Leafs defenseman confirmed out for the remainder of the season
The John Klingberg saga in Toronto was tough to grasp from the very beginning. The Leafs' most pressing need this summer was a top-4 defenseman who plays with an edge. Klingberg certainly wasn't that, and the $4.15M price tag was hard for some to digest.
Despite all of the outside criticism, the Leafs' brass and coaching staff backed the decision and gave Klingberg every opportunity to succeed. Unfortunately, a nagging injury that has hampered him throughout his career took him out of action early and has prevented him from being able to return.
A few weeks ago, Klingberg visited with a specialist to determine whether or not his hip injury was something he could receive treatment for and play through. Unfortunately, the news he received was not positive and it appears as though Klingberg is done for the year.
Per Leafs GM Brad Treliving, Klingberg has been scheduled to have surgery later this month and, as a result, he has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2023-24 season.
As a result of Klingberg's season coming to an abrupt end, the Leafs will now be able to use his $4.15M in LTIR relief to bring in a suitable replacement. Now, the questions become "who will his replacement be?" and "what will the cost be?".
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 6 | 591 ANSWERS Leafs defenseman confirmed out for the remainder of the season With Klingberg confirmed out for the season, will the Leafs make a trade before the end of the weekend? | ||
| Yes | 266 | 45 % |
| No | 325 | 55 % |
| List of polls | ||
