Sheldon Keefe left unimpressed with lack of action after Timothy Liljegren hit that landed Maple Leafs star on LTIR

By Abhilasha Aditi

Modified Nov 04, 2023 17:08 GMT

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe expressed his strong disapproval regarding the lack of response to an injury sustained by Swedish defenseman Timothy Liljegren.

Timothy Liljegren, a promising player for the Maple Leafs, suffered an injury, placing him on the Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR). Hockey insider Elliotte Friedman shared Keefe's public statement, shedding light on the concerns about the player's injury.

The incident, which left Liljegren sidelined with an injury, made Keefe raise questions over the lack of response from his players following the hit.

"I hated everything about it," Keefe said in reference to team's response to Brad Marchand's hit.

“It’s not what we want to be about," Keefe added. "At times we’ve responded very well in those situations in the past. It’s about consistency though.”

Sheldon Keefe's perspective on the matter is particularly noteworthy, given his position as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The lack of decisive action shown by his players is indeed a worrying concern.

An investigation into the incident involving Brad Marchand's hit on Timothy Liljegren was underway but it seems like no action will be taken against the newly-appointed Bruins captain.

Timothy Liljegren's injury and its impact on the Toronto Maple Leafs

Timothy Liljegren's injury has left a noticeable gap in the Toronto Maple Leafs' defensive lineup, particularly in his role as a second-pairing defenseman. Liljegren was known for his consistent defensive play and his ability to log significant minutes in games.

His presence on the blue line not only offered stability but also added depth to the team's overall defensive scheme. His season statistics, which include one assist, 18 blocked shots, and eight hits in the 10 games he played before getting hurt, show his value to the team.

To address Liljegren's absence, the Toronto Maple Leafs have adjusted their roster by calling up defensemen Simon Benoit and Maxime Lajoie. These reinforcements are crucial to maintaining defensive depth while Liljegren recovers.

Unfortunately, the team faces additional challenges as defenseman Jake McCabe is also dealing with a groin injury, making his availability for the upcoming game against the Buffalo Sabres uncertain.

During this tough period, the team is diligently working to manage its defensive lineup, but Liljegren's absence will require his teammates to fill the void.