The Sharks acquire defenseman Timothy Liljegren from Toronto in exchange for Matt Benning and two draft selections

San Jose Sharks General Manager (@SanJoseSharks). Mike Grier announced today that the club has signed a defender Timothy Liljegren from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for defenseman Matt Benning, a conditional 2025 third-round pick and San Jose's 2026 sixth-round pick. Toronto receives the better (former) third-round pick that San Jose currently possesses.

Liljegren, 25, has appeared in one game so far in the 2024/25 season. Last year, he set season highs in assists (20) and average time on ice (19:40) and reached a career-high point total (23) with the Maple Leafs. He ranked fourth on the team in blocked shots (116) and eighth in power play TOI (92:34). Over the course of his NHL career, he played 197 NHL games, all with Toronto, and scored 65 points (14 goals, 51 assists) with a plus-38 rating.

Professionally, Liljegren also played for Toronto's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, in four seasons, scoring 74 points (11 goals, 63 assists) in 150 AHL games. He helped the Marlies win the 2018 Calder Cup after recording four assists in 20 postseason games.

He also played in 38 Swedish Ice Hockey League games for Rogle BK, scoring 10 points (two goals, eight assists).

At international level, the defender represented Sweden at the 2018 Junior World Cup, scoring two points (one goal, one assist) in seven games, helping Sweden win the silver medal. He also played at the 2023 World Cup, scoring four points (two goals, two assists) in five games.

The 6-foot, 200-pound Kristianstad, Sweden native was originally selected by Toronto in the 2017 NHL Draft (first round, 17th).^Th in total).