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Analyst comments on Klingberg's future with the Leafs and how they have to navigate the potential LTIR situation

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Ryan Smitheram
November 23, 2023 (9:28)

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Yesterday following practice, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said that defenseman John Klingberg would be unavailable for this weekend's games against the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins. Klingberg has missed the past two games for the Leafs and three of the last four with a 'lingering' injury that, according to Klingberg, he has dealt with most of his career.

There has been plenty of speculation as to what Klingberg's injury actually is, but TSN's Darren Dreger believes, based on history and his mobility, that it is something to do with his hips. Klingberg had hip surgery earlier in his career, so this certainly checks out.

On TSN1050's First Up this morning, analyst and former Leaf Mike Johnson was asked if he thinks Klingberg will play for the Leafs again and revealed just how bad his injury is.

"No he will not play again. For everyone that is saying the Leafs are making this up and it's not a real thing, I was on the plane with him. We walked on the plane together, he is hurt. You can see it when he walks, he is not healthy. He absolutely is in distress when he's walking. It's far more likely than not that he doesn't play again."

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Johnson also stated that his first thought when his injury was announced was that Klingberg would be heading to LTIR and 'Robidas Island' and that nothing over the last 10 days has changed his mind. Johnson mentioned that the Leafs need to ensure the injury is in fact season ending for cap reasons.

"If it goes down that road (LTIR), they will have to make sure it is diagnosed as season ending because if he just goes on LTIR, it doesn't free up the cap space for them to go do something else if he is going to return in six weeks. The only way they get the freedom to do what they want with that money is if it's confirmed he won't be coming back. Whether that's surgery that puts him out the rest of the year to guarantee it, a doctor that says he can't do it and he agrees to it, but they need to have that certainty before they can use that money. I do absolutely think in the next few weeks, they'll come to that decision. Obviously he's not going to play again this year and then they'll have the $4M to go and get the defenseman that they hoped he was going to be."

When Klingberg was signed, the majority of Leaf fans questioned the signing because of his defensive issues. The Leafs were well aware of them and their hope was that playing Klingberg with Jake McCabe would hide some, if not most of those issues. Unfortunately, that did not work as planned and Klingberg quickly became the whipping boy for Toronto fans. Should Klingberg find himself on LTIR for the season, it will free up $4.15M in cap space as Johnson mentioned and will allow the Leafs to upgrade whichever position or positions they feel need an upgrade.

Previously on MapleLeafsDaily

18-year-old rookie scores the most amazing first career NHL goal

Ex-Leafs GM scorns Leaf fans for turning on Ryan Reaves so quickly

Leafs may have hit a home run with 6-foot-4 defensive prospect

POLL
23 NOVEMBRE \| 282 ANSWERS Analyst comments on Klingberg's future with the Leafs and how they have to navigate the potential LTIR situation Do you think Klingberg will play another game as a Leaf, including a possible playoff return?
No, he's done	190	67.4 %
Yes, he might return, but not until the playoffs	52	18.4 %
He'll return later this season	40	14.2 %
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