Quoting: MrDinkiee
No thanks, Leafs aren't trading their first. I'm fine moving away from Liljegren since it will be a log jam on the right side, but anything more is a big no from the Leafs
The Leafs will be trading their first. Of that I am pretty certain. It may not be for Severson but, they will be trading it.
There is no log jam anywhere on this teams D core. Everyone, including Liljegren has been given the chance to prove they belong higher up in the lineup and everyone has failed to deliver.
At present, Liljegren is a 6/7 defenseman. Not good enough to play on the top pair. Not strong enough defensively to play on a shutdown pair. He may become more than that in the future, but I doubt it. I see him as a lower pairing guy on the right side.
Hope is not a plan and hoping that Liljegren turns into something that he likely won't is foolish dreaming.
I hope he improves. I just wouldn't bet on it and he's not good enough to start above the bottom pair at present. Ideally, he'd be a 7/8 when the playoffs start.
The Leafs have larger issues with their D core than most care to admit or recognize. If they don't so some serious upgrading, that and the duo of broken goalies will be their undoing. Of that I am certain.