The Maple Leafs are acquiring Matt Benning, a 2025 3rd-round pick, and a 2026 6th-round pick. Interestingly, the Sharks have third-round picks from Colorado and Edmonton heading into next year's draft. The Leafs, however, will get the earlier pick, which works out for them.
This is a trade that was many weeks in the making. The Leafs had pretty well made it clear that they wanted to get rid of Liljegren. There were rumblings that perhaps Liljegren had even demanded a trade. However, those reports were never confirmed.
Either way, Liljegren was not getting very much ice time. The team didn't care to play him and a trade was becoming more and more inevitable. For Leafs nation, getting some draft capital will be a good thing to see.
So far this season, the team is at a record of 5-4-1 after 10 games. There have been some tremendous highs but also some tremendous lows, all things considered. Only time will tell whether or not this Leafs team can be a Stanley Cup contender.
While this trade was not meant to help them win now, it does help them get some cap space. It also allows them to trim the fat of their roster, and look towards developing younger talents in their system.
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