 7:00 PM

April

April 2 - Buffalo @ Toronto, 7:00 PM
April 5 - Toronto @ New Jersey, 7:00 PM
April 7 - Montreal @ Toronto, 7:00 PM

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