The expected has arrived as the Leafs traded right-handed defenseman Timothy Liljegren to the San Jose Sharks for Matt Benning, a third round pick, and a sixth round pick.

Liljegren was drafted by the Leafs in 2017, worked his way through the AHL before playing three full seasons with the Leafs. Last season was his peak in usage, playing 19 minutes and change a night for Sheldon Keefe. But under a change in coaching, Liljegren was on the outside, so it was time for a move.

Liljegren in the NHL has always been a study in comparing the numbers and the eye test (I hate saying "versus", that sentiment so a decade ago). His expected goals and RAPM have been quite high, started strongly by partial seasons split with the Marlies, but they started to come down as his level of competition got higher. Watching him on the ice, it was clear how he was getting those results. He can make a great first pass, and without pressure he can put his teammates in positions to get shots.

The flip side of the coin, and the likely reason for this trade, is what he does under pressure. Liljegren's in-zone defending has always been a struggle. He doesn't move opponents off the puck, he misses plays under pressure, and he doesn't do enough to succeed against better players. I remember when he was tried with Rielly in the role of "safe hands" for the dynamic #1 guy, and the results were really bad once they were in-zone defending. The difference when Rielly was with a guy like Tanev or McCabe is stark.

But it's okay to not be Chris Tanev – whom for a long time has been one of the best defensive defenders in the game. But under Craig Berube, Liljegren lost his role, so a move had to be made. The Leafs have transitioned their defense from a top-4 / bottom-pair to trying to balance out their three pairs and have more capability to defend and suppress shots than join the offense and score.

I first noticed Liljegren in the AHL where he stepped in as an 18-year-old and was immediately a first pair guy. The next year at 19, he really improved his defensive positioning and grew some muscle to move opponents around the ice. I thought at the time he was on a really high trajectory, but like all prospects, they level out at some point. Despite being dominant in the AHL, the level of skill against in the NHL was more than Liljegren could get a handle on. At the time, I thought he was better than compatriot Rasmus Sandin (and previous wunderkind Travis Dermott). I'd say he's surpassed Dermott, we'll see how he compares to Sandin now they're both off the Leafs.

For Liljegren in San Jose, he might be able to find his offensive stride with something of the Rielly role on their thinner blueline, or he might get affected by the lack of support around him and struggle with the worst team in the league. We will see how things go.

Finally to Matt Benning. The 30-year-old right shot defender makes an important $1.75 million less than Liljegren's $3 million cap hit (to those who were told there wouldn't be math, that's a cap hit of $1.25 million for Benning for this season and next). The nephew of Jim Benning was drafted by the Boston Bruins in 2012, but signed with the Edmonton Oilers out of college. After four years on that very tumultuous team, he signed with the Nashville Predators for two years, then finally the Sharks.

On the cap side of things, the Leafs still need to find about $2 million in order for Calle Järnkrok to come back from injury. A combination of demoting/moving Myers, Timmins (whom Benning has also just replaced), and Robertson/Holmberg will do the job. Or maybe there's a bigger move coming, but a Robertson trade has been on the horizon for a while.

Admittedly, Benning's numbers were quite good in Edmonton in his prime years, but cratered on Nashville and also in San Jose (but to be honest, who's didn't). Benning's struggles are pretty readily offensively, that's just not what he does. But defensively his results are somewhat above expected. His expected goals are a pleasant surprise and he blocks shots.

But then there's this. Benning had season-ending hip surgery back in January, and while he's back to playing (seven of the team's 11 games), who knows what his health is.

Sharks defenseman Matt Benning undergoes season-ending hip surgery
San Jose Sharks defenseman Matt Benning underwent surgery on his hip that will sideline him for the rest of the season.
NHLPA.comCanadian Press

It's probable the real asset here is the third and sixth round picks (Brian has been in our chat cheering), or the hip surgery has fixed something in Benning that broke in Nashville. We'll just have to see what unfolds.

Let us know what you think, will Benning play? What of the Liljegren side of this trade?

Maple Leafs Trades