Could Timothy Liljegren Be the Right Deadline Fit for Buffalo’s Blue Line?
The last time the Buffalo Sabres played postseason hockey, Mike Grier was still lacing up his skates as a player. Now, 15 years later, Grier’s role has shifted to the front office as general manager of the San Jose Sharks - and he might just have a defenseman who could help his old team finally snap the NHL’s longest active playoff drought.
With the 2026 NHL trade deadline looming and the league currently on pause for the Winter Olympics, all eyes are on teams looking to shore up their rosters for a playoff push. One name generating buzz is Sharks defenseman Timothy Liljegren, a right-shot blueliner with playoff experience and a skill set that lines up well with what the Sabres need right now.
Buffalo has been riding a hot streak - 21-5-2 heading into the Olympic break - but that success has come with some heavy lifting from their top-four defensemen. Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, Bowen Byram, and Mattias Samuelsson have carried the load, logging big minutes night after night.
And while that group has held strong, the cracks were beginning to show just before the break. Fatigue is real, especially for a team trying to make up for lost time in the standings.
Head coach Lindy Ruff has had limited options behind that core group. Injuries to Michael Kesselring and Conor Timmins have left the bottom pair in flux, and while Kesselring is now back in the lineup, he hasn’t looked like the same player Buffalo hoped they were getting when they brought him in over the summer. Timmins, meanwhile, has been out since mid-December and was a key piece on the penalty kill - a role that’s been tough to fill in his absence.
The remaining depth - including Jacob Bryson and Zach Metsa - hasn’t inspired much confidence. Ruff has shown a clear reluctance to give them meaningful minutes in tight games, and that speaks volumes. This is a team that needs another trustworthy option on the back end if it wants to keep its momentum going into the spring.
That’s where Liljegren comes in.
At 26 years old, the Swedish defenseman brings a blend of experience and physicality that could be exactly what Buffalo needs. Originally drafted in the first round by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2017, Liljegren has played over 300 NHL games, contributing 93 points (21 goals, 72 assists) while also racking up nearly 500 blocked shots and close to 400 hits. He’s not flashy, but he plays a sturdy, responsible game - and he’s been through the playoff grind before, logging postseason minutes during his time in Toronto.
For a Sabres team that’s leaned heavily on its top four, adding a player like Liljegren could help balance the load and give Ruff more flexibility with his pairings. It’s not just about filling a roster spot - it’s about finding someone who can step in and play meaningful minutes right away.
Financially, the fit makes even more sense. Liljegren is set to become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, so the Sabres wouldn’t be taking on a long-term commitment. That’s a key factor for general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, who took over the reins in December and has to keep an eye on the cap situation - especially with extension talks potentially looming for core players like Alex Tuch.
And when it comes to cost, Buffalo might be able to land Liljegren without giving up a premium asset. A mid-round pick or a mid-tier prospect could be enough to get a deal done, particularly if the Sharks - who are slipping further out of playoff contention - decide to pivot toward the future.
Kekalainen stayed quiet at first after taking over, letting the team’s strong play speak for itself. But with the roster freeze lifting on February 23, the pressure is on to make a move that could help push Buffalo over the edge. The Sabres don’t need to mortgage the future - but they do need to support their present.
Liljegren might not be a blockbuster name, but he checks a lot of boxes: right-handed shot, playoff-tested, defensively sound, and financially manageable. For a team chasing its first playoff berth since 2011, that might be exactly what the doctor ordered.
And if Grier ends up sending Liljegren to his former team, it could be a full-circle moment - one that helps Buffalo finally get back to where it’s been trying to go for over a decade.