The Maple Leafs have signed Simon Benoit and Bobby McMann to deals of different lengths, showcasing a strategy of securing depth players to reasonable contracts based on their age and worth. As two other RFAs, Connor Dewar and Noah Gregor, are also up for renewal, the team may consider preemptively re-signing them to avoid arbitration. Timothy Liljegren, on the other hand, presents a unique situation due to his age, salary, and position as a right-shooting defender. His performance and usage in games indicate that he should receive a higher pay raise than his qualifying offer, especially considering his potential as a replacement for Morgan Rielly. The Leafs’ decision to utilize Liljegren in key roles implies that they value his growth and contributions to the team, making it unlikely for them to undervalue him in contract negotiations.
They initially placed him at number five, even though they were mistaken about John Klingberg. Later, he moved up to number four, playing just slightly less than Jake McCabe. With Rielly sidelined, he’s now number two. When Klingberg was placed on LTIR permanently and the Leafs opted not to fill his spot, it not only hindered team improvement but also likely increased Liljegren’s future salary.
Defensemen tend to earn more than forwards, especially at the lower end where there are fewer spots on the roster. Liljegren’s current salary is around $1.4 million, which is higher than someone like Benoit, who plays well enough to be the seventh defenseman teams hate sitting out. In the league this season, out of 193 players who have played 41 games, only 44 have a cap hit below one million.
If Liljegren’s case goes to arbitration, he could potentially be awarded more than $3 million. The Leafs have to decide whether to negotiate a short-term deal with him at the lowest possible number or take a risk on him developing into a higher-paid, longer-term contract.
