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Leafs Defender Timothy Liljegren Identifies One Area of His Game He Has Really Focused on Imrpoving
Photo credit: JOHN E. SOKOLOWSKI-USA TODAY SPORTS
Timothy Liljegren is hoping a change in his off-season training will help him keep his regular spot in the Leafs' lineup under Craig Berube.
Liljegren was once projected to be a top-four defenseman for the Leafs, but since becoming a regular in the lineup three seasons ago, he has struggled when given the opportunity. Under new bench boss Craig Berube, however, Liljegren, like everyone else, has a clean slate. Despite the increased depth on the blueline and the pressure of fighting to keep his roster spot, it appears to be impressing Berube early on in camp.
"I think he's been very noticeable for me, moving to puck well, making good decisions, he's a smart player (from) what I see," Berube said. "He's got good skills, good puck skills, so he's been good."
In speaking with The Hockey News following day three of camp yesterday, Liljegren revealed that he spent much of the time leading up to training camp working on his biggest deficiency last season - conditioning and making better decisions when exhausted.
"If you get stuck in D-zone, it's more like being conditioned enough where you can think at the same time if that makes sense," Liljegren explained. "It's easy to make mistakes when you're tired. So yeah, just kind of get a little bit better at making good decisions at every shift."
Liljegren admitted when he returned from an ankle sprain that he was struggling with his confidence and at times it was noticeable. At one point Sheldon Keefe noted that the only reason he was in the lineup was due to him being the only right-handed defenseman available.
Liljegren signed a two-year extension with the Leafs back in June and is hopeful that his off-season changes will let him evolve into a much more reliable defender under Craig Berube.
As the Leafs get set to kick off pre-season action Sunday against the Ottawa Senators, how he is deployed will be something to keep an eye on.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 22 | 815 ANSWERS Leafs Defender Timothy Liljegren Identifies One Area of His Game He Has Really Focused on Imrpoving Will Liljegren evolve into a top-four defenseman under Berube? | ||
| Yes | 248 | 30.4 % |
| No | 308 | 37.8 % |
| I'm not sure | 138 | 16.9 % |
| I hope so | 121 | 14.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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