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Just after completing their six-day Rookie Development Camp in Etobicoke, ON on Wednesday, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced the signing of 2017 top pick Timothy Liljegren to a three-year entry-level contract.
The 18-year-old blueliner’s contract includes the entry-level maximum of $925,000 for an NHL salary, $70,000 for the AHL and a ‘Schedule A’ bonus package of $400,000.
The young defenseman showed off his ample skill and impressed Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello with his poise throughout camp.
“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.”
Liljegren has an SHL contract for one more year with Rogle BK, but the fact that he played with four teams at various levels of the Swedish League last season may have been a contributing factor to Toronto getting him signed and having more input as to where he plays next season.
“(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.
If Liljegren returns to Sweden, his contract will not count towards the 50-man pro contract limit this season(the Leafs are at 49 with Connor Brown the last available spot), but it will count if he plays in the AHL.
In either scenario, the first year of the deal will not go into effect unless he plays 10 games in the NHL.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Wednesday that the club will hold the start of the 2017-18 training camp in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
The club will host their annual rookie tournament from September 8-10 at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto and will open training camp at the MasterCard Centre on Thursday, September 14, before heading to Niagara Falls for three days of on-ice sessions at the Gale Centre from Friday, September 15 to Sunday, September 17, which will be open to the public.
Toronto opens their eight-game exhibition schedule on Monday, September 18 against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata, ON.
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Some Leafs related items from
Elliotte Friedman’s “30 Thoughts” column.
With Lamoriello indicating on Wednesday that he has implemented the long-term injured reserve during the summer, with either Nathan Horton or Joffrey Lupul on LTIR, the Leafs have somewhere around $3 Million to get RFA Connor Brown signed.
Toronto took a run at signing Ottawa goalie Mike Condon to a free agent deal earlier this month. The 26-year-old re-signed with the Sens for three years at $2.4 Million AAV, significantly higher than the $850,000 spent on backup Curtis McElhinney.
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