Timothy Liljegren

Timothy Liljegren
Liljegren with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2022
Born	(1999-04-30) 30 April 1999 (age 25) Kristianstad, Sweden
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	193 lb (88 kg; 13 st 11 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Right
NHL team Former teams	San Jose Sharks Rögle BK Toronto Maple Leafs
National team	Sweden
NHL draft	17th overall, 2017 Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career	2015–present

Timothy Winston Liljegren (born 30 April 1999) is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs drafted him in the first round, 17th overall, in the 2017 NHL entry draft. Internationally, he represents Sweden.

Playing career

Swedish Hockey League

Liljegren made his Swedish Hockey League debut on 3 December 2015 playing with Rögle BK during the 2015–16 SHL season. ^[1] Liljegren missed the first two months of the 2016–17 season after getting mononucleosis. ^[2]

National Hockey League

Liljegren taking a slapshot during the 2018 Calder Cup Finals.

Liljegren with the Marlies in 2018

On 23 June 2017, Liljegren was selected in the first-round, 17th overall, by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2017 NHL entry draft. ^[2] He later agreed with the Maple Leafs to a three-year, entry-level contract on 12 July 2017. ^[3] Liljegren was assigned to the Maple Leafs' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, for their 2017–18 season. In his rookie season, he was the youngest defenceman in the AHL. ^[4] That same season, the Marlies beat the Texas Stars to win the Calder Cup.

Liljegren made his NHL debut with the Maple Leafs on 18 January 2020 in a 6–2 defeat against the Chicago Blackhawks. ^[5] He earned his first NHL point in his sixth NHL game; an assist in a 4–2 victory over the Ottawa Senators. ^[6]

Liljegren scored his first National Hockey League goal on 15 January 2022 against Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues. ^[7]

On 27 June 2022, Liljegren signed a two-year $2.8 million contract with the Maple Leafs. ^[8] He missed the beginning of the 2022–23 season with a hernia. He played his first game of the season on 5 November against the Boston Bruins. ^[9]

On 30 October 2024, Liljegren was traded to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Matt Benning, a third-round pick in 2025, and a sixth-round pick in 2026. ^[10]

Personal life

Liljegren was born and grew up in Kristianstad. He and his two older brothers (William and Anthony) were raised by a single mother, Lena Liljegren, after Liljegren's father left the family early in his life. ^{[11] [12]} At age 14, his family moved to Ängelholm, home of the Rögle BK hockey program, to further his hockey career. ^[13]

Liljegren holds American citizenship through his father, an American man who is from New Jersey. ^[14]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2015–16	Rögle BK	J20		29	7	15	22	26		3	1	2	3	0
2015–16	Rögle BK	SHL		19	1	4	5	4		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Rögle BK	J20		12	5	2	7	8		3	1	4	5	0
2016–17	Rögle BK	SHL		19	1	4	5	4		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Timrå IK	Allsv		5	0	1	1	4		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Toronto Marlies	AHL		44	1	16	17	20		20	0	4	4	6
2018–19	Toronto Marlies	AHL		43	3	12	15	18		13	0	5	5	8
2018–19	Newfoundland Growlers	ECHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Toronto Marlies	AHL		40	5	25	30	18		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		11	0	1	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Toronto Marlies	AHL		21	2	9	11	10		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		2	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		61	5	18	23	14		2	0	0	0	0
2022–23	Toronto Marlies	AHL		2	0	1	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		67	6	12	18	30		5	0	0	0	0
2023–24	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		55	3	20	23	16		6	0	1	1	2
2024–25	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		1	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
SHL totals				38	2	8	10	8		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				197	14	51	65	66		13	0	1	1	2

Medal record
Representing   Sweden
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
	2018 United States
IIHF World U18 Championship
	2016 United States

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2015	Sweden	U17			6	3	2	5	6
2016	Sweden	WJC18			7	1	5	6	0
2016	Sweden	IH18	4th		5	1	3	4	2
2017	Sweden	WJC18	4th		7	0	2	2	4
2018	Sweden	WJC			7	1	1	2	4
2023	Sweden	WC	6th		5	2	2	4	4
Junior totals					32	6	13	19	16
Senior totals					5	2	2	4	4

Awards and honors

Awards	Year
AHL
Calder Cup (Toronto Marlies)	2018	[15]
All-Star Game	2020	[16]

References

1. "Team Statistics - Rogle BK". Swedish Hockey League. 4 May 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
2. Johnston, Mike (23 June 2017). "Maple Leafs select Timothy Liljegren with No. 17 pick at NHL Draft". Sportsnet.ca. Sportsnet. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
3. "Leafs sign Timothy Liljegren to entry-level deal". Sportsnet.ca. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
4. Canadian Press (29 November 2017). "Timothy Liljegren starting to feel at home in Toronto". Sportsnet.ca. Toronto: Sportsnet. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
5. "Maple Leafs Timothy Liljegren makes NHL debut". Sportsnet.ca. 18 January 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
6. "Maple Leafs' Timothy Liljegren: First NHL point". 16 February 2020.
7. "Liljegren's first NHL goal". NHL. 15 January 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
8. "Maple Leafs sign Timothy Liljegren to two-year, $2.8M contract". Sportsnet. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
9. "Liljegren likely to play for Maple Leafs vs. Bruins on Saturday". Sportsnet. 2 November 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
10. "Toronto Maple Leafs trade D Timothy Liljegren to Sharks for D Benning, picks". TSN. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
11. "IT'S LIT-JEGREN! The Leafs draft Timothy Liljegren and six others - Sportsnet.ca". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
12. Salvian, Hailey (28 January 2019). "'Without her sacrifices, I wouldn't be here': Timothy Liljegren owes his hockey success to his mom". The Athletic . The New York Times. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
13. McGran, Kevin. "Mother of Leafs' top pick has hockey son, will travel". Chicago: Toronto Star. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
14. Carlsson, David (17 May 2017). "Timothy Liljegren Talks Disastrous Season, NHL Draft & Dreams". thehockeywriters. The Hockey Writers. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
15. "Marlies bring a hockey championship to Toronto, win Calder Cup". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
16. "Bracco, Liljegren added to All-Star roster". American Hockey League. 26 January 2020. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2020.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Auston Matthews	Toronto Maple Leafs first round draft pick 2017	Succeeded by Rasmus Sandin