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Leafs sign potential 2017 NHL Draft steal Liljegren to rookie deal

2017 NHL Draft - Round One

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 23: Timothy Liljegren is interviewed after being selected 17th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center on June 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

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Timothy Liljegren is already making key cuts - literally and figuratively - after the Toronto Maple Leafs selected him with the 17th pick of the 2017 NHL Draft. Now he also cut a deal with the Maple Leafs.

The team announced the signing of his three-year entry-level contract today.

Liljegren’s selection prompted two reactions: “Possible draft steal” and “How long will it take before he cuts his hair?”

... It didn’t take long.

The swift blueliner might be humble enough to lose the locks, but he’s also confident enough to compare himself - not so modestly - to Erik Karlsson. That won’t be an easy parallel to maintain, but TSN notes that Liljegren was already making an impression at Maple Leafs development camp.

The next step is to determine whether he’ll begin 2017-18 overseas, with the Marlies, or even with the Maple Leafs.