Liljegren traded to Sharks by Maple Leafs for Benning, picks

Toronto receives 3rd-round choice in 2025, 6th-round selection in 2026 in swap of defensemen

Timothy Liljegren was traded to the San Jose Sharks by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday.

Toronto received defenseman Matt Benning, a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. The Sharks hold 2025 third-round selections previously held by the Edmonton Oilers and Colorado Avalanche, and the Maple Leafs will receive the earlier selection as part of this trade.

Liljegren, a 25-year-old defenseman, played in one of the Maple Leafs’ 10 games this season after finishing with 23 points (three goals, 20 assists) in 55 games for Toronto last season, when he also had one assist in six Stanley Cup Playoff games. Selected by the Maple Leafs in the first round (No. 17) of the 2017 NHL Draft, he has 65 points (14 goals, 51 assists) in 197 regular-season games and one assist in 13 playoff games.

Benning, 30, has no points in seven games this season for San Jose. Selected by the Boston Bruins in the sixth round (No. 175) of the 2012 NHL Draft, he has 102 points (17 goals, 85 assists) in 464 regular-season games for the Sharks, Oilers and Nashville Predators, and five assists in 24 playoff games.