John Klingberg talks about his game and what he can bring to the Leafs this season
Was John Klingberg necessary for the Toronto Maple Leafs? Probably not, considering the fact that they're set offensively and already have one of the best power plays in the NHL. However, on the other hand, you can never have too many defensemen and he still serves a purpose when in the lineup.
The offensive-minded defenseman knows that the way he plays can be seen as a gamble and at best it's a high-risk-high-reward type of situation. Signing a one-year "prove it" deal is exactly what he needs at this juncture of his career and there's no better place to do that then in Toronto, with all of the offensive firepower in the Leafs' locker room.
In his first four seasons in the NHL with the Dallas Stars, Klingberg was an offensive force on the back-end. He scored 40 points in 65 games in his rookie season in 2014-15, followed that up with 58 points in 76 games the following year, then 49 points in 80 games in 2016-17, and a career-high 67 points in 2017-18. He finished top-6 in Norris Trophy votes twice, made the All-Rookie First Team, and was 5th in Calder Trophy voting.
In total, Klingberg scored 71 goals and 374 points in 552 games for Dallas in 8 seasons. He walked as a free agent and rejected an 8-year deal worth $56 million from Dallas. He wanted to test the free agent waters and when nothing appeared, he fired his agent and pivoted towards Anaheim on a one-year deal worth $7 million.
He was traded to the Minnesota Wild before the trade deadline and potted 10 goals and 33 points in 67 games combined.
Klingberg on his season with Anaheim:
"Personally, for me, I expected it to go probably a little bit smoother than it did. And for that, I think I learned a lot."
"You gain experience from it. Obviously, I'm not gonna lie. It was a tough year last year, playing eight years in the same spot and then coming in on a one-year deal to a team, and both myself and the team was struggling."
Minnesota-based writer, Micheal Russo of The Athletic, said this of Klingberg last year after witnessing first-hand what the defenseman had to offer:
"One of the scariest defensemen I've ever watched. Man, does he take some unbelievable risks that put his teams in tough positions."
If the signs were flashing red, why did Brad Treliving go after the defenseman?
"He was great. I thought he got up and down the ice very well. He's a guy who can break out the puck by himself very well. He brings the puck up into the offensive zone. If there's a turnover, he skates so well that he can get back and support the D-man.
"He's very good on the power play. Holds the puck and drags it across the blue line very well. He can really power-play it up there. So, I think he's gonna be good for the power play."
So while Treliving sees things completely differently than most of the hockey world, Klingberg knows what he brings to the table and has discussed his role with the club aplenty already:
"Especially with Sheldon, I think we're on the same page of how we both look at how my game is when it's at its best. And, obviously, I think my game brings a lot of offence, especially probably on the power play as well,"
"When I'm at my best, I think I play a pretty solid game defensively and then join the rush and being involved in the O-zone and try to get as much shots as I can on power play and five-on-five, and just try to be creative."
While the defensive acumen isn't fully apparent, he does bring a whole new level of offense for a team that has struggled to score goals in the post-season and when the games really matters.
Klingberg wants to simplify his game as much as possible in Toronto and help the Maple Leafs get over the hump, while fixing his reputation at the same time:
"Every time I've been struggling with my game, it's always (from) trying to do too much. You try to be too much involved in the game with the puck, and you try to be so creative that mistakes happen out there. It's more of a frustration thing."
"You're trying to get your game in order, and you're trying to do too much. And all of a sudden, you put yourself in situations where you hurt the team � and that's something that I've been dealing with my entire career. ... I learned that lesson many times."
"I have to play as simple as possible and then just let the game come to me."
It's going to be a season of ups and downs with Klingberg but sometimes you just have to admit to yourself that mistakes are going to happen and they could happen aplenty. On the flip side, offensively, he is one of the best, especially with the man advantage, and he will be a boon to whichever power play unit he finds himself quarterbacking. His ability to go end-to-end if and when he has the time and space and his numbers have been largely consistent throughout his career. This one has sneaky-good add potential, even if it doesn't seem that way now.
