The instructions for Timothy Liljegren sound simple to follow.
The Maple Leafs defenceman will make his 2024-25 debut on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Kings and coach Craig Berube, after the optional morning skate at Scotiabank Arena, laid out his expectations.
“It’s about him managing his game and managing his puck movement and making good decisions with it, not risky ones,” Berube said. “Just simplify. And then, you have to win your battles as a defenceman. It’s important you’re defending well and you’re strong in your net-front and winning those board battles, corner battles and things like that. He has to do that.”
If it appears to be an audition for Liljegren — not only for the Toronto coaching staff but National Hockey League teams that might be interested in acquiring the 25-year-old — we’re not going to argue with that idea.
It’s going to be interesting to see how Liljegren performs against a Kings team that will be a little sour after being lit up in an 8-7 overtime loss in Ottawa against the Senators on Monday.
It’s bound to be a challenge for most of the Leafs, never mind one who had a bad training camp and wasn’t physical despite knowing what kind of style Berube was going to expect from his players.
“They’re heavy, big team, strong down low in the offensive zone,” Berube said. “Any time you play the Kings, and this has been (the case) for years now, it’s going to be a battle. We have to win the battles. We have to be strong in our net-front. Puck battles are important.”
The Leafs are in a tough spot with Liljegren considering his contract, which carries a $3-million US salary cap hit this season and next. If they could find a way to move him, though, general manager Brad Treliving likely would be amenable to doing so.
On the other hand, a team has never complained about having too much depth and Liljegren, who is expected to be paired with Simon Benoit on Wednesday, has demonstrated at times that he can be dependable.
David Rittich, who spent part of the 2020-21 season with the Leafs, will start in net for the Kings. Los Angeles (1-0-2) won’t have defenceman Joel Edmundson, who has returned home to be with his wife as the couple awaits the birth of their first child.
Whether Leafs winger William Nylander plays will be a game-time decision, Berube said. Nylander missed practice on Tuesday because he was sick and he did not take part in the optional morning skate.
Goalie Joseph Woll did take part in the skate, marking his first workout with his teammates as he tries to shed some lower-body tightness.
Other Leafs areas of interest on Wednesday night:
The power play
The Leafs are 0-for-9 with a man advantage, lumping them in a group of teams that have not scored on the power play with Anaheim, Buffalo and Carolina.
“Stay patient with it,” Mitch Marner said. “It’s a long season. The last couple of games, it has slowly got better, puck movement, being in the right positions. Something we do talk about we have to get more pucks around the net and create more of a shot mentality.”
Auston Matthews’ first point
Even Minnesota Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson, who scored into an empty St. Louis Blues net on Tuesday, has more goals than Leafs captain Auston Matthews.
Of the Leafs forwards who have played in all three games as Toronto has compiled a record of 2-1-0, Matthews and Nick Robertson are the only two who have not recorded a point.
It shouldn’t be a source of concern with Matthews. With a team-high 15 shots on goal and an expected goals for percentage of 71.5%, Matthews is on the cusp of breaking through. Against the Kings in his career, he has four goals in 13 games.
Domi’s shot
Max Domi leads the Leafs with three points — all assists. He has one shot on goal, fewest among Toronto forwards.
“He should shoot more,” Berube said, sounding like every coach Domi has had. “We’re trying to get him to shoot a bit more on his opportunities.
“It’s a habit and habits take time to break. It’s about constant reminders.”
Maple Leafs projected lineup
The projected lineup to face the Kings based on how they practised on Tuesday:
FORWARDS
Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner
Pontus Holmberg-John Tavares-Nick Robertson
Bobby McMann-Max Domi-Max Pacioretty
Steven Lorentz-David Kampf-Ryan Reaves
DEFENCE
Morgan Rielly-Chris Tanev
Oliver Ekman-Larsson—Jake McCabe
Simon Benoit-Timothy Liljegren
GOALIES
Anthony Stolarz
Dennis Hildeby
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